How do I choose a charity to donate to?

Giving to charity isn’t just good for humanity; it also lowers your stress levels, boosts dopamine, and helps build connection with others.

But with over 65,000 charities registered in Australia, it can be hard to choose which one to support. To understand which charities are making the biggest impact, here’s five questions to ask before you donate.

1. Is the charity trustworthy?

It’s easy to trust large, well-known charities, but what about the ones you haven’t heard of? If you want to check if a charity is trustworthy, an easy first step is to check if it’s registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) by using their online tool. Charities registered with the ACNC meet the commission’s standards for lawful and accountable operation. If you want more detail about how the charity spends donations, you can even see a breakdown of the organisation’s revenue and expenses on their profile.

2. Will your donation be tax-deductible?

We give to help others, but getting a tax deduction is a smart way to donate that also helps you manage your finances. Just make sure the charity you give to is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) by the Australian Tax Office, as not all registered charities in Australia are DGRs. You can check by visiting the organisation’s profile on the ACNC Charity Register, or if you have the ABN handy, on the ATO website.

3. Is the charity well regarded in its field?

Charities with poor quality programs can do more harm than good, so it’s important to know if the organisation you’re supporting delivers excellent services that make a genuine difference.

Whether you’re supporting medical research, a food bank or conservation work, most sectors have a regulatory body that oversees quality assurance amongst providers. As an international aid agency that receives funding from the Australian Government, Baptist World Aid is accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). To maintain accreditation, our policies and processes are rigorously reviewed by DFAT, which means our work delivers excellent outcomes that meet immediate needs while helping communities build long-term sustainability.

4. What is the charity’s impact?

We all want our donations to go as far as possible! To make an impact, a charity doesn’t need to be big. It’s about how effectively they are at using resources to create tangible solutions that last.

An easy way to understand an organisation’s impact is to read their annual report. You should be able to learn more about the outcomes the organisation has achieved, and how the work has changed people’s lives.

5. Does the charity promote self-sustainability?

It may seem strange to say this, but a good charity program should have an exit strategy. Aiming for sustainability means that any outcomes achieved will last, and communities won’t rely permanently on external aid.

Baptist World Aid’s Partners have an exit strategy for their programs, and ways to monitor how successful they are at helping a community overcome poverty. The aim is to empower local leadership, so they can continue the work long after the Partner has finished their program.

Is Baptist World Aid a legitimate charity?

Baptist World Aid is a registered charity that’s accredited by DFAT and trusted by Australian supporters.

We partner with local organisations around the world, implementing best practice community development programs that put people first.

We’re committed to transparency and responsible stewardship, regularly reporting on our finances, programs and impact so supporters can be confident their donations are helping communities implement solutions to poverty that last for generations.

To find out more about our approach to community development visit here.