How Australia's charities fare

STATE OF AUSTRALIA'S CHARITIES

* About 51,000 charities

* 1.2 million staff and almost 3 million volunteers

* Total income $134.5 billion

* $11.1b from donations

* $55.6b from government grants

* 14,500 (almost three in 10) are religious - income $6.2b

* 9500 (almost two in 10) relate to education and research - income $60.2b

* 38 per cent have deductible gift recipient status

* 142 charities have annual income greater than $100m - took in a combined $59.9b (44 per cent of total)

* Most of the biggest charities are in education (40 per cent) and health (35 per cent) sectors

* 65 per cent are urban-based - with 75 per cent of volunteers and 83 per cent of income