Thinking about giving to charity? Find out how to make your dollar go further with these simple tips to get the most out of your donations.

1. Get clear: Which causes are most important to you?

There are 1000s of great causes and 56,000 registered charities in Australia. Deciding where to give your donation can be daunting, so the first step is to get clear about the issues that matter to you. Be specific e.g. if your interest is ‘medical research’ what type of research is most important to you? Cancer research? Which type of cancer? 

Want to support the environment? What do you care about most: wildlife preservation? Ocean clean-ups? Reforestation?

The more specific you can be, the more targeted your donation will become.

2. Focus your support on the charities that are achieving positive change 

A lot of Australian charities did it tough during Covid with more demand for their services and less ability to do their usual fundraising.

Getting to know one or two charities well and directing the bulk of your donation there can provide stronger support and help you develop deeper relationships which can be more gratifying as a donor rather than making smaller, occasional donations across multiple charities.

Browse some of the charities that are making a difference and looking for extra support here. 

3. Save on your tax by donating this financial year

Donating to charity that has deductible gift recipient status not only does good in the community but can also reduce your taxable income. Any donation over $2 is tax-deductible and can be effective in reducing overall tax, particularly if you’re near the edge of a tax bracket.

One way to think of it is that donating to charity enables you to redirect your tax towards the causes that matter most to you.

4. Give through a community foundation

A community foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that makes strategic giving easy and accessible. 

If you’re ready to take a longer-term approach to your giving, a community foundation can support your giving goals by helping you set up a fund of your own while taking care of all the admin and compliance. 

A community foundation can also connect you with likeminded donors, provide expertise about grantmaking, and keep you up-to-date with the latest developments in your cause area. 

Best of all, when you give through a community foundation, you get the tax deduction now and can decide where, and when, to make your charitable donation at a time that suits you.

Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) is Australia’s only nationally-focused community foundation with a national focus and has been helping people get the most from their giving for 25 years. 

5. Give collectively

If you’re not ready to open a fund of your own, giving with others is a great way to make your charitable donation go further.

Collective giving groups bring people together to pool their money and give to select causes or geographic areas with members choosing which initiatives to support. Check out the Impact Fund for inspiration.

Ready to give? Here’s how

If you’re ready to get strategic with your charitable giving, talk to the experts at Australian Communities Foundation today. Learn more