Workplace Giving allows staff to donate directly to charity from their employer's payroll. From this, enormous benefits flow for our community, for employees and for engaged employers.
Together with our business and charity partners, we have established over 100 Australian Workplace Giving programs. Here is a little feedback on our work:
Employers
The Institute of Chartered Accountants
'The success of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Everybody Counts Program is due to the support and advice I have received from Margaret Smith, Senior Partnership Advisor with The Australian Charities Fund. Since the introduction of our Everybody Counts Program in 2006, Margaret has been my advisor and it has been a wonderful partnership between the Institute and all of the staff of The Australian Charities Fund'
Pamela Lee - Community Care Manager
'Collins Foods recognise the important role ACF provide in the development and growth of Workplace Giving in Australia. ACF provided essential assistance in the set up and implementation of our Workplace Giving Program. The ongoing support and guidance from the ACF Team ensures our Workplace Giving Program continues to evolve and employee participation remains strong and growing.'
Kevin Perkins - Chief Executive Officer
Royal Bank of Scotland
'Australian Charities Fund has been instrumental in assisting RBS with the re-launch of our "RBS in the Community" Program. ACF's expertise and relationships with community organisations have contributed to RBS' re-launch being a great success. ACF's passion for workplace giving is contagious and the resources and workshops provided to us as an employer partner have been invaluable.'
Renee Graham - Community Program Manager, Royal Bank of Scotland Australia
Ageing Disability and Home Care
'Ageing, Disability and Home Care's (ADHC) Workplace Giving Program Giving Pays helps build a stronger link between ADHC staff and the community. Since its inception many charities have benefited from the generosity of ADHC employees through the program. ACF has been instrumental in fostering ADHC's workplace giving culture and helping to develop strong lasting partnerships beyond financial giving.'
Jim Moore - Chief Executive - Family & Community Services, Ageing Disability & Home Care
Charities
The Smith Family
'Funds raised through The Australian Charities Fund this year have enabled The Smith Family to provide vital education and learning support to over 1400 disadvantaged primary school children across Australia over the course of one year. Each student receives a scholarship to help cover basic school expenses such as school uniforms, books, and excursions, in addition to access to The Smith Family's comprehensive suite of Learning for Life programs.
Through The Smith Family's nationwide network of Learning for Life workers, these children are also given access to comprehension, digital, financial, health and emotional literacy programs in addition to tutoring and mentoring support, which will enable them to develop the skills and capacities they need for their journey through life.'
Elaine Henry - CEO
Youth Off the Streets
'Workplace giving is one of the most effective ways of donating to charity. The regular income assists us with our budgeting and planning for the year.'Father Chris Riley - CEO and Founder
Mission Australia
'Payroll giving is a winner for employees, a winner for employers and a winner for charities. It is the best model of making a donation to charities in Australia which we need to see embraced throughout Australian companies as it has been overseas.It is firstly excellent for employees, it is the cheapest and easiest way for employees to give as it comes straight out of pre tax income and because of low fundraising costs it means more of the donation goes where it matters.
It is secondly excellent for employers, it is a chance for employers to help their staff do something they really care about, it creates true corporate citizenship and changes the relationship from a strict employee employer to one of partnership aiding long term staff retention. This is especially so when employers match their staff's payroll giving. Most organisations that have payroll giving up and running are surprised how easy it is to run.
Thirdly for charities, it is the lowest cost way to collect donations and provides a consistent donation stream to aid sensible long term planning.
Get behind payroll giving and back a proven winner.'
Toby Hall - CEO
World Vision Australia
'With its passionate and experienced staff, The Australian Charities Fund has been instrumental in promoting Workplace Giving within the corporate sector. In 2009, ACF helped World Vision Australia to generate significant funding for child sponsorship and numerous high priority projects, through Workplace Giving. Just as importantly, they provided opportunities for corporates and community organisations to develop partnerships that extend beyond the transactional - opening doors for World Vision to advocate, educate and inspire more and more people to become champions for the poor.'
Greg Harrison - National Partnerships Manager
Redkite
'Redkite is very grateful to The Australian Charities Fund for their ongoing support of children and young people with cancer and their families through Workplace Giving. This beneficial program enables a consistent donation stream to help in long term planning with low fundraising costs. It also plays a major role in developing positive community partnerships through staff fundraising and volunteering opportunities. Your ongoing support enables Redkite to provide the practical "must-have" needs of financial relief, emotional support and educational services to families through the entire childhood cancer journey.'Thea Sitcheff - Relationship Manager - Individual Giving
Employees who donate
'I donate through my employer's Workplace Giving program. This offers a simple way to get involved with my community. Because of the information I receive about the charities, I really feel I am making a difference.'
'After giving to charity through my firm's Workplace Giving program I got more involved as a volunteer. Now I see first-hand how what I donate is used, and where it counts.'
'I'd love to donate more, but I don't have a lot of time. At least through Workplace Giving I feel I am doing something.'
'Our company adopted a group of charities. We donate to them through our Workplace Giving program. We also have volunteers working with them through Community Impact Day. It's a fun way to get involved and give something back.'
Contact The Australian Charities Fund about how to set up Workplace Giving at your organisation.
Read some Workplace Giving basics or learn how to start Workplace Giving here.
The Australian Charities Fund has made a submission in response to the Commonwealth Treasury's discussion paper about Not-For-Profit tax concessions. For the purposes of this submission, we have limited our recommendations to those we believe can generate significant impact in growing workplace giving in Australia at a relatively low cost to government.