Philanthropy

In 2020-21, we supported the education of almost 180,000 young people in need through our programs, but we’re still only reaching 15% of the 1.2 million young Australians living in poverty¹.

The Smith Family relies on the generosity of philanthropists to sustain our cause as private donations make up around 80% of our annual income. Through your philanthropy, you can ensure that young Australians growing up in poverty get the education they deserve. You’ll unlock opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach – and ensure every child can realise their full potential.

We believe that every child deserves a chance - no matter what their circumstances.

The disadvantage experienced by young Australians living in poverty today not only impacts their life at home. It can flow on to negatively impact their education. 

The risk factors that lead to educational disadvantage can begin in a child's early years and continue throughout school. Despite the resilience and commitment of parents, the contributors to disadvantage are complex, and without the right support at the right time, disadvantage can be long-term and intergenerational. If we don't take action together now, many Australian children will not receive a quality education - and our prospects as a national will continue to be compromised. 

Education provides children with a pathway out of poverty - empowering future generations of young Australians. 

Evidence underpins everything we do at The Smith Family.

We draw on 100 years of experience, thousands of personal stories, extensive data and best practice from Australia and around the world, to continually assess and improve how we work – and how we help.
 
This approach keeps us at the forefront of the conversation around poverty and the transformative power of education – and gives philanthropists like you the clarity and confidence to generate the highest impact.

 

Your philanthropic gift can be directed to sponsor children on our flagship Learning for Life program, or to support another specific program or area of interest. Alternatively, you can choose to provide flexible funding which allows us to direct the funds to where they are most needed.
 
You can help young people in need across the country, as we’re on the ground in 90 communities, working with 736 partner schools, in every State and Territory. 

We continually track the long-term progress of the children and young people supported through our programs, and the positive difference you’re having in our communities. From data on completion rates through secondary school and transition into further study, to close-ups on the results of our learning programs, you’ll be able to see first-hand the impact of your contribution.

We’re also committed to making the most of every single dollar we receive, ensuring the best use of the funds you entrust to us. As we’ve grown, we’ve been able to reach even more young people and their families, with 71% of donations and funding from individual supporters and partner organisations over the past five years, going straight into our community programs – all while keeping administration costs low at around 1.6% of total income throughout the year.
 
For more information, view our Annual Report and Financial Statements here.