The goal is straightforward: build enough business income to cover the cost of running the charity, so that money donated by the community goes directly to families rather than to overheads. It is a long project, and we are partway through it.
The problem being solved
Charities live on an uncomfortable cycle. Income arrives in bursts around appeals and Ramadan, then falls away. Meanwhile rent, wages, insurance, fuel and warehousing continue at the same rate every month, and programs families depend on cannot be switched off between campaigns.
The usual answer is to ask more often. That works until donors tire of being asked, which they eventually do.
The alternative
Build businesses whose profits pay the running costs. If the op-shop, the laundromat, the paper brand and the internet provider between them cover operations, then every dollar donated can go to a fridge, a bed, or a family’s emergency relief.
It also changes the relationship with the community. Instead of returning repeatedly to ask for money, we offer products people already buy and let the margin do the work.
Where we are so far
- The Goodwill Shop, the original enterprise, now in Bankstown and Revesby.
- The Goodwill Laundry, self-serve laundry in Bankstown.
- Panda Paper, launched October 2024, giving 100% of profits to the charity.
- Goodwill Connect, an NBN provider for Greater Sydney, now trading.
Alongside them sits the Waqf Fund, an endowment where the capital is preserved and only the returns are spent. It is the same idea expressed as an asset rather than a business.
An old idea, not a new one
None of this is novel. Islamic endowments funded mosques, schools, hospitals and wells for centuries by holding productive assets and spending only the yield. Some have outlived the states they were founded in. What is different is the vehicle: a laundromat and an internet provider rather than farmland and shops.
Being honest about the timeline
We are not there. The enterprises are at different stages of maturity, some are young, and building a business takes capital and time before it produces meaningful surplus. Donations remain essential to the work today, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest.
What has changed is the direction. Every enterprise that reaches profitability reduces the share of the mission that depends on asking. That is the whole strategy, and it only works if people use the businesses.
Frequently asked questions
What does donation-independent mean?
It means covering the charity’s operating costs through business income rather than donations, so that money given by the community can go directly to families in need.
Does that mean you will stop accepting donations?
No. It means donated money would fund direct support rather than overheads. Donations remain essential to the work today.
Which businesses does House of Sadaqa run?
The Goodwill Shop op-shops, The Goodwill Laundry in Bankstown, Panda Paper bamboo toilet paper, and Goodwill Connect, an NBN provider for Greater Sydney.
Is this model actually realistic?
It is a long-term strategy rather than a quick fix. Businesses take capital and time to produce meaningful surplus, and each one carries commercial risk. Progress is measured in years.
How can I help without donating?
Use the enterprises. Buying Panda Paper, switching your internet to Goodwill Connect, using the laundromat or shopping at the op-shop all contribute through purchases you were already making.
Support the work behind this article
House of Sadaqa is a registered Australian charity helping local families in crisis with household essentials, whitegoods and emergency relief. There are three direct ways to be part of it:
- Donate, with donations over $2 tax-deductible
- Volunteer your time in the warehouse, on outreach runs, or at events
- Clear a NSW fine through a Work and Development Order
You can also support us without donating a cent, simply by choosing one of our social enterprises. Each one puts its profits back into supporting families:
- Goodwill Connect, NBN internet for Greater Sydney
- Panda Paper, premium bamboo toilet paper delivered to your door
- The Goodwill Laundry, self-serve laundry in Bankstown
- The Goodwill Shop, our op-shops in Revesby and Bankstown