Cost of living pressures are taking a toll on both charities and the communities they support, according to new data from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Commissioner Sue Woodward AM said the 12th edition of the Australian Charities Report shows charity sector expenses surpassed significant revenue growth, based on analysis of 53,641 Annual Information Statements submitted by charities for the 2024 reporting period.
“Charities generated $239 billion in revenue in this latest period, a strong 7.5% increase that outpaced growth in the wider economy. But expenses climbed even faster, rising by 8.6%, to $231 billion, outpacing this growth. This growing gap reflects the reality charities are facing,” she said.
Ms Woodward said the larger total expenses bill reflects a combination of factors that many charities have highlighted to the ACNC in various forums.
“Demand for support is rising as more people feel the squeeze. Charities are responding by hiring more staff where they can—but at the same time, they’re being hit with higher costs for wages, insurance and utilities. That’s a tough combination for many charities.”
Charities employed 1.6 million staff, or 11% of Australia’s workforce, when compared with 2025 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) workforce data.
That’s a rise from 10.7% previously.
Read more at https://www.acnc.gov.au/tools/reports/australian-charities-report-12th-edition
