Introducing the Givewell Research Centre...

What We Offer

Independent Research on Charities
Concise 2 page profiles on major charities and public foundations. Follow up research on more specific causes and projects as requested.
View sample profile
Giving Strategies
Library of giving strategies to help generate ideas. Strategies tailored to individual circumstances.
View sample case study or tips.
A technical support hotline covering taxation and legal issues involved with major donations and bequests.
Communication
A range of presentation topics to help donors, advisers or corporate executives. Each Givewell presentation is aimed at addressing the need for analysis to balance the “heartstring” factor.
View topics list
2006 Australian Charities Financial Survey
The results of this 9th annual survey are now available to subscribers.
Summary

How it Works

Click here for more on subscription options and costs.

Business Opportunities

Help clients make informed decisions by providing research on charities they support or the causes which interest them.
Request more specific research on causes and projects.
Assist clients associated with an unsupported cause in establishing an appropriate legal structure and seek funding.
Provide specialist technical advice on major donations and bequests.
Incorporate giving strategies in newsletters and publications.
Include information and advice on giving in your service package.

Research

A Givewell Research Profile is available on major Australian charitable organisations. Research will also be conducted on smaller organisations or less common causes at your request.

Strategies

Givewell has developed a range of giving strategy ideas to suit individuals, companies, foundations and charitable trusts. Each strategy is also documented with a case study. We will also help tailor strategies to individual circumstances.

Case Study : Strategy for provisional taxpayers. Eric and Fiona are self-employed, and their business has had a great year. They have visited their accountant in May who has estimated that their taxable income will move from $90,000 combined last year to $120,000 combined this year. This will take them from a marginal rate of 43% to 47%. They are a philanthropic couple who make regular donations to 3 charities.

Tax position - Because they are on the provisional tax system the increase in tax will be substantial. The provisional tax credit from last year is $24,669. Primary tax this year is $38,504 and provisional tax for next year will be $41,942. Tax payable will be $55,777.

Donation - Consider instead, making a donation this year of $20,000 and plan for smaller donations in the future. Primary tax decreases to $28,954 and provisional tax to $31,819. The $20,000 donation decreases tax payable this year by $19,673. Eric and Fiona have shared the benefit of their good year with a worthy cause, rather than the tax department. While they will have a smaller provisional tax credit to carry forward, the impact on this depends on the level of trade in their business.

We have also established a forum of representatives from the charitable sector who can present in an informative and unbiased fashion.

Presentations can be tailored to your needs and topics covered include –

Case studies of tax effective giving strategies.
How to identify causes worthy of support.
How much should I give? Some benchmarks.
Developing a giving program.
Charity, foundation or charitable trust - which way to go?
Giving trends in Australia and overseas.
Questions to ask fundraisers.
Options facing an unsupported cause.

Top 10 Tips on Tax Effective Giving

Check whether donations are tax deductible.
Make cash donations instead of buying raffle tickets, merchandise or helping to sell confectionery etc.
Be careful with receipts. They are too easily lost or forgotten.
Don’t gift assets owned for more than a year. Sell first, then make a donation.
Bring forward future donations to reduce provisional tax or eliminate bracket creep.
Nominate tax exempt bodies as a beneficiary of the family trust.
Consider bringing forward a bequest to a tax deductible donation.
Consider substituting a bequest for a wish that an estate beneficiary make a tax deductible donation.
Where possible give before retirement when the tax rate is higher.
Australian taxpayers with frozen overseas assets can make an overseas donation and claim a tax deduction in Australia.