Whether you’re an individual or family philanthropist, involved in a foundation, or working with a not-for-profit or government agency, your grantmaking can be more effective with the help of the expert services of Perpetual’s philanthropy specialists.

Our grantmaking consulting service gives you the opportunity to leverage our skills, experience and best practice processes. Utilising our IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program, or designing a bespoke end-to-end grant making strategy, we can help you get the best outcomes from your grantmaking while reducing your costs in time, worry and workload.

We provide a range of packages to make it easy to choose the right level of support for your foundation or organisation. Above all, when you engage us, we give you the breathing space, time and peace of mind to focus on granting with maximum impact.

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“Since enlisting Perpetual to manage our grant rounds, FightMND has been able to extend our reach to a greater range of organisations who support people living with MND in different ways, whilst still supporting our longer-term partners in the sector. This has laid the foundations for greater collaboration across the MND community so that together we can improve the lives of people with MND in Australia.”

Dr Fiona McIntosh – CEO, FightMND

There is no one, right way to give. What matters is that you make informed, thoughtful decisions so your giving has the most impact. And that you enjoy and learn from the experience of being a philanthropist.

Finding your focus

Perhaps the first, but often overlooked question is – why do you want to give?  Being clear on why you want to give will create a better sense of how to give – and to whom.

Once you’ve clarified your motivations you can move onto identifying the issues and organisations you want to support. This should involve a wide range of research – about the focus, quality, structure, management and effectiveness of the NFP or charity. This sort of deep research is what Perpetual specialises in – and where we can really help.

Remember, there’s many ways you can help make the world a better place. Supporting organisations and programs that help people is one, more traditional, way. You can also invest your philanthropy dollars in ‘systems change’. This article has more on how philanthropy can change the systems we live within.

How do you want to live your philanthropy?

Some philanthropists organise their philanthropy into cycles – build a three or five-year giving plan and use that time to test how their philanthropy ‘works’. They then revisit and adapt their plan. Perpetual often works with clients to calibrate this cycle, tuning it to their financial position, the results of their giving – and their enjoyment of the process.

Giving through your will

Some people like to see the impact of their philanthropy during their lifetime while others prefer to leave a legacy through their will. This article has more on the different charitable bequest options available. Whatever your preference, as both financial advisers and philanthropy specialists Perpetual can help you plan your giving in a way that delivers the most benefit.

You may also be interested in Passing on wealth.

At Perpetual, we can help you calculate a ‘philanthropy budget’ so you can integrate your philanthropic goals into your broader financial planning. Then we help you identify the structure that best suits your personal, financial and philanthropic objectives.

For many people, the key to tax-effective giving – and giving with impact – lies in a charitable trust structure. There are some variants – but the principle is the same.

• You deposit some capital within a trust structure.
• That capital is invested (with certain tax advantages) with the aim of growing over time.
• A regular distribution is paid from the trust towards the organisations, causes and communities you care about.
• The trust structure is perpetual, meaning your capital can grow (and distribute) over a long period – and continue to operate even after you pass away.

Choosing the best structure for you

Private Ancillary Funds

A Private Ancillary Fund is your own charitable foundation. Your funds are invested and your foundation distributes to charities or causes of your choice.

Minimum donation amount: $500,000

Benefits:

• You choose the beneficiary organisations (or ask Perpetual for advice) and can be involved in the administration of the foundation.
• Your donations are generally tax-deductible.
• You can give for generations – these trusts can exist in perpetuity.
• You can involve your family or friends.

Perpetual Foundation Endowments

Perpetual runs a Public Ancillary fund called the Perpetual Foundation. Your donation creates an endowment within the Perpetual Foundation. The Foundation funds are invested and distributions paid to organisations you recommend.

Minimum donation amount: $20,000

Benefits:

• Simple and effective – Perpetual manages all administration.
• You can recommend organisations (or ask Perpetual for advice).
• Your donations are generally tax-deductible.
• You can give for generations – these endowments can exist in perpetuity.
• You can name the endowment after your family, your business or to honour a loved one.

Download our brochure on Perpetual Foundation Endowments

If you have an existing Perpetual Foundation endowment and would like to update your preferred grant recipient/s, please download the Perpetual Grant Recommendation form. 

View an example legal clause that can be inserted into your will to enable the establishment of a Perpetual Foundation endowment.

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Perpetual Philanthropic Services and advice are provided by Perpetual Trustee Company Limited (PTCo) ABN 42 000 001 007 AFSL 236643. PTCo is the trustee for the Perpetual Foundation - Endowment Fund and Private Ancillary Funds. The information brochure for the Funds, issued by PTCo, should be considered before deciding whether to invest.}

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The schedule of fees and charges for estate planning, administration of deceased estates, trusts, philanthropic trusts and Health and Personal Injury clients are outlined in our Financial Services Guide} please click here

For many people, philanthropy starts with a gift of money – but becomes so much more. Whilst many prefer to receive help with the day to day admin – structuring their trust, tax management etc – there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from two key areas of giving.

Finding your organisation

Once you’ve established your philanthropy plan you can choose who to support. Perpetual’s philanthropy specialists and access to our philanthropy application program (which matches our clients’ wishes with suitable organisations) can help you find organisations and projects that align with your values. 

Making and tracking gifts

Once you have selected charities to support, you are ready to make a gift.

Again, you can control your involvement to make sure it fits in with your overall financial plan and interests. You can choose to:

• track your philanthropy to see how the organisations you support are performing.
• learn about ways you can ‘improve’ your giving (this is not necessarily about more money – often it’s about giving more regularly and predictably).
• expand or refine your giving to further support the organisations or causes you care about.

At each step of this process Perpetual can provide specific, personalised advice.