Workplace Giving On Upward Trend, ATO Figures Show

Workplace giving donations have increased by 34 per cent over the previous year, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office figures for 2014/15.

This rise also follows on from a 13 per cent increase in 2013/14. The ATO found the average annual donation this year was $262, up from $60 last year.

Lisa Grinham, CEO of workplace giving provider Good2Give, said the results were encouraging.

“I’m pleased. It definitely reflects what we’ve been seeing as an organisation in growth over the last couple of years,” Grinham said.

She said that investment in technology was the main driver of the growth.

“Certainly I think technology has made it easier for companies to offer workplace giving, but importantly it’s just much more accessible to employees, as we know technology does make things much more accessible,” she said.

“I think the other thing is that we’re… seeing more and more companies starting to engage with technology so that they can actually let their staff give to any charity they would like to, or any registered charity they would like to.

“In the past companies have maybe only chosen three or four charities that staff give to and so that hasn’t necessarily resonated with significant proportions of staff. So I think the diverse charity sector is reflective of the diverse interests of donors.”

Grinham also said that new generations entering the workforce was a contributing factor.

“The growing importance that millennials are placing on giving back at work is also helping to drive change at a corporate level,” she said.

“We know workplace giving is attractive to a younger demographic and that a company offering a workplace giving program makes staff feel proud of their company, so it’s really a no brainer to allow staff to give to a charity through their pre-tax pay.”

The growth in workplace giving could also mean Australians are giving more, rather than just changing the way that they give, according to Good2Give research.  

“We were really pleased to see people that were giving via workplace giving actually do give in other ways,” Grinham said.

“So chances are they might still be giving outside workplace giving, but they’re more likely to be volunteering and getting involved in communities.

“We don’t have any exact research, but certainly feedback from those workplace giving donors is that it could be additional income for charities.”