White Ribbon domestic violence charity in red after $2.1m blowout

Anti-domestic violence charity White Ribbon is in a parlous financial state — in the red by more than $840,000, its latest financial report reveals. Today the prominent Australian charity refused to answer questions about whether it might be forced to call in financial administrators.

Anti-domestic violence charity White Ribbon is in a parlous financial state — in the red by more than $840,000, its latest financial report reveals.

Today the prominent Australian charity, which helps encourage men to speak up against violence against women, refused to answer questions about whether it might be forced to call in financial administrators.

Detailed financial reports just lodged with the charity regulator show a blowout in employee and supplier costs by an extraordinary $2.1 million over the previous year’s figures.

Charity White Ribbon is in a parlous financial state.

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The charity hit the headlines late last year with several sponsors pulling out and four directors also quit, including former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery.

Former White Ribbon chief executive Tracy McLeod Howe only lasted three months as boss before she was forced out in November by a board that “did not back her vision” for change.

White Ribbon relies on public donations and sponsorship and only receives 10 per cent of its funds from the government.

Former director Nicholas Cowdery.

Tracy Howe only lasted three months.

While it boosted revenue from fundraising by $915,000 during the financial year to June 2018, it still wasn’t enough to put it in the black.

The not-for-profit spent a whopping $7 million on staff and suppliers compared with a spend of $4.9 million the year before. It had previously reported a $298,000 profit.

There are fears within the charity sector that White Ribbon may be on the verge of being declared insolvent.

The not-for-profit spent a whopping $7 million on staff and suppliers. Picture: AAP

A spokeswoman for the not-for-profit group replied to questions about the finances and whether it faces bankruptcy with a written statement about the issue of domestic violence, saying the charity was a “grassroots movement”.

“For more than a decade White Ribbon has played a leading role in raising awareness of what has become Australia’s most significant social crisis,” she said.

“White Ribbon has done this through the significant financial support of individuals, community groups and corporate partners.

“Contrary to belief, this investment has not been funded through significant investment from governments over the years.

“Like any responsible organisation should, White Ribbon has recently made necessary changes to its organisational structure so that it is financially sustainable.”

The financial documents lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission do not contain the full financial notes explaining how the employee expenses rose significantly.

A spokesman for the regulator said the full notes contained within an audited financial report were not required to be lodged until 31 March.