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Does an organisation need to be registered as a charity with the ACNC to fundraise?
No, an organisation does not need to be registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) to fundraise in Australia, but registration significantly changes the legal requirements it must meet.
The impact of ACNC registration
In many jurisdictions, registration with the ACNC allows an organisation to access streamlined or ‘deemed’ registration processes, which reduces administrative red tape:
- Deemed registration (notification only): In Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland, ACNC-registered charities are generally not required to apply for a separate state fundraising licence. Instead, they are ‘deemed’ to be authorised once they notify the state regulator of their intent to fundraise. In Western Australia, under legislative changes passed in 2025, ACNC-registered charities will be 'deemed' to be licence holders once they notify the Commissioner for Consumer Protection. Those changes have not yet taken force however. Until they do ACNC-registered charities will require a licence in WA (unless a different exception applies).
- Deemed registration (no notification required): In the ACT, ACNC-registered charities are not required to apply for a separate state fundraising licence. Instead, they are ‘deemed’ to be authorised.
- Streamlined application: In New South Wales, ACNC-registered charities are automatically eligible for an authority to fundraise. While they must still complete an application, the process is streamlined and only requires their ACNC registration details.
- Full application: In Tasmania, ACNC-registered charities are still required to apply for and obtain specific approval to collect for a charity from Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS).
Because the Northern Territory has no laws governing general fundraising, ACNC registration is not required for activities such as doorknocks or tin collections.
Fundraising without ACNC registration
If an organisation is not registered with the ACNC, it must follow the standard application process in each state and territory where it intends to fundraise (unless a different exemption applies to the relevant fundraising activities). Most states require organisations not registered with the ACNC to apply for a formal licence, authority, registration, or sanction.
Eligibility for sanctions: In Queensland, if an organisation is not eligible for registration as a charity under state law, it can apply for a sanction to fundraise for a specific charitable or community purpose.
Small-scale exemptions: Some jurisdictions allow organisations to fundraise without a licence if they remain below certain financial thresholds (for example, $15,000 in the ACT or NSW, or $20,000 in Victoria) and meet certain other conditions.
Fitness assessment: Applicants for a fundraising authority in NSW who are not ACNC-registered will be assessed to ensure the people associated with the appeal are ‘fit and proper persons’.
The biggest disadvantage of fundraising without ACNC registration is the tax implications. Only organisations registered with the ACNC can apply to be endorsed by the ATO as Deductible Gift Recipients (DGRs). If your organisation does not have DGR endorsement, your donors generally cannot claim their donation as a tax deduction. This can make it much harder to secure large donations (see our resources on tax concessions that may be available to your organisation, including our webpage on Deductible Gift Recipient status).
View our guide to fundraising laws in Australia for more information.
The content on this webpage was last updated in May 2026 and is not legal advice. See full disclaimer and copyright notice.
