Join Our Staff Giving Program

The University has initiated a Staff Giving Program whereby staff can make a donation to support their preferred area of the University.

Many of our staff are already enthusiastic supporters of the University, having seen first-hand the positive impact and remarkable benefits that gifts can make to our students, researchers and wider community.

Last year, more than 8000 people – alumni, friends and staff – made donations to the University. Our future is tied in no small part to our capacity to find new sources of support.

Why donate?

To our donors - thank you. You can watch our 'Thank You' video here.

Donor Charter

How do I donate?

You can give a little or a lot, you can make a regular donation or a one-off - it all makes a difference.

To make a donation please start by visiting the 'Choose an area to support’ section of this site. Here you can learn more about the different areas of the University that you can support.

Donations of more than $2 are tax deductible. Once you have selected an area to support you can make your donation in one of four ways:

FAQs

Is there a minimum donation amount?

Every donation, no matter what size, makes a significant and immediate impact on the ability of the University to promote intellectual discovery and development. Donations of more than $2 are tax deductible.

How does the option of giving via regular payroll deduction work?

If you are a continuing or fixed term staff member you have the additional option of giving regular cash support via payroll deduction. You provide instructions to the HR Service Centre (the University’s payroll department) to deduct an amount of your choice from your net salary every month.

You can give as much or as little as you like. A small donation combined with others can make a big difference. Download the Staff Giving Program Gift Form if you wish to donate by payroll deduction. You can vary the amount or cancel the donation at any time by completing the Amendment to Payroll Deductions Form.

Can a gift be made from gross or ‘pre-tax’ salary?

Regular contributions are deducted from your net pay. In this way, you have the benefit of a tax deduction. The University will provide you with an annual tax receipt which you can use to claim your tax deduction when you complete your tax return.

If I choose to donate via a regular payroll deduction, when will the first payroll deduction start?

The first donation will be deducted from your pay on the next available pay period from the date the University receives your gift form.

What happens if I set up a regular donation and I want to vary the amount of my donation or cancel it?

To vary or cancel a donation set up as a payroll deduction download the Amendment to Payroll Deductions Form.

If I choose the payroll deduction as a payment method can I indicate the value of my gift as a percentage of my salary (instead of a fixed amount)?

No, you need to specify a regular dollar amount to be deducted from your pay every fortnight. To vary or cancel a donation why you are paying via a payroll deduction, download the Amendment to Payroll Deductions Form.

Will the University provide me with a receipt for my gift?

Donors who make a one-off gift of $2 or more via cheque, credit card or money order are issued with a tax receipt when the gift is received.

Donors who make regular gifts using any payment method including payroll deduction are issued with an annual tax receipt in July of each year, itemising their donations during the previous financial year.

If you have any questions about tax receipts for your donations, contact Advancement Services, telephone +61 8627 8807, email

Can I have a say on which area of the University I would like to support?

Our donors can choose an area to support.

If you are using the Staff Giving Program Gift Form you are invited to select an option when you complete the form.

If the area of the University you want to support is not listed in the Gift Form, contact the Sydney Development Fund on 02 8627 8818 or to arrange a donation to an area of your choice.

If you do not have a preference, your gift will be allocated to our Student Support Fund – to help students in financial need, as we believe that financial constraints should not prevent an outstanding student from going to university.

What percentage of my gift goes to the area I choose?

100% of the money you give will go towards the area(s) you select for your gift.

Can I make my donation anonymously?

Yes. Please contact the if you would like your gift to be anonymous.

Can a donation via payroll deduction be made to other charitable institutions?

No. While the University is proud of the variety of charitable institutions that you support, our Staff Giving Program has been designed to make a difference within the University community.

What sort of information will I be required to provide as a donor?

The University asks you provide address details so we can send you an acknowledgement letter and a tax receipt. The information you provide may be used by the University to maintain contact with you, and keep you up to date with information about the University, its services, and the functions and events it holds that may be of interest to you, and to let you know about ways that you can support its work and achievements. If you wish to remain anonymous or do not wish to receive information, contact the . For more information read the University Privacy Policy.

What happens if I set up a regular donation via payroll deduction or credit card and I leave the University?

If you are donating via payroll deduction, the deduction will cease with your last pay. If you are contributing via credit card, you can at any time vary or cancel your donations by emailing the .

I am involved in research, can I make a gift to my own area of research?

Our donors are welcome to support an area of the University they are passionate about. Contact the by email or telephone 02 8627 8818 to arrange a donation to an area of your choice.

Some staff choose to give to their own research project. In this case, in line with the principles set out in the Research Code of Conduct, the Dean or senior manager would be involved in assessing the suitability of using your gift as a source of funding.

Can a gift to the Staff Giving Program be directed to more than one area?

Yes. You can tick more than one box in the Staff Giving Program Gift Form and the amount of the gift will be split in equal parts. Similarly, if the areas you are interested in do not appear on the Gift Form please contact the to indicate your preference.

Who do I talk to about setting up a gift to the University in my will?

Bequests have played a critical role in the evolution of the University of Sydney. The University’s first major bequest, the Challis bequest of 1880, endowed professorships in medicine and science, law, literature and engineering, laying the ground for the University of Sydney to become a truly world-class institution.

Find out more about leaving a bequest