At a glance
- The IPA Group Benevolent Fund supports members and students experiencing unexpected financial hardship.
- It provides grants of up to $10,000 to bridge income gaps during a crisis.
- The fund is sustained by voluntary donations from fellow IPA members.
What would happen if you suddenly couldn’t work for six months?
Whether you’re a leading practice owner or just starting out as a student, it’s a question most accountants don’t consider. The demands of the profession – client work, professional development, business development – consume your attention instead.
But unexpected hardships don’t wait for a convenient time.
As the world’s largest SME/SMP professional accounting group, the IPA understands these member challenges. That’s why the IPA Group Benevolent Fund exists – a fully independent charitable organisation established in 2023 to support members and students through financial hardship.
The fund provides grants of up to $10,000 to help bridge the gap when unexpected circumstances threaten a member’s ability to earn an income. These circumstances can range from illness or accident to family crisis or natural disaster.
While the fund operates quietly, its impact on members’ lives is significant.
A lifeline in hard times
Nola Luyten is director at Eagle Tax & Accounting, and one of six trustees who assess applications to the fund (Australia and the UK have three trustees each). And Nola has seen firsthand how quickly circumstances can change.
One member found themselves drowning in rental arrears and credit card debt when a major car repair bill arrived. As they were a teacher, losing the vehicle meant losing their income entirely. The fund provided just under $4,000 to cover the repairs.
Another recent application came from a member who became homeless with two young children after their business collapsed. The fund provided staged support – first, immediate assistance for stabilisation, then additional help once they’d secured rental accommodation.
“The fund is not meant to be a fix-all,” says Luyten. “It’s just meant to be that little bit of help to bridge a gap until they can get back on their feet. We’re a last resort.”
The applications that cross the trustees’ desks reflect every stage of career and crisis. You might find a younger accountant caring for a child with cancer, forced to reduce their working hours. Then might come an IPA member who relocated to Canada for a new job, was involved in a car accident, and hasn’t yet accrued leave or income protection.
“You just never know when something is going to turn your day or month upside down – when you’re going to be in a cyclone or bushfire, or when you have a sick child who needs you,” Luyten says.
Applying for support
The Fund can provide support as a one-off grant or a series of grants. Its administrators recognise that a change in circumstances may not resolve overnight, but that targeted help at the right moment can prevent a temporary setback from becoming permanent.
To apply for a grant, members complete a confidential online application at ifa-ipa-benevolentfund.com, detailing their circumstances, income and expenses. The appointed trustees review each application individually, sometimes requesting additional information to ensure they understand the incident. They then determine what level of support addresses the immediate crisis.
Not every application is approved; the fund focuses on helping members maintain income due to genuine hardship. But confidentiality throughout is absolute. Trustees assess applications on this basis, so that members can seek help without concerns about professional reputation or client relationships.
“You just never know when something is going to turn your day or month upside down…”
Nola Luyten, director, Eagle Tax & Accounting
“There’s no shame in asking the IPA for a helping hand,” says Luyten. “We’re proud to support our members in this way. We keep the entire process strictly confidential, so there’s never any harm in reaching out.”
A community that gives back
This collective safety net represents what IPA aims to be: a professional community rather than a transactional membership arrangement.
“We’re all part of one big family,” Luyten says. “You should be able to feel free to ask your family for help. That’s what it’s all about – just helping each other out.”
To ensure the longevity of this vital community resource, the IPA is introducing a voluntary $20 donation option for the fund at annual membership renewal. For Luyten, the amount matters less than what it represents: a collective commitment to supporting peers through the profession’s inevitable challenges.
Luyten concludes: “Twenty dollars a year is less than most of us spend on coffee and lottery tickets. The IPA Group Benevolent Fund is such a worthwhile cause to donate to: the money isn’t going to strangers, but to your fellow accountants – perhaps even you one day. This initiative is about giving back to the profession that’s helped us build our careers.”
The principle is simple: the professionals who understand the challenges of working in a small practice are best positioned to support each other through it.
How to contribute
Members who would like to contribute can donate at renewal or directly here. Those seeking support can apply through ifa-ipa-benevolentfund.com, where the confidential application process is explained. More information on the trustees and the fund’s operation is also available there.
Testimonials from Benevolent Fund Australian beneficiaries
1. ‘The relief was enormous’
I am a single parent with a daughter who has a need for long term medical support. I have always worked and tried to manage this need whilst earning enough to support us as a family.
Over recent month’s my daughter’s condition has entailed numerous hospital visits and admissions and having exhausted all my leave I had no choice but to reduce my working hours. The reduction in hours has meant our outgoings now exceed what I can earn and leaves me struggling to make ends meet whilst still supporting my daughter in every way I can.
I heard about the Benevolent Fund through the IPA, and having looked at the criteria felt that maybe this was an opportunity for some much-needed help. I found the application form requesting support, on the Benevolent Fund website, easy to complete and the direct contact with the Benevolent Fund very empathetic and caring throughout.
When I heard my application had been successful the relief was enormous. It has been an incredibly tough time and being able to pay some outstanding bills has definitely helped.
2. ‘The genuine community spirit that defines our profession’
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the generous financial assistance of $3,991 that I have just received from the IPA Benevolent Fund. Words cannot fully capture how much this support means to me at this very difficult point in my life.
This assistance has provided me with the stability I urgently needed to begin rebuilding my circumstances — addressing overdue obligations, securing accommodation, and ensuring I can continue my teaching commitments while regaining financial footing. Your compassion and professionalism have reminded me of the strength and unity within the IPA community, and I am profoundly grateful for the kindness extended to me.
I wish to sincerely thank you, for your patience, understanding, and for taking the time to listen to my situation with empathy and care. My appreciation also extends to the IPA Benevolent Fund Trustees, the IPA Melbourne office, and all stakeholders who contributed to making this blessing possible. Please extend my gratitude to everyone involved in assessing and approving my application.
As I continue to work on getting my life back on track, I will be writing to the local IPA office in Melbourne to personally acknowledge and thank the IPA Group, the IPA Benevolent Fund, and the entire team for their remarkable generosity and humanity.
This experience has reminded me not only of the professional excellence of the Institute but also of the genuine community spirit that defines our profession. I remain deeply appreciative and will carry this kindness forward in my work and life.
