Australian Philanthropic Services

Australian Philanthropic Services Empowering Australians to give strategically to charitable causes for years to come. Philanthropy experts in giving funds, PAFs & philanthropy advice.

11/08/2026

A morning on Sydney Harbour, meaningful conversations, and a deeper understanding of our oceans. At APS, we believe informed giving leads to greater impact.

We were delighted to bring together APS clients and givers for a whale watching experience sponsored by Go Whale Watching Sydney, that combined connection, learning and impact. Guided by Dr Katharina J. Peters and her research team at University of Wollongong's MAVE Lab, clients explored the fascinating world of humpback whales, marine ecosystems and ocean conservation - whether it's protecting marine biodiversity, supporting scientific research, or investing in long-term environmental solutions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so memorable.

For a deep dive into marine ecology and conservation, watch our webinar with Katharina, Kate Stone, APS Head of Philanthropic Giving, Margie Jenkin from Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) and Michael Walton, APS client and founder of Wildlife Country Fund here: https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/singing-with-whales-webinar/

We're pleased to welcome Lisa George to our Board as a non-executive Director, effective July 2026.   As Executive Direc...
01/07/2026

We're pleased to welcome Lisa George to our Board as a non-executive Director, effective July 2026.

As Executive Director and Global Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation, Lisa brings to APS her deep expertise in philanthropy, social impact, and governance across the corporate, philanthropic, and not-for-profit sectors.

Her appointment strengthens our capacity to support structured giving and help more Australians create meaningful, lasting impact.

We look forward to the perspective and leadership she brings to the board. https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/our-people/lisa-george/

For financial advisers and wealth professionals, structured philanthropy is becoming an essential part of client convers...
29/06/2026

For financial advisers and wealth professionals, structured philanthropy is becoming an essential part of client conversations.

A Giving Fund offers a practical way to:

โœ…Integrate philanthropy into broader wealth strategies
โœ…Support tax planning opportunities
โœ…Facilitate intergenerational engagement and
โœ…Align financial decisions with personal values

It transforms giving from an ad hoc activity into a deliberate part of long-term planning.

APS can support advisers in their client conversations. A giving fund in the APS Foundation can be set up in one day with zero setup fees. Call us to discuss the options on 1800 934 483 or contact us here: https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/contact/

For many Australians, the desire to give back is deeply personal. Whether driven by lived experience, community connecti...
28/06/2026

For many Australians, the desire to give back is deeply personal. Whether driven by lived experience, community connection, or a vision for long-term impact, philanthropy is becoming an increasingly important part of financial and legacy planning.

Yet one question often emerges: how can I give in a way that is both meaningful and structured?

More Australians are looking for ways to give that are:

๐Ÿ“ŒStructured but flexible
๐Ÿ“ŒMeaningful but efficient
๐Ÿ“ŒPersonal but scalable

Giving Funds sit at the intersection of these needs. They empower donors to move from one-off generosity to strategic impact.

Everyoneโ€™s giving is different - but having the right structure and giving support can make all the difference.

APS can discuss your unique circumstance and the options available. Call us on 1800 934 483 or contact us here: https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/

One of the most compelling reasons to establish a Giving Fund is the ability to create a legacy. Rather than a single ac...
27/06/2026

One of the most compelling reasons to establish a Giving Fund is the ability to create a legacy. Rather than a single act of generosity, donors can:

โœ”๏ธBuild a sustained program of support
โœ”๏ธInvolve children and future generations in philanthropy
โœ”๏ธDevelop a clear purpose and focus for their giving
โœ”๏ธLeave behind an enduring impact that continues beyond their lifetime

In this way, philanthropy becomes more than generosity - it becomes a defining part of identity and legacy.

APS can set up a giving fund in one day with no set up fees, so thereโ€™s still time. Call us on 1800 934 483 or contact us here: https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/

Most people rush their charitable giving at the end of the financial year. โฐ But what if you could lock in your tax dedu...
25/06/2026

Most people rush their charitable giving at the end of the financial year. โฐ

But what if you could lock in your tax deduction now and take your time deciding exactly where the money goes?

That's the power of a giving fund.

๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ณ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€ means:

โœ… You secure your tax deduction before 30 June
โœ… You're not pressured into hasty decisions about where your money goes
โœ… You have the space to research causes, consult your family, and give with intention
โœ… Your generosity is thoughtful, not reactive

The good news? Setting up a Giving Fund through the APS Foundation takes just one day and comes with zero setup fees. There's no reason to wait.

If you've been meaning to get more intentional about your giving, there is still time this financial year to start.

Find out more here: https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/givers/aps-foundation/

๐—˜๐—ป๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ปโ€™๐˜ ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—”๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฎAustralian Philanthropic Services (APS) has made a ...
18/06/2026

๐—˜๐—ป๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ปโ€™๐˜ ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—”๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฎ

Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) has made a formal submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Economics regarding the proposed ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐˜„๐˜€ ๐—”๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ (๐—ง๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ ๐—ก๐—ผ. ๐Ÿญ) ๐—•๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—ฅ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—”๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ (๐—ง๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ ๐—ก๐—ผ. ๐Ÿญ) ๐—•๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฒ.

Our focus is simple:

๐Ÿ‘‰ Protect and strengthen the incentives that encourage Australians to give.

As currently drafted, the proposed Capital Gains Tax (CGT) changes risk having an unintended consequence - reducing the incentive to donate, particularly at the very moment when many Australians choose to give following a significant capital event.

A fundamental principle of Australiaโ€™s tax system has long been that donations to Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) charities should not be taxed. The proposed minimum CGT framework, in its current form, does not fully preserve this principle.

๐—ข๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ:

Introduce a mechanism allowing charitable donations to be appropriately recognised within the minimum CGT calculation - ensuring the policy aligns with the Governmentโ€™s stated objective to support and grow giving.

The intent of changes to taxation matters โ€“ but so does the detail.

With thoughtful adjustments, we have an opportunity to ensure tax changes continue to ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†, ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€, ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ.

We look forward to continued engagement with Treasury and the broader sector as this important discussion evolves.

๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ท๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ต ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐Ÿ“ˆโค๏ธPhilanthropy often gets framed as a simple trade-off: give more ...
15/06/2026

๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ท๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ต ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐Ÿ“ˆโค๏ธ

Philanthropy often gets framed as a simple trade-off: give more now versus grow your wealth for later. But our Founder Chris Cuffe in a recent Firstlinks article highlights a more nuanced truth - investment performance and generosity arenโ€™t opposites; theyโ€™re deeply connected.

Strong, consistent returns can actually amplify long-term impact. The better your capital compounds, the more you can ultimately give - whether thatโ€™s through structured philanthropy, family foundations, or strategic donations.

A few takeaways:

๐Ÿ“Œ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐—น ๐—ฝ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ฒ: Higher investment performance creates a larger pool for future giving
๐Ÿ“Œ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€: Effective compounding can significantly increase the scale of contributions over time
๐Ÿ“Œ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ด๐˜†: Aligning investment decisions with philanthropic goals can maximise both financial outcomes and societal impact

Wealth isnโ€™t just about accumulation - itโ€™s about what it enables over time.

๐Ÿ“– Worth the read: https://www.firstlinks.com.au/why-strong-returns-matter-as-much-as-generosity

๐—™๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐˜† ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฑ๐—ปโ€™๐˜ ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐—ด๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ฑ ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€. ๐—œ๐˜ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—บ.In today's Adviser Voice articl...
10/06/2026

๐—™๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐˜† ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฑ๐—ปโ€™๐˜ ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐—ด๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ฑ ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€. ๐—œ๐˜ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—บ.

In today's Adviser Voice article, APS CEO Judith Fiander explains why June 30 remains a critical moment for strategic philanthropy.

While proposed tax changes are still being finalised, there is currently an opportunity for donors to act with certainty. Contributing to a structured giving vehicle - such as a giving fund or sub-fund in a public ancillary fund - allows donors to secure a tax deduction now, with the flexibility to apply it over the next five years.

Beyond individual benefits, structured giving plays a broader role - providing charities with more predictable funding and enabling longer-term planning, especially in uncertain economic conditions.

Notably, ATO data shows that around half of Australians earning over $1 million annually claim no charitable tax deductions - highlighting a significant opportunity for more effective giving. For those considering their EOFY planning, this is a timely reminder: acting before June 30 can create both immediate and lasting impact.

Read the full article: https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2026/06/federal-budget-uncertainty-strengthens-the-case-for-june-30-giving/

If you're thinking about setting up a giving structure, it can be done quickly. Giving funds have no set up fees and can be established in just one day. Give us a call on 1800 934 483 or contact us here: https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/contact/

Recently, our Partnerships & Development Manager Kate Bowditch joined a panel hosted by Canvaโ€™s Leigh McLeod alongside S...
04/06/2026

Recently, our Partnerships & Development Manager Kate Bowditch joined a panel hosted by Canvaโ€™s Leigh McLeod alongside StartGivingโ€™s Antonia Ruffell, and Liz Cameron-Smith from the Foyer Foundation to share insights on how individuals can start their giving journey.

Together, we explored:

๐Ÿ”น Why thoughtful, intentional giving can drive meaningful impact โ€“ whether that giving time or money
๐Ÿ”น Start small and keep learning
๐Ÿ”นHow structured giving can make philanthropy more accessible

One of the strongest themes from the conversation was simple: just start!

You donโ€™t need to wait to make a difference. Whether itโ€™s your time, skills, or financial contribution, even small steps can create significant change and often open the door to deeper engagement over time.

This sits at the heart of 's Two-Step plan - using their success to drive positive change and do the most good they can.

Thank you for your time, Canvanauts! We look forward to supporting your giving and the Canva Foundation.

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