
Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology), Master of Business Management (Queensland University of Technology), Bachelor of Business Communication (Queensland Inst. of Technology)
Wendy (Bachelor of Business Communication, Master of Business Management, PhD) has worked in, studied and taught philanthropy and fundraising for three decades and presents internationally on these topics. She leads the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonpofit Studies and the Social-Purpose research team in QUT’s Centre for Future Enterprise. Her work at ACPNS spans the cause/giver spectrum (see http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Scaife,_Wendy.html), including national project leadership of Giving Australia, book chapters on giving in Australia, and a comparison of fundraising in 26 countries. Wendy led a 10 year research partnership with the Perpetual, Corbould and Gluyas Foundations on aspects of planned versus spontaneous giving. She has also conducted indepth research on bequests, major gifts, foundation decision making, nonprofit boards, CEOs, and performance measurement as well as about giving to specific areas such as medical research, education, women and girls, Indigenous needs, and the arts. She is part of several international research project groups. Wendy served on both the Research Australia Philanthropy and National Compact Steering Committees. Volunteer roles include the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Research Council (US), Charities Aid Foundation Research Committee, chairing a small heritage project and chair of the National Workplace Giving Awards judging panel. Prior to joining ACPNS Wendy was a state CEO/national Deputy CEO of a major health nonprofit. Previously she lectured in QUT’s School of Communication and worked in-house and as a consultant. Her Master’s thesis focused on corporate support of community causes and her PhD on improving the marketing and funding for Australian medical research. Recent team and individual work includes:
- Giving Australia https://eprints.qut.edu.au/171803/
- Performance measurement in perspective: An exploratory study of Australian foundations’ approaches
- Who’s asking for what? Fundraising and leadership in Australian nonprofits
- Foundations for giving : why and how Australians structure their philanthropy
- A Transformational Role : Donor and charity perspectives on major giving in Australia
- Mapping Australia’s philanthropic investment in women and girls
- That’s what governments do : exploring fundamental barriers to public–philanthropic interaction : the example of indigenous well-being
- Keeping giving going : charitable bequests and Australians
Wendy is a Fellow of Fundraising Institute Australia and a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. She serves on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing. She received a Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award in 2016 and a Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award in 2017.
Research interests
- Philanthropy
- Fundraising
- Nonprofit marketing and communication
Additional information
Regular media commentator on research areas.
Regular speaker at industry conferences.
See biography for past work experience details.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Vice-Chancellor's Performance Award 2016
- Wymer W, McDonald K, Scaife W, (2014) Effects of corporate support of a charity on public perceptions of the charity, Voluntas p1388-1416
- Scaife W, Williamson A, McDonald K, (2013) Who's asking for what? Fundraising and leadership in Australian nonprofits
- Wymer W, Scaife W, McDonald K, (2012) Financial planners and philanthropic planning, Voluntas p350-370
- Wiepking P, Scaife W, McDonald K, (2012) Motives and barriers to bequest giving, Journal of Consumer Behaviour p56-66
- McDonald K, Scaife W, Smyllie S, (2011) Give and take in major gift relationships, Australian Journal Of Social Issues p163-182
- Smyllie S, Scaife W, (2011) Philanthropic capacity to support Indigenous causes : The journey to improvement, Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues p47-68
- McDonald K, Scaife W, (2011) Print media portrayals of giving: Exploring national 'cultures of philanthropy', International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing p311-324
- Smyllie S, Scaife W, McDonald K, (2011) That's what governments do: Exploring fundamental barriers to public-philanthropic interaction: The example of indigenous well-being, Public Management Review p1139-1154
- Scaife W, (2010) Fundraising, International Encyclopedia of Civil Society p742-747
- Madden K, Scaife W, (2008) Corporate Philanthropy: Who Gives and Why?, The Routledge Companion to Nonprofit Marketing p145-164
- What influences the dyadic relationship between the nonprofit CEO and board chair that drives fundraising and mission?
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Cameron Newton - Impact of competition policy on integrative response to homelessness.
Masters by Research, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Adjunct Professor Robyn Keast, Dr Natalie Elms