How is my donation used?

Donations fund licensed advocacy hours. AUD 19.25 per week (one hour of licensed advocacy at case-officer rate) supports one household for a year.

Who provides the debt-hardship negotiation?

LWD funds a separately-licensed advocate (Australian Credit Licence 387398). LWD itself does not provide credit advice — the structural boundary is required under ASIC Regulatory Guide 96.

Make a Difference

Behind every dollar is a family that sleeps easier.

Q: Is my donation tax-deductible?

LWD is applying for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsement. Tax-deductibility is not yet in place. We will update this page and email donors once endorsement lands.

You won't be in the room when the ATO says yes. You won't hear the phone call when a creditor agrees to stop. But your donation is the reason we can make those things happen. Life Without Debt charges the households we serve nothing, which means every case we take is only possible because someone like you decided it mattered.

The families on this site are real. The debts are real. The relief when it is resolved is real too. We exist entirely on donations from people who believe a terminal diagnosis is already enough to carry.

[ACNC registration pending] [DGR endorsement pending] Secure Processing 87c per dollar to direct service Built to operate in perpetuity

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$100 funds a full credit mediation session: resolving creditor calls and starting formal hardship negotiations for one person in crisis.

Secure · [DGR endorsement pending] · Receipt provided

Donating $100 (once)

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This is an In Memory or In Honour gift

Email me a receipt ([DGR endorsement pending] — a compliant tax receipt will be issued once DGR is granted)

Keep me updated on the difference my donation is making

Donation Summary

By confirming, you acknowledge this donation is voluntary. DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) endorsement is pending — until DGR is granted, donations are not tax-deductible. A receipt will be emailed to you; a compliant tax receipt will be issued once DGR endorsement is in place. No goods or services are provided in exchange.

Thank you. Genuinely.

Somewhere in Australia, a family is going through something we wouldn't wish on anyone. Your donation means we can pick up the phone when they call. A tax receipt is on its way to your inbox.

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Where Your Money Goes

Every dollar does a measurable job.

We don't believe in vague impact statements. Here is exactly what different giving levels fund for the people we serve.

$19.25/wk

The $19.25 Promise

$19.25 a week (about $1,001 a year) funds one hour of licensed advocacy each week. On average, those hours resolve $58,700 of debt per household — about $58 of debt resolved for every $1 you give.

$100

A Full Mediation Session

Funds a complete initial session: case review, creditor correspondence drafted, hardship application commenced on behalf of a household in crisis.

A Year

$19.25 a Week for 12 Months

One year of weekly giving funds 52 hours of licensed expert negotiation. Our evidence shows that level of support resolves, on average, $58,700 of debt for a family in terminal illness.

$5K

One Week of Case Operations

Covers one week of our full intake and coordination function: every referral assessed, every household responded to, every hardship application progressed during that week.

A Story of What's Possible

She spent the time she had left free. Because of donors like you.

One of our founder's cases — a woman in her early fifties with a terminal diagnosis (composite, name changed) — came to us with an $84,000 ATO debt that had been hanging over her family for years. She was living with a very short prognosis and was spending that precious time in fear.

"I can't stop thinking about what happens to my kids when I'm gone. The tax debt, the creditors, I can't leave them with all that."
Composite beneficiary, South Australia (name withheld)

Our licensed practitioners at Credit Mediation Services Pty Ltd (ACL 387398) worked on her behalf and reached a resolution. No charge to her. No charge to her family. The work was funded by people who had donated to make exactly this kind of outcome possible. Outcomes depend on individual circumstance and are not guaranteed.

She spent the time she had left with her children. Not on the phone to creditors. Not lying awake afraid. Present.

Know someone who needs this?

Ways to Give

Choose the giving style that works for you.

Whether you give once, give regularly, or give as a business; every path leads to the same place: a vulnerable Australian who gets help they couldn't otherwise access.

Once-Off Gift

A single donation, any amount, any time. Every dollar funds direct household services. Great if you want to give in response to a specific need or event, or in memory of someone.

Donate Now

$19.25/Week Regular Giving

Our anchor giving level: $19.25 per week funds one hour of licensed expert negotiation. 87c of every dollar goes directly to service. Cancel any time, no questions asked.

Start $19.25/Week

Corporate Partnership

Your customers, staff, and stakeholders are touched by terminal illness too. A corporate partnership with Life Without Debt includes named recognition, quarterly case impact reports, co-branded campaign opportunities, and a direct line to the work your support funds. This is not a logo on a website. It is a genuine partnership with measurable outcomes.

Talk to Us About Partnering

The Transparency Pledge

What we promise every donor, in writing.

This is not aspirational. It is structurally enforced. And we report against it publicly every year.

87c

Per Dollar: Direct Service

87 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to household service. This is structurally enforced by Credit Mediation Services Pty Ltd absorbing all infrastructure overhead.

Cap

Salary Cap

LWD's constitution limits any LWD charity role to no more than 1.5× the national median full-time salary. Senior roles are employed through CMS at market rates, not charged to donations.

Zero

Vanity Policy

No conferences, awards nights, branded merchandise, or promotional spend is charged against charitable funds. Your money is for cases. Period.

Annual

Audited Impact Report

Published every year. Cases resolved, debt figures, stress outcomes, direct service ratio, independently verified. If we miss a target, we explain exactly why and what changes.

Life Without Debt is built to outlive its founders, constitutionally governed as a Company Limited by Guarantee, with a Board succession plan and a service model documented to operate independently of any individual practitioner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you should know before you give.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Life Without Debt is applying for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsement with the ATO. DGR is not yet in place. Until endorsement lands, donations are not tax-deductible. You will still receive a receipt for your records; a compliant tax receipt will be issued once DGR is granted. This page will be updated the day endorsement takes effect.

How much of my donation reaches households?

87 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to household services: licensed advocates, case coordinators, and hardship representation. This ratio is structurally enforced (not just aspirational) because Credit Mediation Services Pty Ltd absorbs all infrastructure overhead. We publicly report this ratio in our Annual Impact Report, independently verified. If it ever falls below 85%, the Board must report the cause and remediation plan publicly.

Can I cancel a monthly donation?

Absolutely. Monthly giving can be paused or cancelled at any time with no fees, no lock-in, and no questions asked. Simply email us at [email protected] and we will process your request immediately.

Will I receive updates on how my donation is used?

Yes; if you opt in during the donation process, we send quarterly updates sharing impact stories (anonymised), financial transparency reports, and information about our work. We never spam and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Can I donate in memory or in honour of someone?

Yes, and we find these gifts particularly meaningful. If you are making a tribute donation, please note it in the donation process or email us after donating at [email protected]. We will acknowledge the tribute in our communications (with your permission).

I want to give more than the options listed. What do I do?

Wonderful. Use the "Other amount" field in the donation form to enter any amount, or contact us directly at [email protected] to discuss major gifts, foundation grants, or bequests. We would love to speak with you.