Are you part of a charity with DGR status?
You can help us unlock DGR for the whole sector
Australia’s charitable sector is strongest when all organisations can access the resources they need.
Yet many charities are still locked out of Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, restricting their ability to receive tax‑deductible donations and access funding.
If your organisation has DGR status, you know firsthand how essential it is for fundraising, sustainability, and long‑term impact. That’s why we’re asking DGR‑endorsed charities to stand with us in calling for a fairer, simpler system.
By lending your voice, you can help unlock opportunity for more charities.
Why your voice matters
A fairer sector benefits everyone
When frontline organisations can’t access DGR status, communities miss out. Reform would strengthen the whole ecosystem.
You know the value of DGR. Help others access it
Your organisation has seen how transformative DGR endorsement can be. Your support carries weight with decision‑makers.
Momentum is building. Now is the time to act
The DGR system has been identified as a key area in need of reform in successive reports over the past three decades. With coordinated advocacy, reform is within reach.
How to speak to government
1. Use our ready‑to‑use template letter
We’ve created a simple template letter you can tailor. As a DGR‑endorsed organisation, your voice demonstrates that this reform has widespread sector support.
Scroll down to copy and paste the template, or click here.
2. Guidance on contacting your MP
We suggest you contact Treasurer Jim.Chalmers.MP@aph.gov.au, copied to the Charities Minister Andrew Leigh Andrew.Leigh.MP@aph.gov.au, and where relevant the Minister responsible for the areas of work your organisation engages in.
Download a list of Ministers here.
3. Encouraging meaningful engagement
Personal conversations are powerful. If appropriate, we encourage you to raise DGR reform in any meetings with Ministers or MPs you have.
We’re here to help if you need it
If you’d like support adapting the template, framing your message, or preparing for a meeting with your MP, our team is here to help. Contact our Campaign Manager Clare Ozich at Clare.Ozich@justiceconnect.org.au for any questions.
Please let us know if you have sent a letter and any response you receive.
Letter template
Dear [Treasurer/Minister],
I am writing to indicate our support for reforming Australia’s Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) system.
As a charity with DGR endorsement, we know how essential DGR status is for building sustainable funding, partnering with philanthropy, and delivering long‑term impact in our community. Yet many charities doing vital work are excluded from the DGR system.
The Productivity Commission’s Future Foundations for Giving Report highlighted a key barrier to enhancing and amplifying the work and impact of the charity sector: Australia’s DGR system. It’s outdated, overly complex, ineffective, and unfair. This reflects our own experience.
Many organisations working on causes that matter deeply to Australians – from disaster prevention to animal welfare to social connection – remain excluded from DGR status.
There are more than $11 billion in philanthropic funds in Australia, but many organisations doing critical work cannot access them under the current rules. Reforming the DGR system would support the government’s goal of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030 and enable philanthropy to partner with a broader range of charities and increase its impact across communities.
The Productivity Commission’s Future Foundations for Giving report outlines a clear, evidence-based pathway to simplify the DGR system so that most charities are eligible for DGR endorsement.
We support Justice Connect’s Unlock DGR campaign (justiceconnect.org.au/unlock-DGR) and its call for a fairer, simpler DGR system that recognises the full diversity of Australia’s charitable sector.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with you further and share our experience working with philanthropic partners.
Kind regards,
[Your name and organisation]