Our Vision

The Development Office P/L is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and servicing individuals and organisations that are seeking growth and development opportunities.

Non-profits fundraising, young people on the look-out for a scholarship or overseas exchange opportunities, schools, clubs & colleges wanting to harness the potential of past students & members ... and the business sector seeking to manage their sponsorship and corporate partnership requests ... all can benefit from our full-service organisational model.

At The Development Office P/L we encourage you to spend 3 minutes at our site before you spend 3 years on your next development project, special event or fundraising activity. We provide you with the opportunity to develop your own capacities to become self-reliant ... to grow & develop with a hand-up, and not rely upon a hand-out.

To be recognised for our leadership and accomplishments as a source of information and support to the non-profit sector and associated corporate sector.

Our core values are characterised by:

• Commitment to your cause
• Excellence
• Dedication and
• Integrity

Gerard McKeering is the director of The Development Office P/L. He has extensive and contemporary experience in the field, having first recognised the value of structured fundraising in advancing the cause of community-based groups, over 25 years ago. He holds a Bachelors degree in Education, a post graduate qualification in Marketing and FundRaising from the Queensland University of Technology, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Administration. Other involvements have included:

• Member of the International Year of Disabled Persons (1986), Employment Committee Qld.
• Member of the Director's General Advisory Committee (Work Experience and Further Education), Education Qld.
• Project Officer, Environmental Education Curriculum Document (1987).

He also has considerable experience as a grants officer, having been the Executive Officer for a number of State - Commonwealth funded program. This position involved the reviewing and evaluation of applications for the funding of projects which had an employment - education - disability focus.

Gerard's background as both a special educator and administrator of schools and special education programs for young people with a disability, has given him a valuable insight into the non-profit sector. These experiences allow him to identify with the case for support of non-profits, and to be able to work effectively in advocating for the cause of those non-profits that engage the services of The Development Office P/L.

Betty McKeering performs the role of secretary and administrative assistant. She acts as research assistant, advertising and marketing scout, your partner in grant searches and project development.

Partnerships - Our strategic partners in the development of this site are:

Gary Maginnis and Debbie Nankervis as Web layout and designers.

Vacancies

Are you interested in running your own Development Office? Contact us for more details, either by phone or email

In keeping with the vision of The Development Office P/L, its Director keeps up to date with the most recent advancements in the field. This is achieved by attending the Master Classes run by the Queensland branch of the Fundraising Institute of Australia Inc. Other professional development opportunities that Gerard has taken up over the period 2001-2008 include the following:

Examples of grants, awards, sponsorships and other development activities that Gerard has been involved in either as the writer or sponsor include:

• Boral Energy
• BHP Billiton
• Brisbane Broncos Charities Fund
• Brisbane City Community Development Grant
• Banksia Environmental Award
• Convoy for Kids
• Commonwealth Grant for International Year of Disabled Persons
• Community Literacy Grant - Q.G.
• Gambling Community Benefit Fund
• Freemasons Charity Fund
• "Top State Queensland" Award
• The Commonwealth Department of Sport, Environment & Territories (1992/93)
• Young Queenslander of the Year
• Telstra for Kids

The Development Office P/L was established in 2003 with a view to building a strong, self-reliant non-profit sector. Our services were shaped by current and emerging developments in the following areas:

• philanthropic giving
• corporate partnerships
• increasing competition for government and corporate grants and donations ... and
• the need for the non-profit sector to take up the challenge and adopt a more business-like approach to their management and development efforts.