7 tax deductible charity gifts to boost your refund

Donations of $2 or more to charity are tax deductible and a great way to give back to get back. Your donation will help children living in poverty and their communities while reducing your taxable income, which means you’ll get a nice boost on your tax return .

But, we understand that you may want to know how your money is spent. You worked hard to earn it, and when making a tax deductible charity donation, you want to be sure it’s actually helping the children and communities you care about.

Below are our top 7 ideas on how you can make a tax-deductible donation and help children and their families around the world this tax time.

1. Donate to help children in conflict

Millions of children are affected by lethal conflicts around the world.

In Ukraine, at least two children have been killed or injured every day since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. And, right now, many more children, and their families, do not have enough food or proper shelter and protection. Constant fear and uncertainty are negatively impacting their mental health.

ChildFund and our local partners on the ground are working with children and families facing conflict in places such as Ukraine, Afghanistan and Ethiopia. Your donation could provide food parcels for displaced families, or emergency cash transfers so families can meet their children's most urgent needs. An emergency transfer of cash gives families some control over their lives during times of extreme disruption. Your support could also help create safe places for displaced children where they play, learn and receive psychosocial support.

2. Donate a share of a deepwater borehole system

In rural communities, safe drinking water isn’t always accessible to the most vulnerable families. Drinking from creeks or open wells can cause young children to come down with diarrhoea, fever and other easily preventable health conditions.

When you donate a share of a deepwater borehole system , you and other like-minded people could help a school or community in a remote village to keep their children safe and healthy.

3. Donate a goat to a family

Goats make a great charity gift as they are easy animals to raise in harsh climates. They produce milk for mothers to feed their children and their manure is great for small gardens, providing families living in poverty with a valuable source of nutrition. Families can also sell the goat milk to supplement their household income.

4. Donate a hand washing station to a community

Good hygiene reduces the spread of disease and helps children stay clean and healthy. In developing communities, however, good hygiene facilities aren’t always easily accessible. As we move through the COVID-19 pandemic , access to clean water, hand sanitiser, soap and other hygiene essentials saves lives by slowing the spread of the virus.

When you donate a hand washing station as your tax-deductible gift, children and their families have a place in their community where they can wash their hands to stay healthy.

5. Donate school supplies

Families that can’t afford to pay for school materials may pull their children out of school. You can donate a school supplies set , which is a collection of essentials that every child needs to support them to stay and succeed in school.

One of our school supplies sets contains a bag, books, pens and pencils.

6. Donate a warm blanket and pillow

A warm blanket and pillow are a simple luxury that many children living in poverty can’t afford. Quality bedding enables children in the communities where we work to sleep comfortably, which means they’ll be able to have increased energy to study and enjoy the childhood they need.

7. Gift mosquito nets

One child under five dies from malaria every two minutes. Mosquito nets protect children and their families at night from insect bites, which spread malaria and other illnesses. When you choose mosquito nets as a charity gift , you’re providing a cost-effective way to save lives.

Donate a tax deductible charity gift to boost your tax return

There are many ways to give back and get back more on your tax return . Donating to a charity can be a great way to give someone special a meaningful gift , and also help children and families that need it most.

If you can’t decide which gift you’d like to give but still want to make a tax-deductible donation, you can support our Children in Conflict Appeal . Cash transfers have been proven to be an effective means of emergency support, and your donation helps children and families caught up in conflict who need it the most.

You can also use our handy Tax Calculator to estimate the potential tax benefit of your donation.