Receiving donations
through ANHCA Public
Fund for DGR
…. A basic explanation
Why register with the Public Fund?

Deductible Gift Recipient Status is a special tax status granted to
organisations which enables them to issue receipts to donors for the purpose
of a tax deduction.

Many Neighbourhood Houses and Centres do not qualify for DGR Status as the
rules around DGR rely heavily on a welfare based interpretation of charity.

If your Neighbourhood House or Centre does not have DGR status, you can
apply to register with the ANHCA Public Fund for DGR to receive donations
where the donor requires a tax deductible receipt.

The Public Fund acts as a conduit to enable the donation to be made and a
receipt to be issued.
Are there application criteria?

To be eligible, your Neighbourhood House/Centre must meet the following
criteria:

Be an organisation (as opposed to an individual)

Be a financial member of the relevant State Peak Body

Be a legal entity (ie an incorporated body)

If the organisation is a network or peak body rather than a Neighbourhood House or
Centre, it must apply funds to furthering or supporting the work of Neighbourhood
Houses/Centres

Not have DGR status.
And the purpose of any donations must
be in keeping with ANHCA’s purposes

Support the activity and work of the Neighbourhood House and Centre sector
in Australia.

Enhance the quality, skills and knowledge of the Neighbourhood House and
Centre sector in Australia

Contribute to national policy and issues of common interest to the
Neighbourhood House and Centre sector in Australia

Promote and strengthen the national identity of the Neighbourhood House and
Centre sector in Australia
So how do we apply?
The documents and information you need can be found at
http://www.anhca.asn.au/anhca-public-fund-for-dgr/apply-now/apply-toreceive-tax-deductible-donations
You will need to
* Complete an easy application form
* Personalise the MOU template, which allows you to nominate the
duration of the MOU ( the average is 5 years)
* Provide copies of your organisations constitution, most recent annual
financial statement and a current list of committee members
What happens next?

All documents are emailed or sent to the Public Fund

Your application will be checked for eligibility

The application is submitted to the Public Fund Committee for consideration

When approval is granted you will be formally notified by the administrator,
this includes receiving a signed copy of the MOU, the donor form and other
information.
So how do we actually receive
donations?

Once you have been approved by the Public Fund you will be able to develop
press releases and promotional material to let your community know you are
able to receive donations.

It is important to remember donations must be a gift with no strings
attached, and should not be confused with a sponsorship, where there is an
expectation of something in return.

When someone wishes to make a donation, it must be made to ANHCA using
the donation form as ANHCA holds the DGR status. The donation is then
approved by the Public Fund Committee for disbursement and is paid to your
organisations bank account less a 5% administration fee.
Some common misunderstandings

This process will give our organisation DGR status.

Unfortunately that is not the case, this process enables you to receive tax
deductible donations, however the DGR status remains with ANHCA

Donations can be paid to our organisation and then we can just let ANHCA
know.

For a tax deductible receipt to be issued, donations must be paid into
ANHCA’s bank account. Currently we only process donations of $100 and over.
If you have a donor who is happy to make a donation and not receive a tax
deductible receipt, this does not need to come through the Public Fund.

We can go ahead and apply for grants that require DGR status

Your organisation can use the Public Fund to apply for grants, however there
is a separate application and approval process. Further information can be
found at http://www.anhca.asn.au/anhca-public-fund-for-dgr/applynow/apply-for-grants
I would still like more information

You can email or phone

Maureen McConnell

Admnistrator

At [email protected] or phone 0421 791 192 (Tuesdays 9 -4.30pm and
Fridays (9 – 12.30pm)

If you would like more of the detail head to the website www.anhca.asn.au