For the 2025 tax year to date, there have been a total of $1,085 million in donations for which donation tax credits (DTC) were paid.
We track donations given to:
- schools and kindergartens
- religious organisations
- other donee organisations.
This graph shows the change in donations paid to schools and kindergartens, religious organisations and to other organisations between 2012 and 2025. Over the last 5 years it shows that:
- donations to schools and kindergartens have increased 19%, from $75 million in 2020 to $89 million in 2025
- donations to religious organisations have increased 28%, from $527 million in 2020 to $673 million in 2025
- donations to other organisations have increased 10%, from $289 million in 2020 to $318 million in 2025.
Donations to different donation categories vary across age groups. In this one-off analysis we publish the 5-year median aggregate donation claims for each age band by year, measured across the 2021 to 2025 tax years.
The median of the 5 years for each age band is used to avoid distortions from one-off amounts received in any 1 year. Age of donors is calculated at 31 March of the relevant tax year.
This chart illustrates how donation patterns vary across individuals’ life-stages for the 3 donation categories. The chart shows the following.
- Donations to religious organisations is the largest donation category through most of adulthood. Donations rise rapidly from the late teens, peak in the mid-50s, and then gradually decline in older age groups.
- Donations to schools is concentrated in midlife, peaking in the mid-40s to early-50s, reflecting periods when people are most connected to schools.
- Donations to other organisations increase steadily with age, suggesting charitable interests broaden and diversify later in life.