Founders, social groups, volunteers, committees, or organisations starting a not-for-profit from scratch, or existing entities that need charity registration or DGR endorsement.

Yes. If you do not have one yet, we can help you set up the right structure first.

A not-for-profit is any organisation that doesn't distribute profits to its members, owners or directors. Any surplus goes back into its purpose. A charity is a type of not-for-profit that has a charitable purpose, works for the public benefit, and is registered with the ACNC. Every charity is a not-for-profit, but not every not-for-profit is a charity.

You don’t have to register as a charity. Many community groups, clubs and associations operate as not-for-profits without it. However, you’ll need to register if you want charity tax concessions, such as income tax exemption and GST and FBT concessions, or DGR status. Many grant makers also only fund registered charities.

Yes. We can review your existing setup and fix what is stopping your charity or DGR application.

Yes, these are a core part of getting your entity setup, charity registration and DGR endorsement approved.

It depends on the structure. An incorporated association needs a minimum number of members, which varies by state. A company limited by guarantee needs at least three directors, and at least two of them must ordinarily live in Australia.

The ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission) is the national charity regulator. Registration means you’re recognised as a charity and listed on the public Charity Register. It’s also the first step to getting charity tax concessions and DGR status from the ATO.

Often, yes. The ACNC expects your governing documents to meet a certain criteria. Many older constitutions and model rules don't meet this criteria. If you’re also seeking DGR status, more clauses may be needed. We will review your governing document and provide you with advice about how to proceed.

We can help you submit your application within 5 business days. Once submitted, the application usually takes at least 1-2 months for the ACNC's initial response, and in total at least 3-6 months for a final outcome. It can take longer if it asks further questions. A well-prepared application is the best way to avoid delays.

If your organisation is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), people who donate $2 or more can claim a tax deduction for their donation. That makes fundraising easier, and many philanthropic foundations can only give grants to DGRs.

No, to be eligible, your organisation must fit into one of the specific DGR categories.

Yes, many organisations start as a not-for-profit and register as a charity once they’re ready. We’ll draft your constitution so it’s ready for charity registration, which saves you rewriting it later.

Tax concessions benefit your organisation directly. DGR endorsement benefits your donors, because it lets them claim a tax deduction for their gifts to you. They’re separate endorsements from the ATO, and a charity can have tax concessions without DGR status.

We quote you a fixed fee based on where you’re starting from and what you need. Your quote lists exactly what’s included, so there are no surprises.

We will call you to understand your situation and outline the next step.