The Australian Government will match Dollar for Dollar workplace giving donations made to appeals run by AusAID-accredited non-government organisations (NGOs) working to alleviate the food crisis in the Horn of Africa. This applies to donations made from 5 October until 30 November 2011.
This is great news alone but even greater leverage can be achieved if working Australians donate through their workplace, particularly when employers match their employees' donations as well.
For example, if the employee gives $50, with matching donations of $50 each from the government and their employer, the NGO would receive $150! Because of the instant tax deduction obtained through workplace giving, the $150 received by the NGO will cost the employee only $35!* (*approximate, assuming the average marginal tax rate of 30%).
Please consider getting behind this initiative because the need for assistance is great:
- In East Africa today up to 13 million people are at risk of starvation in what's been described as Africa's worst food crisis in sixty years.
- In Somalia 750,000 people are at risk of starvation and 1.3 million children are acutely malnourished.
- Unprecedented numbers of people are fleeing their homes for neighbouring countries.
- The situation is being made worse by life-threatening cholera and measles outbreaks in the region.
Each of the following ACF Community Partners has a current appeal running accredited by AusAID to receive the government's matching funds:
Important: The government matching applies only to donations made by individuals. This includes donations made by an individual through workplace giving. Matched donations made by employers, trusts, foundations or philanthropic organisations will not be matched. Combined totals through workplace giving deposited as one sum are eligible as long as there is a clear record of the individual donors and amounts
Call The Australian Charities Fund on 02 9024 8630 if you would like assistance on setting up a Horn of Africa workplace giving appeal in your organisation.
The Australian Charities Fund and United Way have made a joint submission in response to the Commonwealth Treasury's discussion paper, 'Charitable fundraising regulation reform'.
