PhilanthropyWiki
Affinity Groups »
Print this page
Search Our SitesDonating Assets
It is possible to donate a huge variety of assets to charities, including art objects, land, surplus or spare products, household goods and equipment. Specialist schemes have been established to enable tax advantages for donations of property to cultural and environmental organisations. There are also many charities which will accept donations of recyclable material.
When making donations of goods or property, take care that the charity is not being burdened by the gift to the point where the gift costs more than it achieves. An example might be the home of a famous author, donated to a charity on condition it be made into a museum and a centre for writers. The charity will be required to maintain the building and to make it suitable for public attendance, as well as to pay land taxes, public liability insurance and possibly building modifications to allow such things as public toilets and access for the disabled. In many cases this can lead to an already overstretched organisation being forced to spend large sums on a property, or else not being able to use it for its intended purpose because the expense is too great. It is advisable to talk to the charity first, to ascertain whether they really have a need for such a property, and also to make provision for a sum to be held in trust for the ongoing upkeep and other costs so that the charity does not end up out of pocket as a result of the gift.
Consideration must also be taken when donating household goods
to a charity; items should be in working order and should be the
type of item the charity is requesting. 
According to the Brotherhood
of St Laurence, it costs Melbourne charities alone over one million
dollars every year to deal with hard waste including unwearable
clothing, damaged furniture and broken appliances.
Here are some resources for donations of different types of goods.
Donating Land/Property
Gifts
that Keep On Giving, Department of Environment and Heritage
For information on making a donation of land to an environmental
group, or on bequeathing land or taking out a conservation covenant
Donating Cultural Items
Cultural
Gifts Program
For information on making a donation of items of cultural significance
to a museum, art gallery or other cultural institution.
Donating Computers
GreenPC
GreenPC refurbish and recycle computers and provide them at low
cost to community organisations and eligible individuals.
OurCommunity
OurCommunity's page on donating computers includes plenty of organisations
around Australia which accept donations of computers and parts.
Donating Clothing and Furniture
OurCommunity
OurCommunity's page on clothing and furniture donations lists a
number of charities in each State and Territory.