260811: This document is currently out-of-date and requires updating to be in alignment with RGA’s Community Charity Trust and changes to program eligibility. Please reach out to [email protected] if you arrive here.

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About

Rainbow Giving Australia exists to increase funding for LGBTQIA+ non-profit organisations and initiatives, helping them access the resources they need to create meaningful outcomes for rainbow communities.

To best achieve this mission, it’s important that our grants and programs funds organisations that are aligned with our Constitutional purpose and equipped to use funds responsibly and effectively.

Our eligibility standards are not just a formality. They are an important part of our due diligence and help safeguard the trust placed in us by donors, funders, and the wider community. As a registered charity and grantmaker, Rainbow Giving Australia has legal and regulatory obligations to ensure that funds are used exclusively for charitable purposes, provided to appropriate entities, and applied in ways that minimise risk of misuse or mismanagement.”

At the same time, we recognise that smaller or emerging organisations doing vital work often face barriers in meeting formal governance standards. We therefore seek to balance these safeguards in a way that is proportionate to the level of funding and risk. For this reason, eligibility requirements may differ depending on the nature of the program.

This page outlines the types of entities eligible to participate in Rainbow Giving Australia programs (like our grants and GiveOUT Day) and the requirements that ensure our support makes the strongest possible impact.

Eligibility

This page outlines organisational legal structures in Australia and their eligibility for participation in GiveOUT Day or Rainbow Giving Australia (RGA) Grants.

Please note, regardless of which legal structure you have, you must make sure that you comply with the relevant fundraising laws in the jurisdictions you intend to expect to receive donations from. Each Australian state and territory has its own rules about fundraising activities.

If you have any questions, please contact the Rainbow Giving Australia Team at [email protected].

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Contents

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Registered charity

A registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is an organisation that:

Has charitable purposes that are for the public benefit (such as advancing health, education, social welfare, culture, the environment, etc.), and may also have certain ancillary purposes that further or aid its charitable purposes.
Meets the legal definition of charity in the Charities Act 2013 (Cth).
Is not-for-profit (it must not operate for the profit, personal gain, or other benefit of its members, directors, or others).
Has an Australian Business Number (ABN).
Is formally registered with the ACNC under one or more of the 12 charity subtypes.

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Eligibility

✅ GiveOUT Day

✅ RGA Grants

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Registered charities are listed on the ACNC register, meaning it is formally recognised as a charity and must meet annual reporting and governance standards.

Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status

Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status is a designation under Australian tax law that allows an organisation to receive gifts or donations that are tax-deductible for the donor.

NB: Being a registered charity with the ACNC does not automatically bestow DGR status. Charities must separately apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or, in some cases, to specific government departments.