Fix Fundraising
Australia’s fundraising laws are a mess.
Our charities and not-for-profits should be able to get on with their jobs of supporting communities.
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Why we need to fix fundraising
If charities or (in some states) other not-for-profit groups want to raise money online, they need to apply for a fundraising licence in every state. Before the internet, this may not have mattered, but a major survey in May 2021 confirmed that the majority of fundraising is done online. Even very small groups can have a national fundraising appeal.
Under the existing laws, any charity with a donate button on their website might need to have a registered office in NSW and have all of their board get police checks in WA (even if they are based in Tasmania!). They’re doing this paperwork instead of getting on with their crucial work, wasting time and money that could go to supporting communities.
The time to #FixFundraising was yesterday
How we’re helping to fix fundraising
Our campaign to #FixFundraising has long advocated for charities to be able to focus on the vital services they exist to deliver, like helping communities affected by floods, patrolling our beaches, or delivering life-changing community services, instead of sinking resources into complying with outdated, expensive and complicated regulations.
We’ve joined with hundreds of not-for-profits around Australia, asking our government to #FixFundraising.
You can join the campaign to #FixFundraising
Your support is essential to help us advocate for a single national scheme for the regulation of charitable fundraising. Join the campaign and stay up to date with the latest news and updates.
Join the campaignWhat we've achieved so far
2021 campaign highlights
May: Fundraising Survey reveals ineffectiveness of Australia’s current fundraising laws
The Charities Crisis Cabinet, in partnership with the #FixFundraising campaign coalition, released the Fundraising Survey 2021 which reveals just how ineffective, complex and slow Australia’s current fundraising laws are.
Involving over 600 charities and not-for-profits, the research report by Piazza Research warns 40% of Australian charities say current fundraising rules are causing them “an unnecessary financial burden”. Moreover, 1 in 5 of Australian charities believes the current rules and regulations for charities have become a major barrier to fundraising.
See the full campaign timeline2020 campaign highlights
December: #FixFundraising is now on the national agenda
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Senator Zed Seselja announced that all states, territories and the Commonwealth had agreed to reforms to fundraising regulations to create a single, cross-border recognised registration point for charities. A major win for the campaign.
The #FixFundraising reforms will:
- Reduce costs and the administrative burden on ACNC registered charities that operate across multiple states.
- Simplify financial reporting requirements.
- Improve transparency by centralising registration and reporting through the ACNC.
These changes are the crucial first step. We will continue to push for the necessary other steps until all the changes needed to #FixFundraising in Australia are implemented.
Read more about this development.
See the full campaign timeline2019 campaign highlights
May: All major parties have made an election commitment to #FixFundraising
All major parties committed to fixing Australia’s fundraising laws as part of their election platform.
With a stronger, simpler and smarter regime, Australia can build a modern fundraising system that works as well for donors as it does for our vital charities. Read more about each party’s commitment, and about the full package of charity reforms that Labor has promised.
See the full campaign timelineEarlier campaign highlights
We’ve been advocating for the government to #FixFundraising many years. Other significant wins include specialist guidance for charities about fundraising and the Australian Consumer Law; the independent review of the ACNC recommended #FixFundraising.
See the full campaign timelineDoes your not-for-profit need legal help?
Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law service can provide free legal advice to eligible community organisations and social enterprises.
Apply now Takes less than 8 minutes
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Read our latest articles on fixing fundraising
As part of our strategy to help #FixFundraising, we share what we’ve learned from our work in submissions to Royal Commissions and provide recommendations to governments.
Our stories about fixing fundraising
Helping a community organisation grow
Read Welcome to Eltham's story“It started off as just a little group of us and then went absolutely ballistic!”
