How to get Ready to Receive Donations

As with many things, before you accept donations your organisation or community group will need to prepare itself to receive them.

Among the more important preparation points for receiving donations are:

  • Settle on your "ask"
    • Make sure you know what you are going to ask and how you are going to ask it.
    • Plan, as a group, the method and wording of your donation request - with allowances for a slight variation if needed.
  • Check on your DGR status, or the possibilities of gaining DGR status.
    • Having DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status means your charity or non-profit organisation is entitled to receive tax-deductible donations.
    • Obviously, not every group is eligible for DGR status, but go to the trouble of checking anyway; you never know - you might be able to gain DGR status and become more attractive to prospective donors.
  • Decide on what you want - in terms of goods or money - donated to you.
    • Your organisation needs to decide what it actually needs or wants to receive in the way of donations.
    • Are you after money or goods? If it is the latter - what type of goods would you prefer?
  • Decide on your target sources for donations.
    • Who - specifically or in general - will be your prime targets for donations?
    • This decision may be shaped by what you are appealing for - for example: a certain type of goods.
  • Decide on how you can receive donations.
    • Will people be able to donate to you by cheque through the post? By credit card? Through an online giving facility on your website (or the Australian Giving Centre on the Our Community site)? A combination of a number of methods?
    • Whatever the case may be, make sure these donation receipt points are ready for use and that the relevant technology or personnel are in place to receive the donations.

For more information on receiving donations, subscribe to Our Community's Raising Funds newsletter. For more information about setting up an online appeal through Our Community's Australian Giving Centre.




ourcommunity.com.au

Gold Coast Gives is an initiative of Gold Coast City Council and ourcommunity.com.au
for further details please contact Ms. Anna Rainbow