When to Give

Giving is important and necessary. Throughout our lives, there are many opportunities and reasons to give. The timing of your giving will vary according to circumstances and your individual preferences.

Giving West encourages and supports all types of giving whether spontaneous or planned. We would especially like to see an increase in the levels and effectiveness of structured giving programs from individuals and corporations.

Most Australians drop coins in a tin for a good cause to support those less fortunate than themselves, or to subsidise essential community services like the fire brigade. This is spontaneous, general giving.

Australians also donate very generously, in both numbers and quantity, when there is a call for disaster relief, or a special appeal by organisations such as Red Cross or the Salvos. In Western Australia, that was the case when floods hit Carnarvon. Rather than worrying about the price of bananas going up, we rallied to shelter, clothe and feed the displaced and disaster-stricken. This is an example of cause-related giving.

Many of us give at regular intervals through annual or monthly deductions from our pay. This is workplace giving.

We all like tax deductions. Towards the end of a financial year is a good time to look for opportunities to claim extra deductions by donating to deductible gift recipient (DGR) causes or charities. This is giving at tax time.

Many Australians use formal structures and documentation to ensure that a favourite cause or charity will benefit from their estate. This is leaving a legacy of a life well lived and involves estate distribution.

Some of us choose to create a living legacy by setting up a private ancillary fund (PAF), public ancillary fund (PuAF), foundation, trust, or other vehicle to distribute funds to our favoured causes while we are alive. This allows us to see and enjoy the benefits we bring to other people. This is an example of structured, planned effective giving with both legal and taxation implications.