Canberrans will now be able to donate to Vinnies Canberra / Goulburn from their salary, under the charity’s new Workplace Giving Program.
Employees can nominate to make a regular donation directly from their salary pre-tax; their employers then pay the donation directly to Vinnies Canberra / Goulburn. Employees will receive an immediate tax benefit. Many companies also match their employees’ donations.
“Workplace Giving is a great sustainable way of raising funds for our community programs to provide practical support to people needing assistance,” Lucy Hohnen, CEO of Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn, said. “It is a powerful way to give a little each pay to support … our community.”
For example, if an organisation with 50 employees gives $2 each a week every year, Vinnies can provide warm blankets, a meal, and a fresh change of clothes for a homeless person every week. If an organisation with 100 employees gives $10 each a week every year, Vinnies can keep two families in their homes each month, avoiding eviction. If 200 employees donate $20 each week, Vinnies can run school holiday camps for young carers, aged nine to 17, for a week.
According to the Australian Taxation Office, 4.3 million Australians were employed at a workplace that had a workplace giving program, but only 4.7 per cent of employees participated in those programs. The Vinnies program aims to increase these numbers in the Canberra region.
Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, said: “Canberrans are extraordinarily generous. We’re one of the most generous jurisdictions in Australia. What Vinnies is seeking to do is to partner with a range of Canberra businesses in order to boost workplace giving. And that fits with the Australian Government’s goal of doubling philanthropy by 2030.”
While Vinnies launched its program today, any charity can apply to engage in workplace giving, Dr Leigh noted.
“There’s four million Australians who are at a workplace that has a workplace giving program but only about one in 20 Australians participate in workplace giving,” Dr Leigh told ABC Radio this morning.
“Many of us have the opportunity but most of us choose not to take that up. The advantage of workplace giving is you don’t have to worry about receipts at the end of the tax year. The money just comes out automatically; you lock it in and it’s set-and-forget. So, you can give a small amount each month to Vinnies or to another great Canberra charity or a charity assisting overseas.”
Canberra Southern Cross Club, Cantlie Recruitment, and Wisdom Learning have signed up to the Workplace Giving Program. Ms Hohnen hoped that businesses of all sizes and government agencies would do likewise.
Ian Mackay, CEO of the Canberra Southern Cross Club, said the Club was delighted to participate in Vinnies Workplace Giving Program. “We have partnered with Vinnies Night Patrol for such a long time, and the workplace giving program is another wonderful way for our team to help those in need in our community,” he said.
Keith Cantlie, from Cantlie Recruitment, said: “Getting behind programs like Vinnies Workplace Giving will really bring your organisation’s values and culture to life. Many employees I work with are looking to find a greater sense of purpose at work, and supporting them to get involved with workplace giving will really build your employer value proposition through facilitating this contribution to social change.”
Jana Clyde, from Wisdom Learning, said: “This wonderful scheme gives us a chance as individuals and as a company to put our professional values into action.”
To find out more, email [email protected], or visit www.vinnies.org.au/page/Get_Involved/Become_a_corporate_partner/State_Partners/ACT/Workplace_Giving/
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