Fundraising rules,
state by state.

Pick a state to see the route and whether the Principles apply. Rules changed through 2026, so check the source before you rely on it.

The National Fundraising Principles are 16 short rules, including not misleading donors, respecting requests to stop contact, and being clear about who's asking. In NSW, all 16 are now conditions of your fundraising authority.

For marketing, the ones that bite are honesty about what money is used for, and stopping contact when someone asks. Build both into your appeal templates and your email system.

The Australian Consumer Law applies when fundraising is in trade or commerce, for example selling goods or using paid fundraisers. The ACCC's guide for charities covers it in detail. Misleading donors is a problem whether or not the ACL applies.

Small, volunteer-run fundraising may not need a licence. Under $15,000 a year in NSW or $20,000 gross in Victoria, run by volunteers only, or under $15,000 in the ACT, the licensing rules generally don't apply. Check the current threshold in your state.

Only DGRs can say gifts are tax deductible, and the ATO encourages them to be open about their DGR status. Say what the money is for in terms you could prove later. If money raised for one purpose might be used for another, say so up front.

Matched giving, 'every dollar doubled' and similar claims need a real match behind them, with its limit stated. Urgency should be true: 'the van needs replacing before winter' is fine if it does.

Fundraising rules don't stop at street appeals. Donate pages, email appeals, social posts and peer-to-peer pages are all ways of asking for money, so the same honesty rules apply to them.

If supporters run their own pages for your cause, give them clear wording: what the money is for, that it goes to your charity, and whether gifts are deductible. Check what's being said in your name from time to time.