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 mission 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 help them access opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach – empowering them to create better futures for themselves.

Poverty is a matter of chance, not the fault of any child. The disadvantage experienced by young Australians living in poverty today not only impacts their life at home; it also adversely affects their education, and often, the direction of their lives. Many can’t afford warm uniforms in winter; they may feel ashamed as they have no decent school shoes, or stressed out because they don’t have the internet or the books they need to do their homework.

For 100 years, The Smith Family has been tackling the problem of poverty, one child at a time. Through our flagship Learning for Life program, we help children overcome their circumstances, by providing long-term support for their education. Our holistic, evidence-based approach is helping these children realise their potential. 

We draw on one hundred 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 accurately track the long-term progress of the children and young people supported through our programs, and the difference you’re making in the communities they live in. 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, making 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.