Different Types of Charities in Australia

Types of charities in Australia

At icause, we support charities, non profit organisations in Australia (NFPs) and individuals who have a cause or a purpose that they need to raise funds for. The term ‘charity’ is often used as a catch-all phrase to refer to all these different types of fundraising and crowdfunding efforts. 

However, in Australia, charities have a specific definition that sets them apart from other fundraisers and crowdfunding and binds them to a set of rules and regulations that are specific to raising money for charity and fundraising platforms in Australia.

• They must be not-for-profit and exist only for charitable purposes that are for the public’s benefit.
• They must not be for private benefit or be for an individual, government entity or political party.
• They must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC)

There are some big benefits to becoming an official charity. As well as being recognised for tax purposes, you will also gain the trust and credibility in the eyes of your supporters, which will help to increase your charity fundraising efforts and donations.

To register with the ACNC, you will need to be categorised as one of the following 14 types of charities. Each category has a specific meaning under the law, so make sure you carefully consider the area that your fundraiser falls into to avoid delays and issues, and once you are registered, make sure you know the rules that apply to your subcategory.

It’s also important to remember that your purpose may change over time, which could affect the category you should be registered in. You can apply to change your category at any point if you deem it necessary.

ACNC charity categories

Below is the list of ACNC subcategories that define charities in Australia. If you think your fundraising falls into one of these purposes, it might be possible to become registered as an Australian charity.

Advancing health

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to prevent and relieve sickness, disease or human suffering. 

Examples of “advancing health” charities include associations, foundations, support groups, hospitals, ambulance services, nursing services, family planning and medical research bodies.

Advancing education

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness for education and training, publicly available research, informal education and skills development and scholarships (among other endeavours). 

Examples of “advancing education” charities include Kindergartens, non-government school fundraising, colleges, universities, industry training bodies, centres for health or childbirth education, research institutes, Scouts and Guides and organisations offering academic scholarships and prizes.

Advancing social or public welfare

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness in three key areas:

• Relieve poverty and distress and support disadvantaged individuals and families.

Examples include homeless accommodation services, international aid, refugees services, soup kitchens and employment and training services for unemployed people.

• Care, support and protection of children and young people

Examples include child care services, disadvantaged youth programs and shelter and support for ‘at-risk’ youth.

• Aged care and support for the elderly

Examples include residential care homes, in-home care, community services providing food and home maintenance, associations for Alzheimer’s, respite care and organisations for social, sporting and recreational activities.

• Disability support

Examples include residential and non-residential care, Braille libraries, employment services, guide dog associations and support groups.

• Disaster relief for rebuilding and repairs (non-individuals)

Examples include organisations raising funds to repair community buildings or other assets damaged by natural disasters such as floods or fires.

Advancing religion

Charities in this subtype raise funds to promote religious beliefs, principles, observances and standards of conduct.

Examples of “advancing religion” charities include congregations, educational services, and entities undertaking building maintenance.

Advancing culture

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to care for, preserve and protect Australian heritage, among other things.

Examples of “advancing culture” charities include organisations that promote Australian Indigenous culture and customs, fine arts societies, foundations for theatre, ballet, and music, and museums and libraries.

Promoting reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance between groups of individuals that are in Australia

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to work towards a more inclusive and integrated future for Australia.

Examples of this type of charity include organisations that promote harmony and reduce conflict between people from different races, religions or belief systems, strive to eliminate discrimination and promote equality, and mediation, conciliation or reconciliation services for those involved in dispute or conflict.

Promoting or protecting human rights

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to protect human rights as defined in the following conventions and covenants from the Human Rights Parliamentary Scrutiny Act 2011:

• International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Examples of “Promoting or protecting human rights” charities include organisations that monitor abuses of human rights, redress and relieve the needs of victims, research bodies, education services, awareness campaigns and technical advice consultants.

Advancing the security or safety of Australia or the Australian public

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness around security threats and safety issues facing Australians.

Examples of “advancing the security or safety of Australia or the Australian public” charities include safe houses, neighbourhood watch groups, research into defence and national security, organisations that look after the welfare of the armed forces and their families and volunteer organisations that offer emergency or safety services, such as surf lifesaving clubs.

Preventing or relieving the suffering of animals

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness for animal welfare and protection, including both wildlife and domestic animals.

Examples of “preventing or relieving the suffering of animals” charities include animal protection societies, animal shelters and rehoming facilities, protection of endangered species, animal hospitals and scientific bodies.

Advancing the natural environment

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to advance the natural environment and prevent destructive behaviours or acts.

Examples of “advancing the natural environment” charities include education services, native flora and fauna preservation societies, organisations that rescue and care for native animals and their habitats and volunteer services that rehabilitate and preserve natural habitats.

Any other purpose beneficial to the general public that may reasonably be regarded as analogous to, or within the spirit of, any of the purposes mentioned in the subtypes above.

This subtype captures charities with other purposes that have previously been recognised by the courts as being eligible to receive charitable donations in Australia.

To register a charity in this subtype, you should first consider all of the other subtypes. If your charity’s purpose is similar to, but not fully covered by the other subtypes, then this subtype might be an appropriate choice.

Advancing public debate

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to promote a change that is in aid of one of the charitable purposes covered in the subtypes above.

Examples of “advancing public debate” charities include human rights research bodies that provide law reform submissions and education research institutes that develop public policy.

Health Promotion

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness for the prevention and control of disease, including providing public information, research for cures and treatments and providing equipment to treat sufferers.

Examples of “health promotion” charities include community health care providers, some medical research organisations and organisations that raise awareness of the human disease.

Public Benevolent Institution

Charities in this subtype raise funds and awareness to relieve the suffering that is serious enough to arouse a feeling of pity or compassion in members of the community, including suffering as the result of poverty, sickness, helplessness or distress.

Examples of “Public Benevolent Institutions” include some hospitals, hospices, disability support services, aged care services and low-cost or subsidised housing providers.

Next Steps

If you’re serious about your long-term fundraising goals, getting registered as a charity is a great start and will add credibility to your campaign on crowdfunding platforms in Australia. If you have recognised your charitable purpose in one of the categories above, hop over to the ACNC to start your registration process.

icause is proud to support a wide range of charity partners through the best crowdfunding in Australia. If you are interested in becoming a partner, click here to talk to one of our experts.