Fundraising

Ways to fundraise are only limited by your imagination – and can go way beyond the ubiquitous chook raffle or lamington drive. Ensure that everyone is clear about the objectives of the fundraising activity and that you are meeting the requirements of any relevant legislation, such as:

  1. Collections Act 1966
  2. Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999


For example: A club can conduct small raffles up to $2,000 without any licence or permit.  However, if the club is an "eligible association" it can conduct raffles up to $20,000 without any licence or permit.  Under the legislation, an eligible association can be one formed and operated principally for a charitable, community, sporting, educational or religious purpose.

See Section 10 of the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 for the full meaning of "eligible association” www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/C/ChariNonProA99.pdf

For further information on fundraising, visit the Office of Fair Trading website - www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04 or download a great Fundraising Toolkit from the Fundraising Institute of Australia website www.fia.org.au > resources > Fundraising Toolkit – Queensland, produced for individual fundraisers and members of boards and committees of non-profit organisations in Queensland. 

Donations

Donations are usually given freely without an attached condition i.e. there is no formal responsibility to acquit the funds. It is, however, good practice to acknowledge and thank donors in some way e.g. in an event program or newsletter.

If several people will be involved in seeking donations, remember to ‘sing from the same song sheet’. Ensure you agree on the method for seeking donations and the key message to potential donors. One way to do this is in the form of an information package which would outline your purpose, the goals of your organisation, the nature of the event and the benefits to the donor and the community.

Check whether your organisation is eligible for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status or is on the Register of Cultural Organisations, which entitles you to receive tax deductible donations, as this can be an added incentive for donors. Your organisation will need to be endorsed as a DGR.  You must apply to the Australian Tax Office for endorsement. Organisations currently on the register include choirs, dance groups, festivals, theatre groups and art exhibition venues.

The Australian Tax Office has published Fact Sheets for non-profit organisations, e.g. the endorsement process for deductible gift recipients and Register of Cultural Organisations and tax deductible gifts. 

For further information visit www.ato.gov.au and follow links to Non-Profit > Fact Sheets > Gifts & fundraising or phone Tax Office Publications Ordering service 1300 720 092.

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Register of Cultural Organisations www.arts.gov.au > Tax Incentives