The latest official data shows Australia’s charity sector generated $190 billion in revenue and employed 10.5 % of the workforce, highlighting its significance to the Australian economy and community.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has released the 9th edition of the Australian Charities Report. Commissioner Sue Woodward AM said it shows charity revenue, assets and donations grew in the 2021 reporting period. The report also includes a ‘Focus on giving and philanthropy’.
There were 1.42 million employees in the 2021 reporting period, and revenue growth was strong, up by nearly $14 billion on the previous period. Donations increased by $676 million to $13.4 billion, and charities reported more than $422 billion in assets, an increase of nearly $31 billion. However, expenses also went up by $7.1 billion to almost $175 billion. The report confirms the widely observed decline in volunteering, with numbers dropping to 3.2 million, down from 3.4 million previously.
“Behind the top line figures are thousands of small charities operating with mostly volunteers. In fact, 65% of charities are small, with annual revenue under $250,000, and a third of all charities have less than $50,000 annual revenue,” Ms Woodward said.
To view the Charities Report, click here.