Workplace Giving Excellence Awards 2021 – Winners announced

WORKPLACE GIVING AUSTRALIASydney, Australia. 2021. Article

MEDIA RELEASE 30th Nov

Key not-for-profit, Workplace Giving Australia urges Australia’s companies to create a massive wave of positive change revealing if just one million Australian workers undertook workplace giving, a huge $250 million p.a. would be generated (potentially double that with company matching) to support Australia’s stressed charity sector.

The comments were made at the prestigious Annual Workplace Giving Excellence Awards held on Tuesday 30 November, 2021 where Australia’s leading companies and charities were recognised for their innovative workplace giving programs and commitment to creating a national culture of giving.

The Awards are a highly regarded and anticipated annual event – winners in 2021 Best Overall Program category include EnergyAustralia, JB Hi-Fi, and King & Wood Mallesons.

Gold Awards were presented to:

  • Best Overall Program (Large): EnergyAustralia
  • Best Overall Program (SME): Kain Lawyers
  • Best Launch / Refresh (Employer): McKinsey & Company
  • Best Pro Bono/Workplace Volunteering: King & Wood Mallesons
  • Best Innovation: EnergyAustralia
  • Most Innovative Charity / Employer Partnership: The Smith Family with Pearson Australia
  • Best Workplace Giving Unsung Hero: Tomago Aluminium (Wayne Pringle)

30 November 2021 – The winners of the 2021 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards were announced in Sydney today, in a ceremony supported by Anne Ruston, the Minister For Families and Social Services and Minister for Women’s Safety.

Gold in the Best Overall Program (Large) was awarded to leading energy retailer and generator, EnergyAustralia.  67 per cent of the 2,300 strong team are involved in the program.  Excellent senior leadership support is given to the program with the board and executive team committing one per cent of their salaries.  In just over three years since launch, over $1 million has been donated.

Jenny Geddes, CEO, Workplace Giving Australia said at the ceremony, “on behalf of the sector, I heartily congratulate all the winners announced today.  2021 has continued to be a very difficult year.  With this backdrop in mind, the WGA team and I were so grateful that in this, the sixth year of the Awards, so many organisations took the time to enter.  Many did so in the knowledge that they will not only be in the running to win an Award, but they are sharing their stories to help others learn from their success.  This year, we were delighted to receive 49 entries.”

The Awards are a bright spot on the giving calendar.  They recognise the most outstanding workplace giving programs and performers in Australia.  The 2021 Award winners have shown that bucking the national trend is possible and getting 60%, 70%, and even 100% of team members involved is eminently achievable.  The Award winners demonstrate that staff want to get involved – it’s both a great engagement tool and good for business.  In the Award winners, giving programs are on the radar of top CEOs in Australia.  Just like any other part of a business, targets are set and driven at the top.  They build enduring partnerships with their charity partners to create a deeper impact and increase donor participation

The 2021 Winners

Best Overall Program (Large) Gold: EnergyAustralia Silver: JB Hi-Fi Limited Bronze: King & Wood Mallesons  Most Innovative Charity & Employer Partnership Presented by DSS Gold: The Smith Family with Pearson Australia Silver: Youth Opportunities and Raise Foundation with Kain Lawyers Bronze: StreetSmart Australia with Sheridan Australia Highly Commended: United Way Australia with Costco Wholesale Australia  
Best Overall Program (SME) Gold: Kain Lawyers Silver: Greenhill & Co. Australia Highly Commended: Australian Investment Council Highly Commended: iNova Pharmaceuticals  Best Pro Bono / Workplace Volunteering Gold: King & Wood Mallesons Silver: McKinsey & Company Bronze:  Origin Energy Foundation Highly Commended: Woodside Energy   
Best Launch / Refresh (Employer) Gold: McKinsey & Company Silver: Catholic Church Insurance Bronze: Heritage Bank  Best Innovation (Charity or Employer) Gold: EnergyAustralia Silver: JB Hi-Fi Limited Bronze: NAB Highly Commended: Bain & Company Highly Commended: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation Highly Commended: Stockland CARE Foundation  
Best Workplace Giving Unsung Hero Gold: Tomago Aluminium (Wayne Pringle) Silver: Commonwealth Bank (Nellie Belisario) Bronze: PETstock (Katey Parkinson)   

Media contact:

Divya Shekhar, Manager, Workplace Giving Australia

02 9024 8630, divya.shekhar@workplacegivingaustralia.org.au

About Workplace Giving Australia

Workplace Giving Australia is the driver and thought leader of workplace giving in Australia.  WGA advises employers on how to develop best practice giving programs.  WGA advocates for workplace giving as the most effective way for working Australians to support charity and, in partnership with the industry, has a mission to see one million Australians giving through the workplace.

WGA has a free kit of information for companies to help them get involved at www.1mdonors.org.au.  There is also a free online tool so they can benchmark their giving program against that of similar organisations.

Workplace Giving Data*

  • 6,590 organisations have made workplace giving available
  • 211,316 Australians from these organisations have donated – 10,079 (5%) more than FY19
  • $52.18 million was donated by employees through payroll – $8.9 million (20%) more than FY19
  • More than $80 million total donations estimated in FY20 (individual and employer matching)
  • The average donation amount per employee is $246
  • 80% of employee workplace giving donations come through the top 11% (739) of workplace giving enabled employers
  • Since FY10, workplace giving has grown at approximately 7% p.a.

*FY20 Australian Taxation Office Data and WGA analysis

Recently Added Resources

Best Innovation : QBE Group

Best Innovation : Commonwealth Bank

Best Grants Program : Australia Post

Best Corporate + Charity Partnership : The Smith Family with Modern Star

Best Pro-Bono/Volunteering Program : Macquarie Group

2023 Australian Workplace Giving Awards – Evening Program