Ask for it: How Australia can unlock an extra $12 billion in donations for charities by 2030

23 Feb 2026 – A new report supported by Minderoo Foundation reveals Australia is leaving up to $12 billion in potential charitable donations on the table.

The report found this is because not enough of the nation’s professional advisers – financial advisers, lawyers and accountants – and charity fundraisers are having philanthropic conversations with their clients.

Unlocking Generosity – authored by economist Brad Ruting and co-commissioned by Minderoo Foundation and the Edward Alexander Foundation – highlights the low level of charitable giving conversations in Australia, which is fuelling a ”generosity gap” where our donations as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are less than half the level of New Zealand and the United States.

“Australians are at the start of an historically unprecedented transfer of wealth, with over $6 trillion set to be inherited over the next two decades. But the Unlocking Generosity report has found we are leaving billions on the table because we don’t ask,” said Minderoo’s CEO John Hartman.

“We need to professionalise philanthropy advice and fundraising, because too many Australians who can give, don’t know where to start. Better quality advice will make giving simpler and more effective, helping more donations reach charities that can scale their work, invest more deeply in communities, fund important research and create pathways out of disadvantage.

“The barriers are known. What’s needed now is commitment from government, industry, and all of us to help Australians who can, to give generously. If we act, the research estimates an additional $12 billion could be unlocked to create positive change that lasts for generations,” Mr Hartman said.

The $12 billion opportunity

Economic modelling within the report indicates that by better equipping professional advisers and fundraisers to have effective philanthropic conversations, Australia could unlock between $7 billion and $12 billion in extra donations between now and 2030. If achieved, this would see individual donations rise to be 34 to 49 per cent higher than today’s level, moving Australia ahead of the United Kingdom in terms of giving as a share of GDP.

“A range of barriers stop people from giving as much as they might like, ranging from affordability and cost of living pressures to more practical issues, such as finding the right charity or understanding the different ways donations can be made,” said the report’s author, Brad Ruting.

“The international evidence shows that professional advisers and fundraisers are really well placed to help overcome these barriers. In the report, we estimate how much additional generosity could be unlocked if these professionals were better equipped to support Australians in navigating the giving landscape”, Mr Ruting said.

The barriers to giving

The report identifies a significant disconnect between donor intentions and professional advice:

• The silence of advisers: Over 60 per cent of professional advisers (financial advisers, accountants and lawyers) discuss charitable giving with their clients rarely or never
• Missing bequests: While nearly 30 per cent of Australians say they would like to leave a charitable bequest, only 20 per cent of people using a lawyer to draft a will were asked about including a bequest to charity
• Knowledge gaps: 47 per cent of financial advisers and 68 per cent of accountants admit they lack the adequate training or knowledge to discuss giving structures effectively with clients
• Reputational fear: Financial advisers may worry that prompting a client to donate might elicit a negative reaction, or be concerned about how it sits with their regulatory “best interests” duty or affects their own fee revenue.

A roadmap to doubling giving

To meet the federal government’s goal of doubling charitable giving by 2030, the report identifies four key areas where more work is needed:

1. Enhanced education: Better integrating philanthropy into training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for accountants, lawyers, and advisers.
2. Regulatory clarity: Calling on ASIC to consider updating its guidance to clarify that discussing philanthropy is not inconsistent with a financial adviser’s regulatory obligations.
3. Professionalising fundraisers: Increasing the effectiveness of the fundraiser workforce, which could alone add $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion annually to charitable giving.
4. Better data: Improving how the government and industry collect data on charitable giving and the professional workforce.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Australian social landscape,” said Edward Alexander Foundation CEO Larry Fingleson.

“By simply making giving a standard part of the financial and legal conversation, we can ensure the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ leaves a lasting legacy for all Australians.”

Minderoo’s support for Unlocking Generosity comes as the Foundation launched a partnership with Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) to help strengthen Australia’s charitable sector by building the skills, capacity and pipeline of professional fundraisers needed to meet the federal government’s goal of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030.

Through this partnership, the Fundraise for Australia program will expand to train and support more people considering a career in the not-for-profit sector. This includes school leavers, graduates and those seeking a career change, while also focusing on building pipelines of talent from First Nations, diverse and under-represented communities.

The course provides structured, practical education in fundraising fundamentals which will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and tools to succeed. It is also completed online, making it accessible to people across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia.

Importantly, Minderoo Foundation’s support means there is no cost to participants – removing a major financial barrier for entry into the profession and helps diversify the fundraising workforce.

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