This is the third of five research reports from Giving Australia 2016, which provides insights on volunteering, including trends, innovations and challenges for those who are giving their time and money to a diverse number of causes.

Australians are a generous bunch – with around 14.9 million adults (80.8%) donating $11.2 billion to charities and non-profit organisations (NPOs) over twelve months in 2015–16.

This first of five research reports from Giving Australia 2016 focuses on monetary giving by philanthropists and by philanthropic institutions including trusts, foundations and evolving forms of collective giving.