Fundraising is a powerful way to grow your Fund at Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) and engage others aligned with your Fund’s mission. With almost 30 years of experience, we’re here to help you make the most of your fundraising efforts.
💡 Fund Advisors must contact the ACF Fund and Clients Services Team before undertaking any fundraising activity.
Fundraising FAQs #
What is fundraising?
Fundraising generally refers to organised activities such as soliciting donations, hosting events, running raffles, crowdfunding and selling products. We hold fundraising licences in every state that requires one and support Fund Advisors to fundraise across the country.
What is not considered fundraising?
Simply raising awareness about your Fund by talking to potential donors isn’t considered fundraising. If you’re unsure about any activity, contact us.
What is a tax-deductible donation?
A tax-deductible donation is a genuine gift to an organisation with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. ACF has DGR status and so do most Funds. For a donation to be tax-deductible, no benefit can be received in return, such as an item, event or raffle ticket.
Can I run a charity auction for my Fund?
Yes. Auctions can be a great way to fundraise. Try reaching out to supporters or businesses to donate auction items and lower your costs. Keep in mind, though, that purchases made through charity auctions aren’t tax-deductible.
Can I organise a raffle to benefit my Fund?
Yes. Raffles are another excellent fundraising tool, but they come with specific rules depending on your location and the prize pool size. You may need a permit, and it’s important to remember that raffle tickets aren’t tax-deductible. If you’re thinking about running a raffle, contact us early on to make sure everything’s in order.
Can I sell tickets or products to benefit my Fund?
Yes. You can raise funds by selling tickets or products, but as buyers receive something in return, these purchases aren’t tax-deductible. Consider these questions when planning:
- How will you handle payments and keep records?
- Will you use a fundraising platform (see below)?
- Are you hoping for donations on top of ticket or product sales?
- Do you want this to be a long-term fundraising method? If so, contact our Fund and Client Services team for further guidance.
Requirements to fundraise at ACF #
Fundraising application #
When planning a fundraising activity, Fund Advisors must complete an Application for Authority to Fundraise at least 30 days before the planned activity. This is an important step in the process as care must be taken to comply with various laws and to ensure the public is not misled as to the entity or cause they are supporting.
When your application is approved, ACF will issue an Authority to Fundraise Approval letter. Depending on the type of fundraising activity, a submission to state consumer affairs departments may be required. Therefore, it is essential that Fund Advisors considering fundraising contact us to discuss their plans as early as possible. ACF may charge an additional fee depending on the complexity of administration and reporting required.
Fundraising acquittal #
After a fundraising activity, Fund Advisors must complete a short form to let us know details of how the event went, including how much was raised and what the expenses were. This is essential in allowing ACF to accurately report to state and territory governments. Expenses can be reimbursed from money raised (up to 50 per cent of money raised).
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If a Fund Advisor is considering obtaining a grant from a government body or a philanthropic trust or foundation, ACF must be contacted.
Fundraising platforms #
We partner with the following platforms to help with your fundraising efforts:
- Humanitix: An event ticketing platform that lets you create invites and RSVP lists, with the option to add a donation to ticket prices.
- Raisely: An all-in-one platform for supporter management, communication, and web integration for your fundraising appeal.
- RaffleTix: A simple online platform for managing raffles, including ticketing, record keeping, and prize drawing.
- Benevity: A workplace giving platform that helps companies support fundraising initiatives.
Contact us for a conversation about using these platforms and we will connect you once your application has been approved.
Out of scope #
While we’re here to assist with your fundraising, some things fall outside our scope:
- Insurance: Fund Advisors may need to arrange additional insurance for certain events, and proof may be required.
- Council Permits: For activities requiring a council permit, Fund Advisors are responsible for obtaining this.
- Responsible Service of Alcohol: If your event involves alcohol, it must comply with relevant safety and service guidelines.
- Safety Plans: Organisers must ensure the safety of participants, with appropriate measures in place.
How we can help you promote your Fund #
ACF newsletters #
If you are running a fundraising event or campaign for your Fund and would like to promote the activity within the ACF giving community, please let us know and we will share details with our community where possible.
Custom donation page #
All Fund donation pages on ACF’s Donations Portal can be customised to include additional text, images and videos. To customise your donation page, simply send us the content you would like to add via the contact form.
For Funds seeking public donations that require further customisation, we offer Raisely – an all-in-one online fundraising platform based in Australia with built-in supporter management, communication tools and web editor. Contact us for a conversation about using Raisely. Fees apply.
Fundraising event registration page #
If you are planning a fundraising event, ACF can support you to set up an event registration page on Humanitix, a charity-focused event ticketing platform. This means any funds raised through ticket sales or donations made by registrants will be automatically deposited into your Fund (once your event date has passed). To use Humanitix for your event, simply provide the relevant details in your Application for Authority to Fundraise.
Requirements for marketing material #
All marketing material produced for a Fund must:
- receive approval from ACF before it is published, released or launched;
- clearly state the Fund is part of Australian Communities Foundation;
- include ACF’s logo;
- link to ACF’s website (where possible); and
- not be misleading.
Clearly stating the fund is part of ACF is a legal requirement for tax deductibility. We ask that you include the below tagline across all material to meet this requirement.
[Insert Fund name] is powered by Australian Communities Foundation.