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Diving deeper into generosity: Cave diver's charitable gift shines a light on giving back

<p>Josh lives in Adelaide and is an avid cave diver, loves writing funny books about science, and spends a lot of time reading and studying online. He recently chose to include a gift to Lifeline Australia when writing his Will online with Safewill.</p> <p>“It was an incredibly easy decision to make,” says Josh. “As soon as I saw it was possible to allocate a portion of my estate as a charitable donation, I thought it was a perfect idea, and when Lifeline popped up as a recommended charity, I remembered the times when friends and family had so desperately needed their support - it was as easy as clicking the Lifeline logo.”</p> <p>For a lot of people, writing a Will can feel confronting and daunting. Josh explains how he approached it.</p> <p>“I had been putting off doing my Will for a while now and had brought home Will packs previously thinking I'd get to it eventually. COVID-19 triggered fear in many people around me, and I've had several close calls with diving accidents over the last few years, so I figured it was long overdue. It turned out to be much easier than expected - I already had a sense of what I wanted to happen when I pass away, so filling it out online concisely made the whole process remarkably quick and painless.</p> <p>“For me, a Will is less about enforcing my wishes and more about making things easier for the folks I leave behind. Instead of having loved ones wonder or argue over what I would have wanted, I've laid it all down in clear terms. They might still disagree with different elements of my Will when it's executed, but the important thing is that I don't cause additional grief by leaving ambiguous directions.”</p> <p>Josh was previously unaware that he could leave gifts to charity in his Will. “I certainly didn't think it was an option,” he says. “Until Safewill asked if I wanted to allocate a portion of my estate to charity, I'd never really given it much thought and figured I'd never have enough to make it worth mentioning. I knew how much donations are appreciated, I'd just never connected the dots to realise that what I leave behind could also go towards helping organisations I value.”</p> <p>Josh shares what he’d say if someone was considering leaving a gift to Lifeline in their Will.</p> <p>“They’ll be helping a much wider range of people than if they simply gave everything to their partner or family. As important as our loved ones are, we're ultimately all on the same team when it comes to humanity, so why not support those in need regardless of if you know them or not?”</p> <p>By leaving a gift in his Will to Lifeline, Josh wants to help create a world for people who might be struggling where they can get the support they need when they need it. “We all struggle in different ways, but for many just getting up and surviving the day can be the hardest part. We're incredibly lucky to have an organisation like Lifeline that is there for anyone to reach out to and get support whenever they need it.”</p> <p>Lifeline Australia is a national charity providing people in Australia experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline exists to ensure that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.</p> <p>Lifeline has partnered with Safewill to offer you the opportunity to <strong><a href="https://safewill.com//lifelineaus?utm_content=ptnr&amp;utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=enewsletter&amp;utm_campaign=lifelineaus_sep_2023_iac_week_over60_newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">write your Will online for free this Include a Charity Week</a></strong>, which runs from the 4th – 10th September and is dedicated to raising awareness of how anyone can make a lasting impact to causes that they care about through a gift in their Will. Your Will will be reviewed by their affiliate law firm, Safewill Legal, to ensure it has been filled out correctly, and comes with a year of free and unlimited updates.</p> <p>While making a Will online may not be for everyone, particularly those with complex estates, thousands more Australians have been able to write a Will within the comfort of their own home in just 20 minutes.</p> <p>Safewill's online Will-writing service allows you to appoint guardians for your children, set out how you want to divide your estate and leave gifts to charities that mean the most to you - like Lifeline.</p> <p>After you've provided for those closest to you, leaving a gift to Lifeline is a lasting and meaningful way that you can have an impact for years to come. Even 1% of your estate can help save lives and prevent suicides in future generations.</p> <p>If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Lifeline Australia’s Gifts in Wills Specialist Abi Steiner via email at <a href="mailto:GiftsInWills@lifeline.org.au">GiftsInWills@lifeline.org.au</a> or phone on 1800 800 768.</p> <p><em>Images: Supplied. </em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article written in partnership with Lifeline Australia.</em></p>

Caring

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Convenient but susceptible to fraud: Why it makes sense to regulate charitable crowdfunding

<p>Within 24 hours of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-southern-us-is-prone-to-december-tornadoes-173643" target="_blank">devastating tornadoes striking six states</a> in December 2021, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear launched the <a rel="noopener" href="https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief" target="_blank">Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund</a>. That the leader of the state this disaster hit hardest would immediately tap into <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/crowdfunding-nonprofits" target="_blank">crowdfunded charity</a> – raising money from the public directly – to complement relief dollars from official sources should come as no surprise.</p> <p>Crowdfunded donations have become a key source of disaster assistance – and often raise significant sums. In 2017, for example, football star J.J. Watt quickly raised more than $40 million help people affected by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.houstontexans.com/news/j-j-watt-foundation-announces-hurricane-harvey-recap-and-2018-19-plans" target="_blank">Hurricane Harvey</a>. Following a series of Australian wildfires, entertainer Celeste Barber made a public appeal that eventually raised more than AU$50 million for the <a rel="noopener" href="https://eprints.qut.edu.au/200554" target="_blank">New South Wales Rural Fire Service &amp; Brigades Donation Fund</a>. And to date, the CDC Foundation has raised more than $51 million to support its “<a rel="noopener" href="https://give4cdcf.org/?utm_source=CDCF&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=combat-coronavirus" target="_blank">Crush COVID</a>” campaign.</p> <p>What’s not to like about this new way to raise funds for a good cause? Well, as long as there has been charitable fundraising there has been the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/how-donors-can-help-make-nonprofits-more-accountable-85927" target="_blank">potential for scams</a>.</p> <p>As a <a rel="noopener" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uplx-M8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=ao" target="_blank">law professor who studies the regulation of charities</a>, as well as a lawyer who has represented numerous charities and donors in legal disputes, I’ve seen that two aspects of charitable crowdfunding make it particularly vulnerable to fraud.</p> <p><strong>Sometimes it turns out to be crowd-frauding</strong></p> <p>In late 2017, a New Jersey couple posted an inspiring story on GoFundMe. A homeless veteran, they said, had come to the wife’s rescue after she ran out of gas on a highway exit ramp. Their “<a rel="noopener" href="https://abc7ny.com/homeless-hero-gofundme-money-stolen-from-man-john-bobbitt-gofund-me-go-fund/4690185/" target="_blank">Paying it Forward</a>” campaign raised more than $400,000 to help the veteran.</p> <p>Heartwarming, right? Trouble is, it was a lie. All three of the people involved in this trickery eventually <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/mark-damico-johnny-bobbitt-kate-mcclure-gofundme-guilty-20211122.html" target="_blank">pleaded guilty to federal charges</a> of “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dicindiolaw.com/what-constitutes-theft-by-deception/" target="_blank">theft by deception</a>.”</p> <p>Fraudulent crowdfunding can also prey on political sentiments rather than just exploiting sympathy.</p> <p>In 2020, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands" target="_blank">federal prosecutors charged</a> former senior Trump adviser Steve Bannon and three others with defrauding thousands of donors to a crowdfunding campaign for <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/why-steve-bannon-faces-fraud-charges-4-questions-answered-144834" target="_blank">building portions of a wall</a> along the U.S. border with Mexico. Bannon and his partners allegedly instead used some of the funds raised to compensate themselves and pay for personal expenses.</p> <p>Although then-President <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/19/trump-pardons-expected-day-before-biden-inauguration.html" target="_blank">Donald J. Trump pardoned Bannon</a> in advance of any trial, the former White House aide still <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/05/25/steve-bannon-officially-cleared-of-federal-charges-after-trump-pardon---but-this-state-probe-still-looms/?sh=1a58e95657c4" target="_blank">faces possible state charges</a>.</p> <p><strong>Reasons for vulnerability</strong></p> <p>Making a special website isn’t necessary to raise charitable funds this way. Some 45 million people donated to or created a fundraiser using Facebook from 2015 to 2020, raising over <a rel="noopener" href="https://about.fb.com/news/2019/09/2-billion-for-causes/" target="_blank">$3 billion for charities</a>, according the company.</p> <p>And crowdfunding efforts can help people without <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc506" target="_blank">technically counting as tax-deductible charity</a>. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a>, a popular charitable crowdfunding platform, lets people raise funds for both personal needs, such as covering medical expenses, and for specific charities of all kinds.</p> <p>Being fast and cheap to operate makes charitable crowdfunding ideal in some ways, not others. More traditional fundraising campaigns that rely on mailings and phone calls are time-consuming to establish. In contrast, it’s possible to set up a new campaign on GoFundMe that is then visible both nationally and internationally within a few minutes.</p> <p>In the wake of a highly publicized disaster, when many people are <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-select-a-disaster-relief-charity-83928" target="_blank">looking for a quick way to help</a>, everyone – even governors – will want to move fast. Opportunities for fraud are perhaps at their peak.</p> <p>Compounding this problem: Laws governing charitable fundraising do not clearly apply to campaign organizers and crowdfunding platforms. As I detail in an article <a rel="noopener" href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3686612" target="_blank">soon to be published in the Indiana Law Journal</a>, state legislatures wrote those laws decades ago, when charities raised money either directly or using paid solicitors. As a result, those laws do not usually apply to individuals who voluntarily raise money for individuals or charities to which they have no formal ties. Nor do they apply to the recently emerged platforms where people crowdfund for causes.</p> <p><strong>California takes aim</strong></p> <p>So far, there’s no regulation taking shape to address these issues at the federal level.</p> <p>California became the first state to pass legislation specifically targeting charitable crowdfunding when Gov. Gavin Newson signed Assembly Bill No. 488 into law in October 2021. The measure, which will not <a rel="noopener" href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB488" target="_blank">take effect until Jan. 1, 2023</a>, requires both charities raising funds online and platforms hosting campaigns for specific charities to register and file regular reports with the state’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://oag.ca.gov/charities" target="_blank">Registry of Charitable Trusts</a>.</p> <p>The new law will also require these charities and platforms to make certain public disclosures and receipts, as needed. It will also require platforms to promptly distribute donations to the designated charities and obtain a charity’s written consent before soliciting funds for its benefit – with some exceptions.</p> <p>In my view, California’s new law is a good first effort.</p> <p>It places the burden of compliance on the charities themselves and the handful of online platforms engaged in this work, not on the numerous individuals who start campaigns. But it remains to be seen whether the registration, reporting, disclosure and other requirements will create enough transparency and accountability to sufficiently deter fraud without over burdening legitimate charities and platforms.</p> <p>I appreciate the difficult task legislators face in striking a balance that avoids both over- and underregulation. Lawmakers do not want to overregulate charitable crowdfunding to the point that generous individuals and legitimate charities shy away from launching campaigns because of the legal burdens of doing so.</p> <p>That is, all new laws and regulations, in addition to discouraging crowdfunding fraud, ought to encourage generosity.</p> <p>At the same time, lawmakers want to regulate charitable crowdfunding enough to ensure that all or almost all funds raised go the individuals and charities that the donors intend to support. Time will tell whether California and the states that follow its example have struck the right balance.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172029/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lloyd-hitoshi-mayer-1148002" target="_blank">Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer</a>, Professor of Law, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-notre-dame-990" target="_blank">University of Notre Dame</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/convenient-but-susceptible-to-fraud-why-it-makes-sense-to-regulate-charitable-crowdfunding-172029" target="_blank">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Australia's most charitable people

<p><span>By and large Australians are a charitable bunch, but in terms of the sheer size of giving you'll agree these highly philanthropic Aussies take things to the next level.</span></p> <p><span>We’ve taken a look at some of the most-charitable Aussies who donate hundreds of millions every year to hospitals, medical research, education and the arts.</span></p> <p><span>Philanthropy Australia CEO Sarah Davies told News.com that there is a rise in philanthropists talking openly about their donations, “By talking about their giving, philanthropists are creating culture change because they encourage their colleagues to think about their own wealth and how they could use it for the common good.”</span></p> <p><strong>Andrew Forrest</strong></p> <p><span>Much of the mining magnate and Fortescue Metals Group founder’s time is now taken up by philanthropy, with Mr Forrest donating more than $250 million over the past 15 years to focus on ending Aboriginal disadvantage and improving education. </span></p> <p><strong>James Packer</strong></p> <p><span>His casinos may make the headlines, but Mr Packer also happens to be a philanthropist, co-launching the $200 million National Philanthropic Fund in 2014 with the Packer Family Foundation. He supports welfare, health care research and more. </span></p> <p><strong>Greg Poche</strong></p> <p><span>Along with his wife Kay Van Norton Poche, the founder of Star Track Express gave $50 million to the Poche Indigenous Health Network to, “help close the gap in life expectancy and achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” </span></p> <p><strong>Susan Alberti</strong></p> <p><span>One of the nation’s greatest medical research philanthropists, Ms Alberti made it her lifelong mission to raise funds for the prevention, treatment and cure of Type 1 diabetes after her daughters unfortunate passing due to complications from the disease. </span></p> <p><strong>John Kinghorn</strong></p> <p><span>In 2005 Mr Kinghorn, better known as the founder of RAMS Home Loans, donated $296 million to his Kinghorn Foundation which at the time was the biggest charitable donation in Australia. Mr Kinghorn’s fund supports anti-poverty projects and research. </span></p> <p><strong>Alex Waislitz</strong></p> <p><span>A whopping sum of $50 million has been donate by this billionaire Melbourne investor over the course of 10 years, who reportedly has said that it is a real shame that many people waited until very late in life before giving away part of their fortune.  </span></p> <p><strong>Last year's biggest donations </strong></p> <ol> <li>Greg Poche and Kay Van Norton Poche — $50 million to Poche Indigenous Health Network</li> <li>Barry and Joy Lambert — $33.7 million to The University of Sydney</li> <li>HP Billiton — $22 million to Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute</li> <li>Dr Chau Chak Wing — $15 million to The University of Sydney</li> <li>Isaac and Susan Wakil Foundation — $10.8 million to University of Sydney Nursing School</li> <li>Judith Neilson — $10 million to University of NSW</li> <li>Ian Potter Foundation -$10 million to State Library of Victoria</li> <li>BHP Billiton — $10 million to Anzac Centenary Public Fund</li> <li>Ian Potter Foundation — $7.8 million to Questacon, the national science and technology centre</li> <li>Bowel Cancer Australia — $5.9 million to The University of Sydney</li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/03/the-story-behind-australia-money-notes/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The story behind Australia money notes</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/02/richest-people-on-earth/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 of the richest people on earth</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/aussies-too-shy-when-it-comes-to-money-talk/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Aussies are too shy when talking money</strong></em></span></a></p>

Money & Banking

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6 little things to do to be more charitable

<p>Okay, we get it we’re not all Bill Gates, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be charitable in our everyday lives. Here are some handy ways you can lend a hand to your fellow man and give up some of your time or money to make the world a better place for someone who needs it more.</p> <p><strong>6. Volunteer your time</strong></p> <p>While you might not have enough material funds to give up a huge some volunteering your time for a good cause is an effective and some would say just as meaningful gesture. There is a range of charities that you should check out who are always on the lookout for a helping hand.</p> <p><strong>5. Become a blood donor</strong></p> <p>If you’re not a blood donor maybe 2016 is the year you should consider taking it up. Did you know that what if you are an existing donor you can continue donating whole blood right up to your 81st birthday and new donors can start right up until they’re 71.</p> <p><strong>4. Clean out your closet</strong></p> <p>We often have so many clothes that we don’t know what to do with them, unfortunately other people aren’t so lucky. So if you’ve got a little bit of spare time use it as an opportunity to clean out your closet and think about donating your clothes to charity.</p> <p><strong>3. Register as an organ donor</strong></p> <p>When you’re gone you’re not really going to need them anyway. By registering as an organ donor you can ensure your bits and bobs will be put to a good cause when you leave this earth and may see you save several lives in the process of doing so.</p> <p><strong>2. Help a neighbour with chores</strong></p> <p>Okay so this might not be an actual charity perse, but it’s definitely worth going around to your neighbour’s house and helping them with chores from time to time. It’s also an idea to spend a bit of your time chatting or having a cup of tea as it can make a big difference.</p> <p><strong>1. Raise awareness</strong></p> <p>Not everyone has the means to donate to charity regularly, and a lot of the people who actually do may not even be aware of a cause that they would feel passionate about. By using social media and word of mouth to raise awareness you can make a big difference in the lives of people who need it most.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/11/building-a-financial-safety-net/">5 step guide for building a financial safety net</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/how-to-spot-fake-apple-products/">How to spot fake Apple products</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2015/12/google-write-emails-for-you/">Google can now write email replies for you</a></strong></em></span></p>

Retirement Income

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10 extremely charitable celebrities

<p>It seems like all you ever read about celebrities these days is “fad diet-this” and “wardrobe malfunction-that”. But we think it’d be worthwhile focussing on the celebrities who are actually using their fame and fortune to do a little good.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to find the 10 most-charitable over-60 celebrities.</p> <p><strong>10. Elton John</strong></p> <p>The British pianist has become something of a philanthropist, founding the Elton John AIDS foundation and associating himself with a range of charitable causes in his life.</p> <p><strong>9. Oprah Winfrey</strong></p> <p>Famous for working studio audiences into a frenzy with free cars, Oprah has founded a school and multiple charities including the Oprah Winfrey Operating Foundation.</p> <p><strong>8. Susan Sarandon</strong></p> <p>Aside from her history of donations, Susan Sarandon has been a passionate campaigner against the dangers of growing genetically modified corps, with an open letter in the Times.</p> <p><strong>7. Paul McCartney</strong></p> <p>Not content to just give the world some of the best music of all time, Paul McCartney has also spent a lot of time dedicated to ensuring the ethical treatment of animals with PETA.</p> <p><strong>8. Willie Nelson</strong></p> <p>The country music icon has pledged to a variety of causes from those related to animals and farm aid to charities concerned with treating addiction and substance abuse.</p> <p><strong>6. Whoopi Goldberg</strong></p> <p>The comedian and television host has dedicated time and money to a variety of causes including those associated with family/parent support, homelessness and refugees.</p> <p><strong>5. Betty White</strong></p> <p>The lovable actress is revered worldwide but her charitable efforts tend to go under the radar. Betty White has made significant contributions to causes related to animals.</p> <p><strong>4. Morgan Freeman</strong></p> <p>One of the most iconic actors to grace the silver screen, Morgan Freeman has dedicated his time and money to a variety of different causes including the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  </p> <p><strong>3. Gary Sinise</strong></p> <p>The Forrest Gump star is associated with a number of causes and has recently founded the Gary Sinise Foundation to help build homes for wounded ex-service members.</p> <p><strong>2. Eric Clapton</strong></p> <p>The former Cream guitarist has involved himself with a number of charities including UNICEF, Amnesty International and performed at Live Aid with Phil Collins.</p> <p><strong>1. Bill Gates</strong></p> <p>The founder of Microsoft is no scrooge when it comes to charitable causes, setting up the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and giving away more than $28 billion to charity.  </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2016/01/facing-up-to-why-we-fail-with-money/"><strong>Excuses, excuses! Facing up to why we fail with money</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/10-important-quotes-about-money/">10 quotes that show money isn’t everything</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money-banking/2015/12/10-apps-to-help-you-budget-this-year/">10 apps to help you budget this year</a></strong></em></span></p>

Money & Banking

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Charitable gifts to give this festive season

<p>Christmas is the time for giving and while there’s an indescribably joy in giving to our loved ones, it’s also a time to give to those who are less fortunate. According to a survey by Oxfam almost 90 per cent of Australians either give away or sell unwanted presents so Oxfam are urging everyone to consider giving a charitable gift this Christmas. Here are some ideas to get you started but remember there are many charities around – find an issue you know your giftee is passionate about for a truly amazing gift that just keeps on giving.</p><p><strong>Fairtrade gifts</strong></p><p>Many charities have a number of gifts to purchase for the festive season. Oxfam stores (and online) sell unique handcrafted goods made by people from developing countries. Check out their website <a href="http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/christmas-range" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>For the animal lover in your life, a gift from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in exchange for a donation to support WWF’s worldwide conservation efforts is a different but unique gift. Find out more <a href="http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/Default.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Many other charities are selling gifts this Christmas which will help them raise much needed funds for their organisations.</p><p>Alternatively, pick up some vintage treasures at your local Vinnes or Salvos stores. A trawl through the bric-and-brac will uncover some interesting finds and you know the money is going to a good cause.</p><p><strong>A life-changing gift</strong></p><p>Help those in needs by providing education, clean water and other life-changing essential by giving the gift of a goat, a bunch of carrots, a bicycle and many more.</p><p>There are many different presents to purchase from charities like Oxfam’s 'Unwrapped Gifts' section. Giving the gift of a chicken will “provides families in South Africa with an income, eggs and the ability to breed more chicken’s just makes it even better. It’s a little gift that will change a lot.” Your giftee will receive a clever card (expect some puns) detailing their gift and you’ll still have something to give come Christmas day. Find more <a href="https://unwrapped.oxfam.org.au/choose-a-gift" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>UNICEF Australia also have a range of charity gifts to help children in poverty. Whether it’s the gift of polio vaccines, footballs or bicycles, it’s a little gift that will change a lot to a child in need. Check their website <a href="http://www.unicef.org.au/charity-gifts/christmas-charity-gifts.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.</p><p>For those wanting to make an impact closer to home, help out The Smith Family with one of their gifts to Aussie children. It could be sponsoring a child for one term or a school essentials pack. Head to their website <a href="http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/shop-with-us/joyspreader%20" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Other charitable organisation such as <a href="https://caregifts.org.au/shop/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Care</strong></span></a>, <a href="https://gifts.worldvision.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>World Vision</strong></span></a>, <a href="http://rspcagifts.org.au/%20" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>RSPCA</strong> </span></a>and many others offer similar joy-spreading gifts.</p><p><strong>Wishing Tree Appeal</strong></p><p>It’s become a Christmas tradition for many Aussies to donate a gift to the less fortunate at one of Kmart’s wishing trees. Working with The Salvation Army, the Wishing Tree Appeal aims to collect more than 500,000 gifts for people in need across Australia and New Zealand in 2014. Help them make it possible so Christmas can be brighter for the thousands of Aussies who have fallen on hard times. Find where to donate <a href="http://wishingtree.kmart.com.au/about.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Charitable cards</strong></p><p>A simple option to give this Christmas is to purchase charity Christmas cards. We all need cards to go with the presents so why not make it one you know will be going to a good cause. There are many out there supporting great charities so find one that you are passionate about.</p><p>If you can’t pop out to the store, you can order online from websites like <a href="http://www.auscard.com.au/charity.asp" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Auscard</strong> </span></a>with the money from the cards supporting The McGrath Foundation, The Cancer Council and the Children’s Hospital in your state.&nbsp;</p>

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