In NSW, changes have been made to the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2021 (NSW fundraising laws) by the Customer Service Legislation Amendment Act 2024 and the Customer Service Legislation Amendment Regulation 2026. The reforms are part of a broader national effort to reduce red tape and align fundraising rules for fundraisers across Australia.
From 1 April 2026, the National Fundraising Principles will apply to all organisations that hold a fundraising authority in NSW, regardless of whether they are registered charities with the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission (ACNC). This means that every authority holder must comply with the same core standards of fundraising conduct, including requirements around honesty, transparency, donor protection, respectful communication, and the use of third‑party fundraisers.
The National Fundraising Principles will not replace the NSW fundraising system but will apply alongside it and set a consistent minimum standard for how fundraising appeals are conducted.
While the National Fundraising Principles will apply to all authority holders, the reforms operate differently depending on whether an organisation is ACNC registered.
What if your organisation is an ACNC registered charity and fundraises in NSW?
ACNC registered charities have been able to access a simplified application process for a NSW fundraising authority since 2024. From 1 April 2026, when the 2026 Regulation starts, ACNC registered charities that hold a NSW fundraising authority must comply with the National Fundraising Principles in the same way as other authority holders. However, they are exempt from NSW standard conditions that duplicate ACNC requirements, including NSW‑specific financial record‑keeping, reporting and audit obligations. Instead, they rely on their existing ACNC reporting and governance framework.
While some local fundraising laws are switched off for ACNC registered charities, others will continue to apply.
What if your organisation is not an ACNC registered charity and fundraises in NSW?
Organisations that are not registered charities with the ACNC must comply with both the National Fundraising Principles and the NSW fundraising framework. This includes holding a NSW fundraising authority (unless another exemption applies) and complying with all applicable standard conditions under the NSW regulations, including financial record‑keeping, reporting and audit requirements.
Where can you find more detail?
We are rewriting our fundraising resources to help organisations navigate fundraising laws in Australia and the related reforms across states and territories, and plan to publish updated guidance in May.
Progress to implement the National Fundraising Principles across Australia has been slow. Not all states and territories have fully implemented the National Fundraising Principles, so there is not yet a nationally consistent fundraising regime and differences in fundraising rules across jurisdictions remain. Genuine national harmonisation requires all states and territories to adopt the National Fundraising Principles without amendment and fully repeal or switch off existing local fundraising laws. No jurisdiction in Australia has implemented the National Fundraising Principles in this way yet.
Justice Connect has issued a renewed call to action to State and Territory governments to fully delivered nationally harmonised fundraising laws, as promised in 2023.
