Give through work: tax-deductible workplace & corporate giving

If your employer runs an approved workplace giving program and your chosen charity holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status with the Australian Taxation Office, your payroll contributions are tax deductible. The Fred Hollows Foundation is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) charity under Australian tax law. 

The rules differ depending on how the program is set up. This guide explains how workplace giving, matched giving, and corporate contributions to The Fred Hollows Foundation work at tax time — for both employees and employers. 

Support Sight-Saving Programs With a Tax-Deductible Corporate Giving Program 

In Australia, companies can make a real difference — and capture the tax benefits of workplace giving and corporate donations. Every dollar your organisation contributes to The Fred Hollows Foundation helps restore sight and build stronger health systems across communities worldwide, and can be deducted from your taxable income. 

Set up workplace giving with The Fred Hollows Foundation. 

Get Involved in Workplace Giving 

If your employer already offers workplace giving, signing up is easy. For companies seeking to support trusted charities like The Foundation, setting up a tax-deductible giving program helps maximise both social impact and tax efficiency. 

Businesses often underutilise workplace giving or are unsure how to structure contributions to achieve full compliance with ATO rules. As a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) charity, The Fred Hollows Foundation ensures every eligible corporate contribution meets ATO requirements. 

Learn more about workplace giving and CSR on our dedicated workplace giving page. 

Is Workplace Giving Really Tax Deductible? 

Yes. Under an approved workplace giving program, pre-tax payroll contributions to endorsed DGR charities are tax deductible at the time of each pay cycle. 

Note that contributions made under a salary sacrifice arrangement are treated differently — they are not deductible by the employee on their personal return. Speak to your payroll provider or accountant to confirm how your program is structured. 

Employees do not need to keep individual receipts for payroll contributions made through a registered workplace giving program. Employers can provide an annual summary, and employees can request their record of contributions at any time. 

The Fred Hollows Foundation is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient charity and is eligible to receive workplace giving contributions. 

How Workplace Giving Works 

An employee nominates a fixed amount from their pre-tax salary to donate regularly. The employer deducts that amount from salary before calculating the income tax owed on the remaining pay. 

The employee’s taxable income is lower in each pay cycle, so they receive their tax benefit immediately rather than claiming a total deduction at tax time. The charity receives the full nominated sum directly. 

What Happens With Corporate Donations to the Foundation 

Partnering with The Fred Hollows Foundation gives your organisation an effortless, fully compliant way to embed tax-deductible philanthropy into everyday operations. 

Whether you give through workplace giving, matched employee donations, or annual corporate contributions, you are helping restore sight while receiving legitimate financial advantages. 

Australian companies can claim contributions to DGR-endorsed charities when the contribution is a genuine gift and no goods or services are received in return. Learn more on our corporate giving page. 

Why Your Support Matters 

9 out of 10 people who are blind in the world don’t need to be — and most live in low- and middle-income communities. The Foundation is dedicated to ending preventable blindness through simple, affordable eye care, and has restored sight to over 3 million people to date. 

Tax-deductible giving for workplace and corporate donors helps: 

• Train local doctors, nurses, and eye health workers 
• Equip clinics and hospitals 
• Support educational programs in remote and underserved communities 
• Enable long-term, government-led eye health systems 

The Benefits of Tax-Deductible Corporate Giving 

Workplace giving isn’t just good for the community — it is good for business. See our benefits of workplace giving page for more detail. Key benefits include: 

1. Workplace giving is tax deductible. 

Donations to registered charities like The Fred Hollows Foundation are fully tax deductible under Australian law. 

2. Stronger employee engagement. 

Seamless and transparent giving makes donating automatic and demonstrates to employees that the causes they care about matter to the business. 

3. Improved organisational culture. 

Workplace giving programs help boost staff morale, retention, and long-term loyalty. 

4. Enhanced brand reputation. 

Aligning your company’s CSR commitments with a globally admired health charity with measurable outcomes reflects well on your brand. 

How Workplace Giving Works for Australian Businesses 

Creating a workplace giving program is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to integrate genuine charitable giving into your organisation. Employees can nominate a portion of their salary to directly support The Fred Hollows Foundation, and each donation is automatically tax deductible — simplifying end-of-year reporting for both parties. 

• Control how much your organisation donates 
• Benefit from workplace giving tax deductibility
• Join a global cause to end avoidable blindness 

Tax-Deductible Corporate Giving Program 

These programs offer payroll-based donation systems directly to The Foundation. 

Matched Giving Programs 

Your company can match employees’ donations dollar-for-dollar, multiplying impact and further boosting employee engagement. 

Employer-matched contributions are treated as separate gifts for tax purposes. The employee’s portion is deductible for the employee; the company’s matched contribution is deductible for the employer as a business expense. Neither contribution affects the deductibility of the other. 

Annual Donations 

Lump-sum contributions processed before the end of the financial year can be claimed as deductible gifts under the Income Tax Assessment Act. 

Impact Partnerships 

Contact our team to discuss becoming an impact partner through long-term collaboration, event partnerships or sponsorships. 

Each approach provides unique benefits for reputation, tax efficiency, and employee morale — but all share one result: lasting impact in preventing and curing avoidable blindness worldwide. 

Why Partner With The Fred Hollows Foundation 

When you choose to support The Fred Hollows Foundation through tax-deductible corporate donations in Australia, you help directly fund surgeries, medical training, and equipment that transform lives and communities. Every $25 donated can help restore eyesight and independence. 

• Registered Australian charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status 
• Transparent reporting and measurable outcomes 
• Healthcare programs across 25 countries, including Australia

Join an international community of purpose-driven businesses dedicated to ending avoidable blindness through a tax-deductible corporate giving program. 

How to Set Up Your Tax-Deductible Corporate Giving Program 

To learn more about setting up a workplace giving program, contact our team. We will help you every step of the way: 

1. Choose your giving model. 
2. Integrate seamlessly with your payroll system. 
3. Receive receipts for your corporate tax-deductible records. 
4. Share your impact story with your team to boost morale and encourage more giving. 

If your organisation doesn’t yet have a workplace giving program, you can ask your employer to get started by partnering with trusted platforms like Good2Give, Benevity or GoodCompany. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Employee questions 

Is workplace giving tax deductible? 

Yes. Employees can donate directly to The Fred Hollows Foundation through their employer’s payroll system and enjoy the benefits of tax-deductible contributions. It’s one of the simplest ways to make charitable giving part of everyday work life. 

Do I receive a receipt for payroll giving?

You do not need individual receipts for payroll contributions. Your employer provides an annual summary, and you can request a record of your contributions from the Foundation at any time. 

Is matched giving tax deductible for me as the employee?

Yes. Your portion of a matched gift is deductible for you. The employer’s match is treated as a separate contribution and is deductible for the business — your deduction is not affected either way. 

Employer questions 

Are corporate donations to charities tax deductible in Australia? 

Yes. Donations to a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) charity, like The Foundation, can be deducted from taxable income when submitting annual tax returns. 

How much can my business donate?

There is no upper limit on eligible corporate contributions. All donations to a DGR charity such as The Fred Hollows Foundation can be deducted from your business’s taxable income, whether you give $1,000 or $100,000. Every contribution helps — for as little as $25, you can help restore someone’s sight. 

Do we receive a receipt for tax purposes?

Yes. The Foundation issues tax receipts for all corporate and workplace giving donations, ensuring your organisation has complete records for audits and annual reporting. 

What types of companies participate in workplace giving?

Any business. The Foundation works with small businesses, listed corporations, and large public sector organisations across Australia — from start-ups to large employers. 

How is a corporate contribution different from workplace giving?

Workplace giving is funded by employees through pre-tax payroll deductions and is deductible for the employee. A corporate contribution is made by the business itself and is deductible for the business. Matched giving combines both. 

Make an Impact That Lasts 

When your organisation supports The Fred Hollows Foundation, your contribution is more than a tick-the-box CSR activity — it directly helps rid the world of preventable blindness. 

With Australia’s tax-deductible workplace giving framework, your donations deliver positive social impact while optimising your financials. 

Enquire today about setting up a tax-deductible corporate giving program.