Isla HendersonWhen Elina Svitolina lifted the Rome Open trophy on 18 May 2026, defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 and pocketing €1,055,285, she did what she has done repeatedly throughout the war in Ukraine: she turned tournament winnings into a question of purpose. Now at Roland Garros as the 7th seed — where she won her first-round match against Anna Bondar on 25 May 2026 — Svitolina's story raises a question that applies well beyond professional tennis: when a significant sum arrives, how do you give strategically?
The Athlete Who Made Charity a Career Pillar
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Svitolina has donated prize money from every match she has played to Ukrainian causes via the Elina Svitolina Foundation. Together with Iga Swiatek, she raised over €500,000 through a single charity match. At Roland Garros in prior years, she pledged all prize money to the Ukrainian military.
Her 2026 clay-court campaign has taken on additional weight. Ukraine currently has seven players ranked in the WTA top 100 — a statistic Svitolina cited with emotion at a press conference on 10 May 2026. "Having seven players in the top 100 while at war is impressive," she said. Her foundation supports UNITED24 (Ukraine's official fundraising platform) and the "Bring Kids Back UA" campaign for children forcibly deported by Russia.
The Rome prize alone — €1.05 million — represents a giving opportunity most people will never encounter at that scale. But the strategic principles behind how Svitolina manages her charitable commitments apply to any Australian who earns a bonus, an inheritance, or a business windfall and wants to make it count.
What Happens Financially When You Give a Large Sum
Most people approach charitable giving reactively — a direct debit here, a tin rattled at a street corner there. High-earning athletes and executives who give systematically approach it differently: they plan giving as a line item in their financial structure, not an afterthought.
In Australia, the Australian Taxation Office allows individuals to claim tax deductions for donations made to organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status — provided the donation is made voluntarily, receives nothing in return, and is not a lottery ticket or raffle entry. According to the Australian Taxation Office, gifts of $2 or more to DGR-endorsed organisations are generally deductible against taxable income.
For someone in Australia's top marginal tax bracket (45% plus Medicare levy), a $50,000 DGR-qualified donation effectively costs around $27,000 after the tax offset — almost halving the out-of-pocket cost. Understanding this changes how you approach giving.
Three Giving Structures Used by High Earners
1. Direct donations to DGR-registered charities are the simplest approach. Choose a registered Australian charity or an internationally operating organisation with Australian DGR status, make a gift, and claim the deduction at tax time. The limitation: once donated, the timing and use of funds are controlled entirely by the recipient organisation.
2. Sub-funds within community foundations allow donors to contribute a lump sum into a managed giving vehicle and then direct grants to preferred charities over subsequent years. This is useful when you receive a windfall (a bonus, an inheritance, a property sale) and want to claim the full deduction in the year of income while distributing the giving over a longer horizon.
3. Private ancillary funds (PAFs) — the vehicle most comparable to Svitolina's personal foundation — are Australian structures that allow an individual or family to establish their own charitable foundation with a minimum investment of around $500,000. PAFs must distribute a minimum of 5% annually to DGR recipients and are governed by strict ACNC rules. The benefit: full control over which causes receive support, the ability to build an endowment over time, and a long-term family legacy.
For most Australians, DGR-qualified direct donations or a sub-fund arrangement provide the optimal balance of simplicity and tax effectiveness. PAFs make sense at higher asset levels or where sustained, branded giving (as Svitolina has built) is the goal.
Timing Matters: When to Give
Svitolina gives match by match — a deliberate, real-time approach that keeps giving visible and connected to performance. For non-athletes, timing giving to align with income peaks is equally important.
If you receive a large bonus in June, donating before 30 June captures the deduction in the same financial year. If you are selling an investment property or a business and expect a large capital gain, timing a major donation to coincide with the capital gain event can significantly reduce the net tax liability.
The common mistake is waiting. Many Australians delay giving until end-of-year, by which point their financial structure for the year is fixed and opportunities for meaningful tax-effective positioning have passed.
What a Wealth Management Specialist Can Help With
Svitolina's giving is not purely spontaneous generosity — it is managed, communicated, and structured to maximise both impact and profile. The Elina Svitolina Foundation operates with full governance, reporting, and a clear mission.
For Australians who want to give effectively rather than just generously, a financial adviser or wealth management specialist can help assess DGR eligibility of intended recipients, model the tax impact of different giving vehicles and timing scenarios, structure giving against expected income peaks, and advise on whether a PAF or community foundation sub-fund better suits long-term goals.
These conversations do not require a €1 million prize pot. They are relevant for anyone who earns a bonus above $20,000, receives an inheritance, or wants to give more systematically than their current approach allows.
Svitolina has turned a career built on groundstrokes and clay into a platform for sustained impact. The financial mechanisms behind that are accessible — with the right guidance — to anyone.
This article provides general financial information only. It does not constitute financial advice. Speak with a licensed financial adviser before making investment or charitable giving decisions.
