Australian charitable donations surged to $9b in 2023; WA the most generous state
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The news: Charitable donations rose to $9.1 billion in the 2023 financial year, as the number of Australians who donated to charity increased by 216,000 to almost 4.5 million, according to KPMG analysis of Australian Taxation Office data.
The largest contributions came from inner Perth, where donations totalled $5.3 billion, largely driven by Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s $5 billion gift of Fortescue shares to the Minderoo Foundation.
The ATO said the surge in Western Australia offset declines in other states, with total donation values falling 14.7% in New South Wales and 16.7% in Queensland.
The context: Western Australia was identified as the most generous state, recording a 736.7% increase in donation amounts and an average of $11,538 per donor.
In contrast, Northern Territory continued to be the lowest average donator at $503, reflecting income disparities in the region.
While affluent inner-city suburbs continued to dominate rankings for the highest average and total donations, the 2022–23 period saw sharp declines across many suburbs as households scaled back charitable giving.
What they said: "While it’s not always the main driver for making charitable donations, obtaining a tax deduction may enable taxpayers to be more generous," KPMG tax partner Craig Robinson said.
"When considering a donation, taxpayers will only be able to claim a deduction for donations to qualifying deductible gift recipients."
The source: KPMG media release
