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This data shows that Australians are generous people who want to help and make a difference. Two-thirds of Australian respondents acted pro-socially in 2025. This is greater than the global average of 61%. Australians give because they care about the cause and want to make a difference (51%), and because they want to support the local community (32%). Giving for religious reasons was more commonplace globally than in Australia (33% vs 17%), as was a sense of duty (36% vs 30%).
Giving is an act of generosity , but also a way of relating to one another. Australians want opportunities to get involved to make a positive difference, with 27% taking these opportunities when they can. In comparison, 22% of Australians want to get involved but do not know how, while 25% lack the time. This highlights the opportunity to engage with each other, form new connections, and manage competing priorities.
Across all giving types (to charities, to people in need or for religious purposes), Australians donated an average of 0.8% of their income, which is lower than the global average of 1%. A greater share was directed towards charities rather than people in need and religion, when compared with the global average.
Australia is a wealthy country , but one where citizens are still under pressure. The biggest barrier to giving was not being able to afford it (65% of respondents), which is greater than the global average of 39%. This tells us that there is more work to do to support the conditions needed to move as a collective so generosity can flow with purpose and impact.
How often did you give money away in 2025, either to charity, a person or family in need, or to a religious organisation?
The average proportion of income people gave to each of the three donation routes, and overall.
What would you say are the main reasons that you gave / did not give money away in 2025?
Which cause(s) did you donate to / do unpaid voluntary work for in 2025?
Of the total value of your donations to charities in 2025, approximately how much went to each of the following?
To what extent, if at all, have charities had a positive or negative impact in your local community, or have they made no difference?
For the last charity that you gave money to, how did you first find out about them?
How trustworthy do you tend to find each of these types of charities?
How could charities encourage you to donate in 2026?
Of the xx% that did unpaid, voluntary work in 2025 that benefitted people other than their family or friends, how many shifts did they do?
Think about the opportunities you have to get involved in making positive changes to society (whether locally or further afield). Which best describes your perspective?
"The Government encourages people to give to charity." Do you...
For more than 50 years, Philanthropy Australia has been strengthening the practice of giving towards a more generous, just and sustainable future.
Our role is to collaborate with funders and changemakers to support and grow the ecosystem of giving. We bring people, ideas and resources together so generosity can flow with purpose and impact.
We do this by:
- Convening connecting and engaging members.
- Amplifying insights and knowledge exchange to enhance practice.
- Influencing the use of diverse resources to create impact.
- Advocating for policy outcomes that strengthen the ecosystem.
For more than 50 years, Philanthropy Australia has been strengthening the practice of giving towards a more generous, just and sustainable future.
Our role is to collaborate with funders and changemakers to support and grow the ecosystem of giving. We bring people, ideas and resources together so generosity can flow with purpose and impact.
We do this by:
- Convening connecting and engaging members.
- Amplifying insights and knowledge exchange to enhance practice.
- Influencing the use of diverse resources to create impact.
- Advocating for policy outcomes that strengthen the ecosystem.
