The Australian Charities Fund

The Australian Charities Fund has welcomed the opportunity to provide a response to the Productivity Commission’s Draft Research Report, released on 14 October 2009, on the review of the contribution of the Not for Profit Sector.

ACF strongly supports Draft Recommendation 7.3 of the Report “to encourage cost-effective giving, the Australian Government should explore options to promote and support planned giving, especially payroll giving and bequests. Options include increasing the awareness of the tax benefits of giving, and financial assistance and advice to smaller organisations to establish planned giving programs”.

ACF lists in their submission a series of recommendations in respect of payroll (workplace) giving, relating to:

1. The promotion of workplace giving within the public sector.
2. The desirability of government matching public and private sector employee workplace giving donations for a fixed period.
3. The desirability of government providing enhanced tax incentives for employees and employers.
4. The desirability of government providing grants to Australian employers, particularly small to medium enterprises, to establish workplace giving programs.
5. The desirability of government, in collaboration with workplace giving intermediary organisations, developing a multi-faceted campaign to promote workplace giving to the wider community.

Read the full Australian Charities Fund Submission to the Productivity Commission.