The Australian fiscal year ends June 30. Gifts made to projects through Give2Asia Australia are eligible for tax benefits.
By Anita Toy, Chief Representative, Give2Asia Australia
With June 30 and the end of the financial year (EOFY) fast approaching, now is the time that many Australians are willing to make additional charitable gifts. This year, we encourage donors to consider supporting an overseas charity where your gift can help more people who need it most.
The world has seen no shortage of challenges over the last year. While the damaging health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are widely recognized, the pandemic’s economic impacts also led to a significant rise in poverty. In developing countries, this was particularly true among vulnerable groups such as migrants, women, children, and the elderly. By supporting local charities in the country of your choice, you can help families remain well-fed and rebuild their livelihoods.
As Australians know all too well, the Asia-Pacific region is the most disaster-prone part of the world. From fires, floods to droughts, we have witnessed devastating natural disasters in the last couple of years alone, leaving millions of people displaced. In countries with fewer government services, local charities are heavily relied upon to provide emergency relief and assist with long-term recovery.
We have also seen the unfolding humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine. From the comfort of our own homes, we watched refugees fleeing their homeland for safety. An estimated 4 million people have left Ukraine while 6.5 million people remain, displaced from their homes. Give2Asia Australia is partnering with KBFUS to support trusted charities providing relief to Ukrainian families, and you can help their urgent work.
Supporting overseas causes is more than a feel-good idea. It’s also a way to make your gift go further. As just one example: A woman in the Philippines is 27 times more likely to die during childbirth than a woman giving birth in Australia. Yet providing a safe birth costs only $300 to $400 there, which is less than one-third the cost in Australia!
Now is the time to reduce your income tax with donations.
It’s important to note that donors can only claim a tax deduction for donations to organisations that have been “endorsed” by the Australian Tax Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). As a DGR-registered charity, donations of $2 or more to Give2Asia Australia are tax deductible.
If you already have a cause in mind, you can make an EOFY donation to benefit your favorite overseas nonprofit. If you would like some guidance to identify new opportunities or charity partners, donors can also rely on our in-country advisors for recommendations.
It’s also an important time of year for PAFs (Private Ancillary Funds) and PuAFS (Public Ancillary Funds). For PAFs, there must be a distribution of at least 5 percent of the market value of the fund’s net assets as of June 30 while for PuAFS this is 4 percent.
Giving across borders is an easy way to make your philanthropy go further. By supporting poverty alleviation with Give2Asia Australia, you can create a win-win for you and the overseas charities you support. To learn more or get started, contact our international giving team.