As part of the Federal Government’s DGR Reforms, the ACNC will be reviewing approximately 500 registered charities each year to assess their eligibility for registration as a charity, commencing in July 2020.
The initial focus will be on Public Benevolent Institutions (PBIs), which will be identified for review based on a risk profile. I want to emphasise that the review process will not place an extra administrative burden on charities.
We will review charities using information that we already have or that is publicly available. We will only contact a charity if we identify an issue and we will work with the charity to resolve the issue.
You can do your own check by using our self-assessment tool to identify and rectify any issues. This self-assessment helps charities to check they are meeting their entitlement to registration.
Charities do not need to contact the ACNC, or submit the self-assessment. The tool has been developed to assist your own assurance processes.
Read more about the DGR Reforms and use our self-assessment tool at acnc.gov.au/DGRreform.
Charity operations and COVID-19
We recognise that charities’ usual operations may be disrupted by the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, as well as measures being taken to try to control its spread.
The ACNC has received an increase in related questions from charities. To assist charities, we’ve compiled some relevant information and published it on our website.
As always, our goal is to support and guide charities, and we will continue to monitor the situation and adapt our advice accordingly.
Have your say
The Senate recently referred an inquiry into the Lessons to be learned in relation to the preparation and planning for, response to and recovery efforts following the 2019-20 Australian bushfire season to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the Committee).
As part of this inquiry the Committee are calling for written submissions.
Submissions close on 9 April 2020.
If you would like to find out more, or make a submission, you can do so via the Committee’s website.
Webinars
Our next free webinar is scheduled for next Wednesday 25 March 2020.
The webinar will cover your charity health. It will provide pointers aimed at keeping your charity in tip-top shape - including how your charity can avoid common pitfalls in the first place - and outline the tools the ACNC has to offer.
Find out more and register your attendance on our website.
Best wishes
Anna Longley