Giving well can be a challenge. You cannot help every good cause, so having a plan helps you focus your generosity where it matters most to you.
GiveNow's Giving Wisely tool walks you through four steps to help you think about your priorities, set a budget, and create a plan that matches your intentions with reality. You can also follow the steps below to get started.
Step 1: Why do you want to give?
Start by asking yourself what matters most to you. If you could change three things in the world around you, what would they be? Your answers do not need to be polished — they just need to be yours. For example:
- 'Provide access to high-quality healthcare for all people.'
- 'I want the arts sector to be thriving.'
- 'Reduce carbon emissions.'
Step 2: How much do you want to give?
How much you give depends on your own income, priorities, and commitments — only you can decide what feels right. If you are looking for a starting point, here are two well-known approaches:
- Tithing: A long-standing tradition of giving away one-tenth of your income.
- Effective altruism: A movement championed by Australian philosopher Peter Singer, based on the idea that giving strategically, even modest amounts, can have an enormous collective impact. The Life You Can Save has a calculator that suggests a giving amount based on your income.
Step 3: How do you want to split your giving?
Using the priorities you identified in step one, think about how you would like to divide your giving budget. Consider:
- What themes or causes matter most to you (for example, health, environment, education, the arts)?
- Who would you like to be the beneficiaries of your giving?
- Which geographic area would you like your giving to influence?
- What percentage of your giving would you like to put towards each priority?
If you are using the Giving Wisely tool, it will generate a personalised giving dashboard based on your answers to help guide your decisions.
Step 4: Put your plan into action
With your plan in hand, you can start matching your budget to specific organisations. Search the GiveNow directory to find organisations doing the kind of work you want to support, and check your MyGiving account to review the groups you are already supporting.
Before you give, it is worth asking a few questions about an organisation:
- Do I agree with its programs and goals?
- Does it achieve worthwhile results?
- How does it report its activities and accomplishments?
- How will my contribution be used?
- Will my donation be tax deductible?
Other ways to give
Financial donations are only one way to make a difference. Here are a few others to consider:
- Give goods or services: From furniture to medical supplies, many organisations welcome in-kind donations. See other ways to give on GiveNow for ideas.
- Become a member: Financial memberships give organisations a regular and predictable source of funds, and a signal that they are meeting a community need.
- Volunteer your time: Find volunteering opportunities through sites like Vollie or Seek Volunteer, or consider joining a board or committee through Our Community's board matching service.
- Start a CrowdRaiser: If you do not have much to spare yourself, rally your network instead. Set yourself a challenge and invite friends to support you while raising money for a cause you care about. Learn how to create a CrowdRaiser.
- Make conscious purchasing decisions: Use your everyday spending to support the change you want to see — buy locally, choose ethical suppliers, or support social enterprises.