CEO Message – July 2021

 

As we welcome in FY 2022, I take this opportunity to update the network on Workplace Giving Australia’s (WGA) achievements over the past six months and encourage those considering a workplace giving program to ramp up their efforts.  I do so in an environment where the charity sector continues to share the devastating impacts of Covid-19. Denis Moriarty, the group MD of Our Community said, “A trilogy of terror is threatening the Australian community sector, which is facing increased demand for services, a reduction in donations and a catastrophic collapse in volunteering.”

Through workplace giving, we can make a difference and thanks go to those employers and charities who have prioritised workplace giving across their organisations.  WGA looks forward to working with you in the coming financial year and encouraging many more get involved.

In such a terrible year for so many, and when so many other forms of fundraising continued to be curtailed, we have seen that, if workplace giving (wpg) donors retained their jobs, they continued to donate. The FY 2019 ATO data shows that there were 201,237 donors up by 19,781 from the previous year. This is a positive increase from FY 2018 and is the seventh year of consecutive growth. Pleasingly, there was a huge 22% increase in the number of employers offering wpg to 5,382 employers.

Also, the average donation amount went up by $5 and is now $215 p.a.  Millennials are the largest group of workplace givers, and research shows that this important group of Australians want their employer to offer the opportunity to get involved with something bigger.

Of course, there is more to be done and the potential is huge.  33% of working Australians now have access to workplace giving…but only 5% participate.  A thought to keep in mind is that if participation doubled to 10%, charities would receive an additional $40m p.a. – in these difficult times, a figure for us all to strive for.

WGA’s 1MDonors website continues to be a destination for excellence and I thank the 463 organisations that have registered their support.  Congratulation go to those companies who are appearing on the 1MDonors leaderboard.  27 companies are now in Quartile 1 and have a 53% participation.  Three employers have 100% of their team involved and there are now seven employers with 70% participation and above.  I also thank this group for their willingness to share their stories and have others emulate their success.  Everyone wins with workplace giving!

Last November we held the fifth annual Workplace Giving Excellence Awards.  We were delighted to receive 62 entries – 22 entrants were from organisations new to the campaign. The Awards were created to give the sector a means to share stories of success.  I encourage every organisation, with a workplace giving program, to enter the 2021 campaign.  Applications open on 12 July.

And, last, but certainly not least, to our highly valued Charity Task Force members and Employer partners, on behalf of the WGA board and team, we continue to be sincerely grateful for your support.

I hope that the remainder of 2021 becomes easier for us all.  In the meantime, we will continue to do all in our power to continue to grow workplace giving.

Stay safe and well.
Yours sincerely,

Jenny Geddes