Australian Philanthropic Services

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Partner with APS

Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) partners with professional advisers to help clients establish and manage effective charitable giving structures that align with their values and long-term goals. We work in partnership with you and our services complement the support your clients already receive from you.

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What is structured giving?

Structured giving is a strategic way of making significant charitable donations. It involves creating a plan for how, when and where to give and often involves families or organisations coming together on aligned values.

12 questions about values to ask your clients

Talking about philanthropy with clients is not just an effective way to help optimise their tax obligations; it is an essential chance to connect on their most fundamental values.

Five things advisers should know about charitable giving

If your clients have reached a stage where they want to be more intentional about their charitable giving, we can help you guide those conversations.

Strategic philanthropy : solving a tax challenge

Research tells us that high-net-worth individuals are increasingly seeking advice on setting up foundations, identifying impactful charities and ensuring donations are tax effective.

Need help with philanthropy?

81% of HNWIs say it is ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important for advisers to raise philanthropy proactively*. Talking about philanthropy can deepen client relationships, enhance your service, and support broader financial, legal and estate planning strategies.

APS provides end-to-end philanthropy support for you and your clients. Our adviser toolkit and CPD accredited training materials have been designed to help you introduce structured giving to your clients and assist them to identify their giving objectives. We then work alongside you to structure your clients’ giving in line with their philanthropic goals and importantly to put these plans into action. As experts in structured giving, you can rely on our team to keep you up to date with any legislative or sector updates, and to ensure the highest standard of compliance. 

Our national team can assist wherever you or your clients are based in Australia.

Get your Adviser Toolkit now

For many advisers, the impact of giving can spark meaningful client conversations and be the start of a legacy that lasts for generations.

APS provides the philanthropy expertise and tools to make that conversation simple and rewarding.

To download our toolkit, please fill in our form.

Why work with APS?

APS is the leading not-for-profit organisation in Australia. We are independent and not aligned to any financial institution or charity. We do not provide tax or strategic investment advice. Our focus is on supporting and growing effective philanthropy in Australia through our technical expertise in charitable giving structures.

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Experts in structured giving

APS establishes a third of the private ancillary funds (PAFs) in Australia each year and has the fastest growing public ancillary fund in Australia with our clients gifting over $1.3billion since inception.

Specialised giving service

Your clients gain access to our philanthropy experience, advice, knowledge and networks. From first gifts to strategic funding rounds, we support your clients’ giving to causes and charities that matter to them.

Your client relationship

You maintain the key relationship with your client while APS is your outsourced philanthropy partner. We manage the administration, so you can continue focusing on your clients’ broader financial and estate planning goals.

Comprehensive support

We can help your clients from establishment to ongoing management, administration and compliance. We have professional learning for our advisor network including webinars, toolkits and technical updates.

Education & training

We support professional advisers with CPD-accredited training to build confidence in discussing philanthropy with clients. Delivered through PD days, conferences, webinars and boardroom lunch-and-learn sessions, our programs range from the fundamentals of structured giving to an advanced masterclass series. Register for our upcoming webinars or contact us for more information. We can also arrange a bespoke presentation for your team. Get in touch.

 

Recent webinars

Foundations of philanthropy

Foundations of philanthropy

This event has now passed. Please contact us for more information.

High net wealth individuals are increasingly seeking strategic advice on philanthropy, including setting up Foundations, identifying impactful charities and ensuring donations are tax effective. As well as being highly tax effective, structured giving is an invaluable tool to help you engage with clients and connect with the next generation through values-based discussions. As an adviser to high net wealth families, are you equipped to guide your clients and prospects effectively in navigating their charitable giving?

This adviser session will equip you to confidently guide your clients in structuring their philanthropy for maximum joy and impact.

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Building meaningful philanthropy

Building meaningful philanthropy

This event has now passed. Please contact us for more information. 

Kate Stone, APS Head of Philanthropic Giving will share her expertise gleaned from working with APS client families and the wider philanthropic sector. Join us as we explore how connecting to their values, family, charities, and other like-minded givers can deepen your clients’ enjoyment of giving.

Financial advisers can earn CPD credit for attending.

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Talking philanthropy

Talking philanthropy

This event has now passed. Please contact us for more information. 

More Australians today are seeking not just financial security, but meaningful impact. This presentation assists financial advisers to confidently introduce philanthropy as a core component of comprehensive wealth planning, strengthening trust and deepening long-term relationships. We will explore how giving structures like ancillary funds can help clients achieve their philanthropic goals while maximising tax efficiencies, strengthen family legacy and align their financial plan with personal values.

Financial advisers can earn CPD credit for attending.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I build charitable giving into my client conversations?

There are many different reasons why people choose to structure their giving—and interestingly, tax benefits often aren’t the primary motivation!

When talking to clients about structured giving, it’s important to recognise that the motivations are often deeply personal. There are several common drivers that inspire people to set up these structures.

  • Personal beliefs
  • The joy of giving back
  • Family values
  • Connection
  • Seeking structure around their giving
  • Legacy

For help introducing structured giving to your clients, download our toolkit or get in touch with one of our team.

What are the options for charitable giving structures?

APS supports the establishment and management of two charitable trust structures – a private ancillary fund or private giving fund or a subfund in our public ancillary fund or public giving fund – the APS Foundation.

  • In a private giving fund, the client will keep control of the trust and make all the decisions. The client, or their investment adviser invests the capital.
  • In a public giving fund like the APS Foundation, donated funds are pooled in a communal giving structure and professionally invested by investment industry veterans Chris Cuffe AO and David Wright, supported by leading investment managers.

In both structures, APS handles all the administration and compliance support, and the client can choose which charities they want to support. As an APS client, they gain access to our wealth of philanthropy experience, advice, knowledge and networks. From first gifts to strategic funding rounds, our Giving Services team is here for support and guidance wherever they are in their philanthropy journey.

Read more on both structured giving options.

What are your fees?

APS is an independent not-for-profit organisation. Our fees are designed to cover costs only, and we are not aligned to any financial institution or advisory group.

Private ancillary fund

Establishment costs

  • APS charges $3,300 inc GST
  • Trustee company $1,025 inc GST
  • Stamp duty – varies by state

Ongoing costs

  • APS charges $9,900-$13,200 inc GST*
  • APS arranged audit $1,056 inc GST

 

APS Foundation Giving Funds

Establishment costs

  • None

Ongoing costs

  • 1.1%pa inc GST* plus external investment manager fees**

 

Public Ancillary Fund

POA

*Ancillary funds can reclaim 75% of GST
**External fund manager fees, where charged (most are rebated), are additional and based on FUM. Estimated to be 0.30-0.32% pa.
Fees as at December 2025

Who is on your team?

We have a national team of Giving & Governance advisers who are experts in providing philanthropy support to high net wealth clients.

APS has a highly talented and well-respected Board, including non-executive directors Jan Swinhoe (Chair), Michael Traill AM, Belinda Hutchinson AC, Dan Phillips, John McMurdo, Graeme McKenzie and Sebastian Robertson, and executive director David Ward.

The Unsworth Foundation

The Unsworth Foundation

The Unsworth family have marked a milestone of $1 million in gifts to charity – but they still have more in their Foundation than when they started.

“Strong financial management is essential to achieve our goal to support charities over the long term. Our wealth advisers are as personally engaged and involved as everyone else. We know they’ve got our best interests at heart.” Rodney Unsworth, Founder

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"APS has provided an invaluable administrative service through their quiet professionalism and sound advice. I have no hesitation in recommending their services."

Rohan Abayasekara ACMA, CGMA, Responsible Person for The Unsworth Foundation
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