CEO Message
– December 2019
As 2019 draws to a close, please allow me to update you on Workplace Giving Australia’s (WGA) achievements over the past six months and share the opportunity that continues to exist for workplace giving as the most efficient and effective form of giving for working Australians.
Since the modern era of workplace giving was launched in 2003, this form of donation has seen sustained growth and since 2013, has achieved 6% year on year growth. It’s bucking the overall trend in donations, which is seeing less people in Australia giving.
ATO 2018 data confirms that almost 200,000 Australians are regularly giving from their pay and on average donate $210 each year. Payroll donations account for approximately $40m per year flowing through to the charity sector and this is before company matching which we estimate doubles that impact. What’s critical for the charity sector is that this money can be counted on year in year out.
Another noteworthy change is that we’re seeing outstanding employee participation rates in programs which are embedded into the organisation’s culture. Rates of 60%, 80% and even 100% are achievable. An exciting development this year was that several employers launched programs with over 60% of team members involved from launch.
Research has proven that younger Australians have different expectations and are joining employers wanting to be able to give in an easy and organised way.
As we heard from the judging chair of the 2019 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards, “people who plan their giving donate six times as much as spontaneous, spur of the moment givers. People make considered gifts in many ways, and workplace giving is an important and convenient option.”
I encourage you to read the case studies from the Award winners covering all elements of workplace giving – payroll giving, volunteering and staff fundraising. These are available on WGA’s 1MDonors.
Despite the great work that’s been achieved, the challenge to engage more working Australians remains! Five years ago, with the support of the sector, we set the ambitious target to achieve one million working Australians giving by 2020. With the support of all sectors – government, business and not-for-profit, WGA continues to work towards this goal.
Thank you to those employers and charities that have prioritised workplace giving across their organisations. We’re encouraged that 1000s of workplace giving donations are being directed day in day out to those in need.
As 2019 draws to a close, it does so against a back drop of an extraordinary number of bushfires burning across Australia and the debilitating drought. Our thoughts are with all those affected and hope that 2020 brings soaking rain to the entire country.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny Geddes
CEO, Workplace Giving Australia
Read the WGA Report