Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

DonateHQ is an Australian charitable platform built on the values of compassion, integrity, and empowerment. Our mission is to connect generous people like you with registered Australian charities. We provide a user-friendly directory that helps you discover and support organisations that inspire you. We aim to be the central place where donors, volunteers, and charities come together to create positive social change.

We envision a world where generosity knows no bounds. Our platform is designed to make it easy for you to support the causes you care about, providing the tools and transparency you need to see the tangible impact of your contributions. We are committed to fostering a more compassionate and connected world through the power of giving.

Our commitment to integrity starts with our data. The core information on our charity profiles is sourced directly from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), the independent national regulator of Australian charities. This is the official data that charities are legally required to report, making it the most reliable and authoritative source available.

Our platform uses automated scripts to regularly sync with the official ACNC database. It’s important to understand that the ACNC generally makes a charity’s reported data, especially detailed financial information, publicly available a year or more after the reporting period ends.
So, while the information on our site may not reflect this current month’s activities, it is the most recent official and verified data available to the public. This process ensures that what you are seeing is accurate and correctly reflects what the charity has formally reported to the Australian Government.

This is a critical point for us. While we are developing a feature that will allow charities to add their own narrative (like their mission and impact stories), the core financial and governance data sourced from the ACNC will always remain clearly distinguished and un-editable by the charity. This hybrid approach ensures you get the best of both worlds: official, verified data for accountability, alongside richer, descriptive content directly from the charity to better understand their work.

Our directory is based on the official ACNC Register, which is the single source of truth for registered charities in Australia. There are two main reasons why a charity might not be listed on our website:
– They are not currently registered: The most common reason is that the organisation is not registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
– Their information has been withheld: In limited circumstances, charities can apply to the ACNC to have their information withheld from the public register, often for reasons relating to public safety or commercial sensitivity. If the ACNC approves such a request, the charity will not appear in our directory either.

The icons at the top of each profile give you an at-a-glance summary of a charity’s operations, based on their ACNC data.

Donation Funded: Assigned if over 30% of the charity’s revenue comes from donations and bequests.
Volunteer Powered: Indicates a high ratio of volunteers to paid staff, highlighting significant community involvement.
Tax Deductible: The charity has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, meaning your donations are generally tax-deductible.
Religious Affiliated: Appears if the charity is registered as a Basic Religious Charity.
Hover over any icon on a profile for a detailed explanation.

The level of financial detail a charity must report depends on its size (Small, Medium, or Large). We only display the data a charity is legally required to provide to the ACNC. You will see fewer data points for smaller charities because their reporting requirements are simpler. This is a key part of our transparent approach, and a notice on the “Reported Financials” tab explains this for each charity.

The ACNC categorises charities by annual revenue, which determines their reporting obligations:

Small: Annual revenue under $500,000.
Medium: Annual revenue between $500,000 and $2,999,999.
Large: Annual revenue of $3 million or more.

We use these categories to provide fair and relevant comparisons.

These are important indicators of good governance and transparency, required to be reported by larger charities.

Related Party Transactions: Discloses any financial transactions between the charity and people closely connected to it (like board members). This is about managing potential conflicts of interest.
KMP Remuneration: Shows the total compensation paid to the charity’s top executives.

These sections help you understand a charity’s commitment to accountability.

The “average” figures are a unique tool to give you context. They allow you to see how a specific charity’s finances or staffing compare to others of the same size. Use them not as a final judgment, but as a starting point to ask informed questions and better understand a charity’s unique situation.

The “best” platform depends on your specific needs. Platforms like GiveNow and mycause are popular in Australia. GiveNow is an enterprise of Our Community, focused on supporting Not-for-profits with low fees. mycause offers 0% platform fees for personal causes (credit card transaction fees apply) and also supports charities. DonateHQ aims to be a leading platform by combining comprehensive ACNC data with direct donation and volunteer features, ensuring transparency and ease of use for both donors and charities.

It’s difficult to definitively state one charity that always gives the highest percentage, as this can fluctuate based on a charity’s operational model, the scale of its programs, and its fundraising strategies. Many reputable charities, like Save the Children Australia, strive to allocate a high percentage of funds directly to programs. Our commitment at DonateHQ is to provide you with the ACNC’s financial data, allowing you to see how each charity allocates its funds, including administrative and fundraising costs, to help you make informed decisions.

The “best” charity is subjective and depends on the causes you are passionate about. DonateHQ’s mission is to empower you to find charities that align with your values and to provide the data and transparency you need to make an informed choice. We encourage you to use our search features, explore charity profiles, and compare financial data to find the organisation that resonates most with you.

The “best” platform depends on your specific needs. Platforms like GiveNow and mycause are popular in Australia. GiveNow is an enterprise of Our Community, focused on supporting Not-for-profits with low fees. mycause offers 0% platform fees for personal causes (credit card transaction fees apply) and also supports charities. DonateHQ aims to be a leading platform by combining comprehensive ACNC data with direct donation and volunteer features, ensuring transparency and ease of use for both donors and charities.

It’s difficult to definitively state one charity that always gives the highest percentage, as this can fluctuate based on a charity’s operational model, the scale of its programs, and its fundraising strategies. Many reputable charities, like Save the Children Australia, strive to allocate a high percentage of funds directly to programs. Our commitment at DonateHQ is to provide you with the ACNC’s financial data, allowing you to see how each charity allocates its funds, including administrative and fundraising costs, to help you make informed decisions.

The “best” charity is subjective and depends on the causes you are passionate about. DonateHQ’s mission is to empower you to find charities that align with your values and to provide the data and transparency you need to make an informed choice. We encourage you to use our search features, explore charity profiles, and compare financial data to find the organisation that resonates most with you.

Donations to eligible charities in Australia are generally tax-deductible. To be tax-deductible, a donation must be:
– A genuine gift (you don’t receive anything in return, other than minor token items like a lapel pin).
– $2 or more.
– Made to an organisation that has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. You can claim the full amount of your eligible donation as a deduction, which reduces your taxable income. You cannot, however, create a tax loss from donations. Always ensure you receive a receipt from the DGR charity for your records. Our charity profiles indicate whether an organisation has DGR status.

Recent reports indicate that the average annual amount donated by Australians who give to charity can vary. Some data suggests an average of around $400-$430, while other reports show higher averages in certain states or age groups. For example, those over 65 tend to donate more, and Western Australia has shown a higher average donation amount. It’s important to remember these are averages and individual giving varies greatly.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) allows you to claim a total tax deduction of up to $10 for small cash donations (each of $2 or more) made to bucket collections for natural disaster relief without a receipt. For any other donations, or for amounts exceeding $10, you must have a receipt or other acceptable evidence to support your claim.

DonateHQ is here to help you connect with a wider audience of supporters. Our platform showcases your ACNC data in a clear, accessible way, helping to build donor trust. We are also rolling out new features to empower your organisation even further.

This feature is coming soon! We are building a tool that will allow “Responsible Persons” from a charity to log in and take control of their narrative. You will be able to add your mission, describe your impact, and keep your story engaging and up-to-date. The core ACNC data will remain locked to ensure accountability.
A “Responsible Person” is an official position registered with the ACNC, typically a board member or trustee, who is responsible for the charity’s governance.

Yes, this is a top priority. Soon, you will be able to accept donations directly through your DonateHQ profile, with funds deposited straight into your charity’s bank account. This will streamline your fundraising and connect you with a community of engaged donors.

This exciting feature is also coming soon. The volunteer recruitment board will allow you to post opportunities at your organisation, helping you connect with passionate, skilled individuals in the community who are looking to make a difference.

We encourage all charities to get involved early! On our “For Charities” page, Responsible Persons can register their interest for our upcoming profile editing, direct donation, and volunteer recruitment tools. By registering, you’ll be the first to know when these features become available.