At Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), fundraising is one of the most powerful ways our Fund Advisors can grow their impact. Whether you’re organising a gala, running a trivia night, or hosting a charity auction, the funds you raise can help you make an even greater difference for the causes you care about.
At Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), fundraising is one of the most powerful ways our Fund Advisors can grow their impact. Whether you’re organising a gala, running a trivia night, or hosting a charity auction, the funds you raise can help you make an even greater difference for the causes you care about.
One of the key benefits of having an ACF Fund is that you can leverage our fundraising infrastructure and expertise to make the process easier and more effective. From managing the paperwork to connecting you with online platforms, we’re here to help.
While fundraising can be incredibly rewarding, it’s also more complex than many people realise. Each state and territory has its own fundraising legislation, licensing requirements, and record-keeping obligations. With nearly 30 years of experience in supporting fundraising efforts, we help you navigate these rules so you can focus on engaging supporters and raising money for your cause.
If you’ve been thinking about running your own fundraising activity, I’d love to help. The first step is to submit an application to let us know your plans. But before you do, here are six tips to keep in mind.
1. Know what is and isn’t fundraising
While ‘fundraising’ in the legal sense is defined differently across states and territories, it generally includes making an appeal for donations (whether in person or online), hosting events, running raffles, crowdfunding, and selling merchandise.
By contrast, simply raising awareness about your Fund by talking to potential donors isn’t considered fundraising.
2. Understand what we support – and what you’ll need to handle yourself
With ACF, you have access to robust fundraising infrastructure: our online donations portal, tax-deductible status, and fundraising licences across all states and territories. We also partner with platforms like Raisely, RaffleTix, Benevity (workplace giving), and Humanitix (event ticketing) to help you amplify your efforts. We’ll guide you through setting up the right platform for your activity and provide guidelines to keep any public webpages in line with our marketing requirements.
Other elements remain your responsibility. If you’re hosting an event, this includes confirming insurance, safety plans, and any required permits, as well as coordinating logistics on the day. We ask that you keep us updated so we can ensure compliance is maintained. While ACF’s support for fundraising is focused on compliance, we also encourage Fund Advisors to consider a few key tips to plan fundraising events well for maximum impact.
3. Remember the rules around tax-deductibility
One of the great benefits of fundraising through a Fund with ACF is that most donations can be tax-deductible, thanks to our Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. But it’s important to know where the line is drawn.
For a donation to be tax-deductible, it must be a genuine gift where the donor receives no material benefit in return. That means contributions made through your donation page or general gifts at an event are deductible, but tickets to events, raffle entries, and auction purchases are not.
4. Apply early – even if you’re still deciding
Fundraising approvals and permits can take time — in some states, several weeks or even months. That’s why it’s important to get in touch with us as early as possible, even if your plans are still taking shape.
By starting early, we can guide you through the application process, make sure you have the correct licences, and provide templates for key materials. This will also give you more time to promote your event and build excitement among potential supporters.
5. Don’t forget to submit your acquittal and claim expenses
After your fundraiser, you’ll need to complete an acquittal report on the funds raised and how they were managed. This is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions, and it’s also an important part of ensuring transparency and accountability for your supporters.
We’ll provide you with the necessary forms and guide you through the process. If you had any event-related expenses, such as venue hire, catering, or equipment, you may be able to have these reimbursed from your event’s proceeds, as long as they’re reasonable (up to 50% of money raised) and documented.
6. The fundraiser organiser doesn’t have to be a Fund Advisor
You don’t have to run the fundraiser yourself. Friends, family, community groups, or corporate partners can host events on behalf of your Fund, as long as they go through the same application and compliance process.
This can be a great way to expand your reach and tap into new networks of supporters. Just make sure anyone fundraising on your behalf is aware of your Fund’s purpose and the legal obligations involved – we’re happy to brief them and provide resources to make it easier.
We’re here to help
Whether you’re ready to start planning or simply exploring ideas, we’re here to help. Together, we can make your fundraising go further — raising vital support for the causes you care about and maximising the impact of your Fund.
Learn more or contact us to discuss your fundraising plans: ACF Fundraising Support
