Making a charity donation in lieu of Christmas gifts or cards is a great way to give back and spread the festive cheer. Every donation, no matter how big or small, can make a world-changing difference. So if you’ve chosen to give to a charity this Christmas, thank you!
We know picking a charity to donate to can be challenging. To help you choose a charitable cause this Christmas, we’re sharing a few tips and tricks:
Use causes your passionate about as a guide
What causes are you most passionate about? You don’t have to pick just one! Start by writing a list of all the ideas, purposes or interest areas you feel closely aligned with. For example, your list could be:
Once you have a list of the causes you are passionate about, order your list starting with those which resonate with you most. If there is a cause that stands out to you, select this one, or if there are multiple, choose the top 1-3.
Pick a charity, or charities, to support
To make an informed decision about what charity, or charities, to support, we recommend doing some desk research! Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission (ACNC), the regulatory body for charities in Australia, has a database of charities you can search to find ones that align with your passion points. For example, this is ACRF’s profile on the ACNC Charity Register. The database provides transparent information about a charities history and financial track record, so you can make an informed decision, as you would do any investment. Independent websites like charitynavigator.org and charitywatch.org can help you decide on a charity to support with their unbiased ratings.
Set a donation budget
Now that you have your chosen charity or charities, think about how much you would like to give. If you don’t have a large amount to give right now, but you’d still like to make a difference, you might want to consider regular giving. Most charities, like ACRF, have an option to set up regular giving from as little as $1 a month. Use a budget planner to find out how much money you have available to give each month, and then allocate spend based on your list. For example:
Total giving budget per month ($40)
Make your donation!
Once you’ve allocated your budget, it’s time to make the donation/s. Most charities, like ACRF, have an easy to use and intuitive donations portal where you can set up the donation amount and frequency. You also have the option to sign up for regular news and updates, to stay up to date with the great work charities do, and the outcomes you help to fund.
In addition to making a positive impact on peoples’ lives, Christmas charity donations can also boost your next tax return! At ACRF, for example, all donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
Why give to ACRF?
The charity, or charities, that you decide to give to are completely up to you. But if you stumbled on this article, it’s likely that cancer research is a cause you feel closely aligned to. Sadly ,1 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and the remaining 2 will be closely affected by a diagnosis. It’s a deadly problem that needs disruptive solutions, starting with pioneering research. You can read all about ACRF-funded cancer research projects here.
Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is a leading independent charity. With the support of our generous donors, we fund the technology, equipment and infrastructure researchers need for brilliant cancer research. Help us back brilliant by donating to ACRF.
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