Follow Us




 

 


Share this:



Fast Facts & Statistics on Philanthropy

How many foundations are there in Australia and how much do they give?

The lack of mandatory reporting makes it impossible to give accurate data, but we estimate that there are approximately 5000 foundations in Australia giving between half a billion and one billion dollars per annum. This includes 863 private ancillary funds (as at October 2010) and approximately 2000 charitable trusts and foundations administered by trustee companies.

Click here for the top ten reporting foundations and their levels of funding (PDF).


How much is donated by individuals in Australia?

In the 2008-09 income year, individual taxpayers claimed $2,093 million worth of gifts, a decrease of 10.8% from the previous year. This is the first decrease recorded in over a decade.

The figures on individual donations do not include giving by philanthropic entities or by business; those figures are almost impossible to estimate with any certainty due to the lack of data and the logistical difficulties of collecting such data. Donations to non-tax deductible entities are also not included.


How does Australia compare to the rest of the world?

Comparisons are difficult, because other countries measure charitable donations in different ways (amounts given per taxpayer, per head or per household, for example) and use different income years. However, Philanthropy Australia research indicates that it is reasonable to say that Australians give slightly less than the UK and Canada, and significantly less than the USA.


What areas of focus receive the most amount of funding?

Download Download the breakdown of distributions by the top 10 reporting foundations by area, 2005 - 2008


What is the oldest foundation in Australia?

We believe the oldest philanthropic foundation in Australia to be the Wyatt Benevolent Institution, established in 1881.



Back to top