With so many causes that need our attention, it can be hard to choose where to put your money first. But, we can do hard things. Here are the three causes we’re supporting this month, and how you can get involved in their amazing work.
As a society, we are being called to step up with courage and conviction to meet the challenges of our time. That means putting our money where our mouths are, and our voices where our values are.
Since day one, we put in place a ‘profit for purpose’ model that enables us to do our jobs and create the kind of world we actually want to live in at the same time. It’s called ‘Pure Community’ and, each month, we donate a percentage of gross revenue (as opposed to just ‘profit’) to the causes we care about. At the moment it’s 3% of revenue, and next financial year, it’ll be 5%. That’s how we make your finance do good, not just for you but for our world as well.
Throughout May and June, as is the case for the other ten months of the year, there were so many different causes and issues that require our urgent attention, support, and dollars. So, we decided to split our contribution equally amongst three causes that mean a lot to us: the planet, its people, and paying the rent. Here’s a little more on the three causes we have chosen to support, our receipts, and how you can get behind their work.
1% to Pay the Rent - ‘Free Her’
“Every day, people consume food grown on Indigenous land or harvested from Indigenous seas; they drink water that flows across or under Indigenous land. Every day, business is conducted on this land for the benefit of non-Indigenous people. Every day, land belonging to Indigenous people is traded for profit.” - Pay The Rent
Our industry, the finance and mortgage industry, has contributed to the ongoing and continued dispossession and oppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It’s far past time to make racial equality and justice a reality in this country; it’s far past time to pay the rent. But words are not enough.
In May and June, and every month herein, we are committing to donating a percentage of monthly revenue to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and First Nations causes. This is about us, as non-Indigenous people, honouring the Sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; as a somewhat more just way of living on this stolen land. To that end, we have chosen to support ‘Free Her’, a fundraiser for Sisters Inside with a donation of $2,400.
Currently in Western Australia, people with no criminal convictions are imprisoned if they do not have the capacity to pay a fine. These laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal women. You can support the release of Aboriginal women from prison, and help pay warrants and fines on their behalf so that they are not imprisoned by donating to ‘Free Her’. You can take further action by contacting the Attorney General to demand that these discriminatory laws be repealed as a matter of urgency. For more information, or to donate, please visit: https://au.gofundme.com/f/bfvnvt-freethepeople
1% for the Community - Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
While millions rally against the marginalisation and discrimination of Black, Indigenous and minority ethnic communities, Refugee Week took place around the country, examining issues of race and injustice in relation to the ‘refugee experience’. On June 20, we marked World Refugee Day, a day to honour, raise awareness and solicit support for the millions of people who find themselves displaced, seeking asylum, and living as refugees throughout the world.
This year’s theme was, fittingly, ‘Every action counts: Everyone can make a difference.’ So, that’s exactly what we did! Thanks to you, we were able to donate $2,400 to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Australia’s leading human rights organisation providing support to people seeking asylum. From mobilising a community of compassion to create lasting social and policy change, we love the ASRC and what they stand for. The good news is that it’s not too late to contribute to the ASRC’s World Refugee Day Telethon! And if you didn’t yet get a chance, we highly recommend checking out the Refugee Council of Australia’s week-long storytelling and culture sharing extravaganza.
1% for the Planet - Protect Ningaloo
None of us would be able to be here, doing what we do, if it wasn’t for the planet that we all share. We are proud members of 1% for the Planet - a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to make simple, effective and accessible commitments to taking care of the Earth. Unfortunately, there are some nasty people out there who seem intent on destroying it.
Right now, there is a proposal before the government to open the waters off Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay for oil and gas exploration. This could prove catastrophic for the Reef and surrounding areas, not to mention the magnificent Whales and dugongs who call these waters ‘home’. So, we have joined together with thousands of other community members who want these proposals to be halted immediately, by donating $2400 to Protect Ningaloo - a grassroots initiative by self-proclaimed ‘ordinary people’ who are inspired by one of the world’s last great places and want to protect it.
This is where you come in - if you, too, feel passionately about stopping the government from approving a multinational oil and gas pipe assembly on one of Australia’s most beautiful places, then you have until June 29th, 2020, to have your voice heard. Have your say to Protect Ningaloo here, and donate to support the work of this far from ‘ordinary’ group of humans working to save Ningaloo Reef here.
On behalf of all of us here at Pure Finance, we want to say a big thank you to all of the people working hard to make a more just and equitable world, and it is an honour to support your work in ways both big and small. If you want to know more about our ‘profit for purpose’ model, or want to find out more about Pure Community, visit: www.purecommunity.co or get in touch with us here.
*Pure Community and Pure Finance have no direct affiliation with the organisations and causes listed on this page, we simply appreciate the work that they do, and choose to show our appreciation by contributing to them.