The ACNC has published a new registration decision summary, focusing on what we look at when considering if an organisation that wishes to register as a charity has addressed issues relating to private benefits.
The summary is the third we have published as part of our Secrecy Reforms Project, which sees us publish more information about our regulatory and compliance activities to improve transparency and to educate the charity sector. Any details that could identify organisations in the summaries are removed.
Our latest decision summary emphasises how charities must be for the public benefit – meaning they must benefit the general community or a section of the general community. Charities may only confer private benefits if those benefits are incidental or ancillary to achieving its charitable purpose.
An organisation that exists solely for private benefit cannot be a charity.
Organisations that are looking to register as charities can sometimes encounter issues relating to private benefit, which, in turn, can also raise concerns about conflicts of interest.
Our latest summary focuses on some of the things organisations can do to address these issues if they apply for charity registration.
Further summaries and other resources will be published this year.
Read more on the ACNC Secrecy Reforms Project page.