There are now nearly 900 PAFs with significant distributable funds, seeking to support organisations with worthy projects in Australia and overseas. These PAFs are unable to carry out projects in their own right or make donations to individuals. They must donate their profits to another Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) and in some circumstances to a Tax Concession Charity.
To benefit from these exciting opportunities, the Board of RAWCS has acted to upgrade the Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (OAF) to full charity status. This required the re-registration of the OAF with the Australian Taxation Office and approval to operate as a Tax Concession Charity.
This is a significant move for RAWCS and Rotary in Australia.
Our Overseas Aid Fund now holds the following registrations, which will enable it to accept tax deductible donations and grants from all sources in Australia including business corporations and not-for-profit organisations.
Deductible Gift Recipient
Tax Concession Charity and
Income Tax Exempt Fund
A number of Foundations have already approached RAWCS to ascertain its eligibility to receive Personal Ancillary Funds distributions. The Board believes there will be a significant increase in donations from this source and this in turn will increase the size and scope of projects undertaken by the RAWCS divisions and by the Rotary Clubs.
All Rotarians should be alert to potential donors seeking information about Deductible Gift Recipient entities within Rotary, especially those wishing to support a project overseas. These people should be directed to our Regional Chairmen, District RAWCS representative or our national website at www.rawcs.com.au
The number of RAWCS projects is expanding rapidly as Rotarians take advantage of the opportunity to be actively involved in international humanitarian projects. These projects are making a difference especially those associated with malaria programs in the Solomons and Papua New Guinea.
Lou Johnson PDG
District 9830.
National Chairman
Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd.
e-mail: marlou@tassie.net.au
There has been a recent change regarding the tax deductibility status for donations to RAWCS which is favourable to Rotary.
For many years the Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (managed by RAWCS) has been registered with the tax office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR status) and therefore donations are tax deductible. It became evident recently when we launched the Samoan Appeal via the Bendigo Bank's Community Foundation that DGR status was not enough to receive all forms of donations.
For many Foundations and PRIVATE ANCILLARY FUNDS [PAFs] they have rules which mean they can only donate money to an organisation that is also registered for Charity Tax Concessions i.e. a Charitable Fund.
Private Ancillary Funds are fairly new and many are now reaching a level of funds where they can make donations under their rules of operation. RAWCS needs to be in a position that they can attract donations from these funds for use on overseas projects.
Therefore RAWCS has moved quickly on this issue and due to their standing with AusAID and the tax office the Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund now has DGR registration and has been listed as a Charitable Fund. Attached are copies of the certificates for your information.
The one change that we had to undertake to allow this to proceed was apply for and register The Overseas Aid Fund with its own ABN number. This has been done and the new ABN number (21 388 376 554) for the Overseas Aid Fund takes effect from the 1st of January 2010.
The old ABN number (37 739 341 003) remains in place for RAWCS Ltd.
Cheques should be made out to: Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Account
Donations can either be sent direct to the RAWCS Treasurer, Gary Gunnell or, preferably, paid direct to the RAWCS Account with the Westpac Bank.
Account Name: Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Account
BSB: 033 688
Account Number: 102902SPECIAL NOTICE:
With any direct deposit please also send a confirmation email to RAWCS Treasurer, Garry Gunnell - gunnell1@bigpond.com with full details of project and name and address of donor.
Any individual may make a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to RAWCS.
Forward cheques to:
Garry Gunnell
RAWCS Treasurer,
P.O. Box 807
Strathfieldsaye, Vic 3551.
e-mail: gunnell1@bigpond.com
Mark clearly on the back of the cheque the name of the donor, address, club, district and name of project (if required).
Garry Gunnell will reply with an official receipt.
| Charity Tax Concessions Endorsement |
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District 9800
RAWCS Treasurer Southern Region,
PO Box 807
Strathfieldsaye, Vic 3551.
e-mail: gunnell1@bigpond.com
and
PDG Mani Seneviratne
Rotary Club of Sunbury
Chair District 9790 RAWCS Committee
and Deputy Chairman RAWCS Southern Region
Email: mani2729@bigpond.net.au
David Meller PP PHF
Rotary Club of Strathmore
Southern Region Co-ordinator Rotary International of DIK
Mob: 0409 165553
e-mail: dmeller@optusnet.com.au
