Unlocking DGR — a fairer future for giving
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) tax status helps charities access critical funding from philanthropy, grant-makers and community donors. Yet around half of Australia’s registered charities are missing out on DGR status and the vital support it brings.
With support from the Reichstein Foundation and others, Justice Connect is leading the call to Unlock DGR — a campaign pushing for reform to create a fairer, more resilient charitable sector.
Built up haphazardly over the past century, the current DGR system is outdated and overcomplicated, locking smaller charities out and failing to reflect contemporary causes or expectations. Reforming the DGR system will unlock fairer access to tax-deductible giving and help thousands of charities grow their impact.
“At the Reichstein Foundation, we’ve consistently backed reforms to keep Australia’s regulatory environment supportive of social and environmental philanthropy — from defending civil society’s right to advocate to backing calls for a fairer DGR system,” says Reichstein Foundation CEO Rachel Ball.
“As Justice Connect’s campaign makes clear, the current DGR system is too rigid for contemporary charities, forcing them to fit into narrow categories and disadvantaging those working across multiple causes or tackling complex systemic issues. And it’s burdensome, with red tape and compliance requirements draining time and resources that could be better spent making an impact.”
Fortunately, a solution exists. The Productivity Commission’s Future Foundations for Giving report outlines a clear pathway to simplify the DGR system so that most charities are eligible for DGR endorsement. This includes a recommendation to bring advocacy organisations within the DGR system’s remit — an important step towards strengthening the charitable sector’s ability to advocate for the public good.
“Advocacy by Australian charities leads to better, fair law and policy, yet many charities are deterred from fulfilling this vital function because of our confusing, burdensome and out-of-date DGR system,” says Rachel. “Reforming the DGR system will strengthen the sector’s sustainability and Australia’s democracy by helping charities, particularly those engaging in advocacy, access much-needed sources of funding. That’s why we’re supporting the Unlock DGR campaign and joining the call for a fairer future for giving.”
Learn more at Justice Connect
Events
Fixing Australian Philanthropy: Why DGR Reform Matters
A live Inflection Points podcast, co-hosted with Effective Altruism Australia
Date: Wednesday 25 February 2026
Time: 7pm to 9pm AEDT
Where: The Wheeler Centre, Naarm/Melbourne
A live podcast recording examining how Australia’s DGR system restricts philanthropic impact and what could be unlocked if it were reformed. Gain a clearer picture of why DGR reform matters, what’s at stake if nothing changes and how to support more effective Australian philanthropy.
Law and Justice Funders Network — Unlock DGR campaign update
Date: Monday 2 March 2026
Time: 2pm to 4pm AEDT
Where: Online
RSVP to: info@reichstein.org.au
Join us for our Autumn Law and Justice Funders Network meeting where Krystian Seibert, Executive Director, Policy & Sector Development, Philanthropy Australia, and Geraldine Menere, Head of Not for profit Law at Justice Connect, will provide an update on the Unlock DGR campaign.
