Australia’s largest provider of philanthropic services, Australian Philanthropic Services (APS), has reached a major milestone as the intergenerational wealth transfer drives more Australians to embed purpose into their financial legacy.

APS now supports more than 1,000 clients through its giving structures, with clients gifting over $1.3 billion to charity since its inception in 2012 – including over $235 million in FY2025 to date alone.

This moment marks a tipping point for structured giving in Australia. Increasingly, individuals and families are rethinking legacy and embracing philanthropy not only as a tax-effective strategy but as a meaningful part of how they manage wealth and engage the next generation.

“We’ve been doing this for many years now,” said Chris Cuffe, APS founder and chairman.

“Welcoming our 1,000th client feels like a turning point for structured giving. More philanthropists are taking a strategic approach to giving – embedding values into wealth planning, and passing on a legacy of purpose, not just financial assets.”

APS establishes approximately one third of all new Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) in Australia and is the steward of the country’s fastest growing and most generous Public Ancillary Fund, the APS Foundation.

Greg Roodt represents a growing wave of younger Australians, particularly from the technology sector, who are embedding philanthropy into their financial plans earlier in life. He turned to structured giving as a way to put part of a liquidity event to meaningful use – joining the APS Foundation as one of its newest giving fund holders.

“There are a lot of problems in the world right now — poverty, war, climate change — and it can feel bleak,” he said.

“But we’ve never been closer to solving some of these problems. I saw a presentation from APS and it sounded too good to be true. But it was easy to set up, and everything was ready to go in a day or two.”

“My partner and I hope it sets a good example for our two young boys and shows them we can all help make the world a better place.”

Geoff Day, one of APS’s earliest clients, says establishing a family foundation through a PAF gave him a way to be deliberate and impactful in his giving.

“Social capital is scarce. Every dollar is one I want to have impact,” he said.

“Setting up a PAF allowed us to direct our giving with purpose. I stumbled across APS in 2011 after reading an article about family foundations. It was almost luck – but perfect timing.”

“I read a book about how much is enough, and how giving your children too much can erode important values. Now, we have something far greater than money to pass on. Our kids have seen the impact it’s had on me, and they’re just as enthusiastic about the foundation as we are. It’s something they’ll remember their mother and father through.”

The Mostyn family, other long-standing APS clients, said their family’s giving started as a way to give back but evolved into a lasting, tax-effective strategy that continues to grow and amplify impact.

“The initial advice and guidance from APS was vital,” Amanda Mostyn said.

“We still rely on them for governance support and keeping up to date with the latest rules. What we hoped for 14 years ago has come to pass – the fund has grown, and so has the amount we’re able to donate each year.”

With a mix of private foundations and flexible Giving Funds through its public ancillary fund, APS supports clients at all stages of their giving journey – from first-time philanthropists to those embedding giving into multi-generational wealth planning.

“Philanthropy offers a dual advantage,” said Cuffe. “It provides an immediate tax deduction and enables people to turn financial capital into social capital – creating a legacy of purpose that lasts well beyond the initial donation.”

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Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) is the leading independent, not-for-profit philanthropic services organisation in Australia. Its 1000+ clients donated over $235 million to charity in FY2025 to date. APS clients have committed over $2.43 billion to charity held in structures that it supports.

APS offers fulfilling ways for people to manage their charitable giving over time using tax-efficient structures called ancillary funds. With APS, it is possible to establish a private ancillary fund (PAF) or a named giving fund (also known as a sub-fund) in its public ancillary fund, the APS Foundation.

Published 30 June 2025