Women dig deepest as disasters inspire Australians to double their charity donations Surfers Paradise lifesavers Michaela Henderson and T.J. Hendy rattle the donation tin. Their postcode gives the largest total amount to charity in the state. Pic: Luke Marsden Source: News Limited WOMEN dig deeper for charity even though they earn much less than men, new research into giving shows. A report by the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT shows that women are more likely to donate - and give a higher proportion of their income - despite earning $20,000 a year less on average. Find out how much your postcode or occupation is donating "Females tend to tick more of the boxes of factors which influence giving," centre director Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes said. They more readily sympathise with, and identify with, issues. Values such as altruism and awareness of need tend to be higher in women. Queenslander in biggest single donation by an Australian American philanthropist drums up Qld donors The report reveals that Australians are twice as generous as they were less than a decade ago, with the annual amount donated in tax-deductible gifts by individuals doubling to more than $2 billion in just eight years. And researchers have highlighted the natural disasters which smashed the state in recent years as a major reason for pulling heartstrings and loosening purse-strings. "The devastation of the Queensland floods and Cyclone Oswald have prompted a lot more people to give," Prof McGregor-Lowndes said. The disasters touched people across the country and experience from previous major incidents such as the 2004 tsumani in South Asia indicated that the increased level of altruism continued for some years afterwards, he said. The report, based on analysis of Australian Taxation Office data, found that 4.79 million Australians - 37.9 per cent of the total - claimed a tax-deductible donation in 2010-11. The total of $2.21 billion was $248 million higher than the previous year, and twice the amount in 2002-03, while the average donation of $461.47 has nearly trebled in the past decade. Prof McGregor-Lowndes said it was a combination of people being more willing to give and charities getting better at persuading them. Charities have more intent and have become more purposeful. Social media has had a significant impact. Queenslanders donated $331.96 million during the year - the third highest amount after New South Wales ($860.15 million) and Victoria ($599.57 million). But the average $357.18 donation by Queenslanders was well below the national average and only those in Western Australia and the Northern Territory gave a smaller proportion of their taxable income. Within the Sunshine State, Gold Coasters set a shining example. Residents in the 4217 postcode area, which includes Surfers Paradise, Benowa, Bundall, Chevron Island, the Isle of Capri and Main Beach - made donations totalling $9.27 million. Prof McGregor-Lowndes said taxpayers in the wealthy suburb were traditionally big givers but the donations had dropped away during the years since the global financial crisis. It's good to see that return. But when it comes to individual gifts, the folks of Winton led the way with an average $2,284 donation. "It's good that a little area like this in the outback can do its bit," said proud Mayor Butch Lenton. Winton has always been a very generous and charitable town. He said locals had raised funds for people in Gatton hit by the deadly 2011 floods and also contributed towards establishing Winton's own Age Of Dinosaurs Museum. Nationally, ministers of religion gave the biggest chunk of their income to charity - 2.29 per cent, or 6.5 times the average. But the image of greedy corporate bosses was debunked with chief executives and managing directors proving the second most generous. Machine operators, factory workers, financial consultants and artists also featured highly. Chief executives gave the most each in hard dollar terms - an average $4,451 each, but medical professionals made up six of the top 10. Three-quarters of police officers and seven out of 10 school principals made donations - reflecting the success of workplace giving schemes, said Prof McGregor-Lowndes. 4217: Benowa, Bundall, Surfers Paradise, Main Beach ($9.27 million) 4069: Brookfield, Chapel Hill, Fig Tree Pocket, Kenmore, Pullenvale ($8.79 million) 4075: Corinda, Oxley, Graceville, Sherwood ($7.96 million) 4350: Toowoomba, Mt Lofty, Rangeville, Westbrook ($7.79 million) 4068: Chelmer, Indooroopilly, Taringa ($6.68 million) Glitter Strip has a sensitive side THE Gold Coast is often seen as a city without a soul. But the locals' generosity is evident when it comes to receiving public donations, when considering the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. doesn't have to beg to differ. The club sits in the heart of the 4217 postcode area, identified as one of the state's most generous in a new report on charitable giving. Surf club president Craig Chapman said while they could always use more financial assistance to patrol Australia's second-busiest beachafter Bondi, the lifesavers were well supported by the community. Mr Chapman said it cost about $600,000 a year to run lifesaving services on Surfers Paradise beach and two-thirds of the money came from public donations and sponsorship. "We rattle the (donation) tin at the Surfers Paradise markets on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights and can make over $2000 a night," he said. The donations really seem to go up in the school holidays because there are a lot more people around and they see and appreciate the work we do keeping the beach safe. Mr Chapman said donations from tourists probably outweighed those by locals. But he said local businesses, including the Centro Surfers Paradise shopping centre adjoining the surf club, donated thousands of dollars a year. "Ray White Surfers Paradise also puts on a fundraising lunch for us every year," he said.