With thousands of charities to choose from, how do you decide which one is right for you? Here’s what to look for and why it matters.

With over 60,000 registered charities in Australia, the not-for-profit sector plays a vital role in supporting communities and causes across the nation, but how do you choose which charity to support?

That is one of many questions discussed with Marion Bennett (Mission Australia‘s Executive of Practice, Evidence and Impact), Joe Ware (CEO of the Chatleigh Foundation), and Pip Kiernan (Chair of Clean Up Australia and daughter of late founder Ian Kiernan).

Why Charities Matter

Joe explains that charities often excel where government and private entities cannot. 

“Charities are really good at the learning process,” he says, noting how organisations like Mission Australia gather evidence on what works and adapt their programs and services accordingly. 

Marion continues by focusing on the people who work in the charity sector, saying, “They understand the communities that they live [and work] in, and they’re able to respond in a nuanced way” that government agencies and private entities are not equipped to respond to.

The Power of Volunteers

Clean Up Australia exemplifies volunteer power. With just 12 staff, it mobilises over one million Australians to pick up rubbish every year. 

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation,” says Pip. “It started with Dad seeing a problem … and 40,000 Sydneysiders joined him.” Today, Clean Up Australia has volunteers in every state who pick up thousands of tonnes of rubbish and waste, helping the environment and building friendships as well. 

Volunteers help charities across Australia to deliver many of their services, and provide exponential returns. In any given year, volunteers provide over $20 billion of value to the Australian economy.

Evidence and Impact

Marion explains Mission Australia’s approach to measuring their impact and reporting on their effectiveness. “We design well, we measure well, and we act well,” she says.

Mission Australia uses their feedback to develop programs across their range of services, which are more likely to deliver desired outcomes, and they continually reassess and adapt programs based on their ongoing evaluation processes. 

Joe says donors should expect the charities they support to continually evaluate their programs and processes, to ensure they are effective. “Most of the work that charities are trying to do is really difficult,” he says, “Donors should expect their charities to take that work really seriously and be constantly measuring it.” 

For Clean Up Australia, measurement includes volunteer numbers and an annual litter report. Recognising plastics make up around 80 per cent of items collected, they lobbied the government to start the Return and Earn glass and plastic bottle recycling program – which rewards Australians for recycling drink bottles and cans that would otherwise go to landfill.

Building Community Connections

Beyond financial and logistical measurable outcomes, charities can also build social cohesion in ways that government programs and private enterprises cannot. 

Clean Up Australia, for example, has an 89 per cent brand trust in the community, making it one of Australia’s most trusted organisations. This has been achieved over the many years of bringing people together in their communities to work towards a common goal, and creating personal connections along the way. 

“[Volunteering at Clean Up Australia is] a great antidote for loneliness,” Pip says. “You never forget the name of the person you cleaned up with.”

Choosing Where to Give and Who to Support

Joe, Marion and Pip agree on four common areas to consider when deciding which charity to support: 

• Follow your heart and choose a cause that resonates with you. 
• Look at impact and ask what difference the charity makes. 
• Check the sustainability and transparency of their services and programs, ensuring they do what they say they do. 
• Ask for evidence and data about their effectiveness.

Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.

About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.

Feature image: Canva

When floodwaters reached a catastrophic 14.5 metres in Lismore in 2022, the city faced its worst natural disaster in recorded history. People woke in the night with water in their homes, forcing thousands to crawl onto roofs and wait to be rescued.

In the aftermath, Convoy of Hope arrived to coordinate a massive relief effort that continued for 18 months.

The 2022 flood was unprecedented. Lismore sits on a floodplain where two rivers meet, and residents were familiar with flooding – but no one imagined the water levels would surpass the 1974 flood by over two metres.

“People had packed to a certain level and then people woke up through the night and they put their legs and their feet out of their bed into water,” recalls Rebekka Battista, associate pastor of CentreChurch Lismore. “It’s pretty devastating.”

When Convoy of Hope arrived, the scene resembled a war zone. Dead livestock, overturned cars, boats in wrong places, and debris covered every street. Locals wandered in a daze, trying to comprehend what had happened to their city.

Convoy of Hope’s response was immediate and comprehensive.

After connecting with Rebekka – who had been kayaking down the main street just hours before – the Convoy of Hope team secured the post office as a base and connected with community leaders, church groups, and business partners to coordinate the massive relief effort.

Volunteer Brittany Molloy describes the devastation: “Every house, every street you would look down was just horrific. But being a part of a team that really cared for people and just put everything on the line – everyone dropped whatever they were doing and we were just here and present – was something I can’t really put into words.”

Convoy of Hope provided essential supplies, purchased tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of vouchers from local businesses to distribute to residents, and even used cardboard boxes as temporary wall protection for damaged homes.

Lismore resident, Irene Bailey’s home was flooded up to the windows. She says “Convoy of Hope was our main helper.”

As winter approached, Convoy of Hope provided tents and sleeping bags, setting them up inside gutted homes so families could begin living in their houses again.

Convoy of Hope’s ability to respond quickly comes from their network of hubs across Australia and around the world. Their mobile operation centre – a purpose-built, air-conditioned trailer with kitchen, shower, and toilet facilities – means volunteers aren’t a drain on the already devastated communities they serve.

“Within a couple of weeks, people move on to the next story,” says Joel A’Bell, National Director of Convoy of Hope Australia. “But the devastation was so widespread that we were here for months, up to 18 months, still working with locals.”

For Rebekka, Convoy of Hope’s presence meant everything: “It actually gave me hope that someone out there cared.”

Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.

About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.

Feature image: Supplied

“Operation Christmas Child is a really tangible, hands-on way that Australians can show love to kids in need around the world,” says Leanne Palmer from Samaritan’s Purse.

At a Sydney warehouse, volunteers sort, pack and prepare shoebox gifts for children around the world. Through local churches, schools and community groups, this simple act of generosity becomes a global story of faith and kindness.

Watch Part 1: The Heart of the Shoebox Project

From Local Churches to Shoebox Goals

At Hawkesbury Valley Baptist Church, volunteers have packed shoeboxes for 25 years. “The goal for today is 1,500 shoeboxes,” says organiser Ila Spence. “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world, it’s God’s love in action.”

Each box contains a mix of practical and joyful items. “There’s so many people along the way that contribute to a child getting a shoebox, and I love that,” says volunteer Pam Fairhurst.

Lucas and Lincoln, aged 12 and 14, help rally their church groups to make more boxes each year. “We feel really recognised … so we can make more people happy across the world,” they say.

At St Bishoy Coptic Orthodox College, teacher Amal Awadalla reflects: “Our children watched a video about where these boxes go … they were overwhelmed. It’s an international story, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

The Warehouse: From Donation to Dispatch

Inside the Sydney warehouse, one of eight globally, volunteers inspect, scan and pack thousands of boxes for shipment. “It’s not just logistics,” says Leanne Palmer. “These gifts create connection and hope.”

Watch Part 2: Behind the Scenes – The Warehouse Story

Paul Buckley, who takes two weeks off work each year to volunteer, says: “I just love the idea that we’re giving a present … because we love them so much.”

For many, this is love made practical. “When we’re hands-on,” Leanne adds, “this box becomes a symbol of that love.”

Lives Transformed — Then and Now

In the final chapter, we meet Lina and Larsa, sisters who once received shoeboxes as children in war-torn Iraq, now volunteering in Australia. “That was us twenty years ago,” says Lina. “It truly did mean a lot.”

“They may not mean anything to others,” adds Larsa, “but to me, they were a ray of hope.”

Watch Part 3: Full Circle – The Recipients Who Give Back

More than 11 million shoeboxes reach children in about 170 countries each year. “If we pack 5,000 shoeboxes, that’s 5,000 children receiving gifts,” says Dave Wu, Queensland Regional Ministry Leader. “It’s far greater than just giving gifts.”

A Call to Generosity

From church halls and classrooms to warehouse floors and distant villages, Operation Christmas Child shows how small acts of kindness can ripple across the world. Each shoebox carries the same message: You matter. You are loved.

Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.

About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.

Feature image: Supplied