Australian charities raked in $13.4 billion worth of donations in the 2020-21 financial year and employed over 10 per cent of the total workforce.
All up charities recorded revenue of $190 million, of which $9.7 billion was distributed in grants and donations to those in need, according to a report by the sector regulator released Thursday.
Outgoing expenses for the charities was recorded at $175 billion.
As of the start of this year, Australia had 59,967 registered charities, or roughly one for every 433 people.
Organisations ranged from small community groups to the country's top 'sandstone' universities.
Receiving the lion's share of donations and bequests for the period was the Asia Pacific Internet Development Trust which received over $590 million, followed by mining magnate Andrew Forrest's Minderoo charity which received just over $500 million.
Also in donations and bequests, World Vision Australia received $288 million, The Smith family took in $124 million and The Salvation Army received $122 million.
Commissioner of Australian Charities and Not-for-profits which produced the report, Sue Woodward said philanthropy is a major driver of the sector.
“Our data confirms not only that philanthropists are significant in number - nearly one fifth of registered charities are grant makers - but they also play a very significant role in funding those charities we regulate,” Ms Woodward said.
Donations to 41.5 per cent of registered charities are tax deductible and those with the ATO-endorsed status are more likely to receive donations.
The largest single employer registered as a charity was the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, which recorded 17,222 employees, of which 8000 are full time.
Second was UnitingCare QLD which provided 3791 full time, and 9757 part time jobs, followed by not-for-profit child education provider, Goodstart Early Learning which has 8,948 full time employees.
Over 8000 were registered as a Basic Religious Charity, meaning they are not required to answer financial questions for the annual report or comply with Governance Standards.
Throughout the year, Australian charities received $97 billion, or just over half of all revenue from government, including grants.
More than half of all charities fell into the small or very small categories, and a third recorded less than $50,000 annual revenue.
