Yes, if you are looking to publically fundraise. You will need to either be registered as a charity or apply for a 'sanction' with the Office of Fair Trading.

How do I apply for an authority to fundraise?

Before you conduct a fundraising appeal, you will need to obtain authorisation from the Office of Fair Trading (Brisbane). An appeal for support includes any invitation to the public that is designed to obtain money or articles for a charitable or a community purpose.

There are two ways to obtain an authorisation.

1. Apply to the Office of Fair Trading for registration of your organisation as a charity;
   or
2. Apply to the Office of Fair Trading for the granting of a sanction.

If your association's purpose is solely charitable and was not established to only conduct one appeal for support, you must register your association with the Office of Fair Trading before commencing any fundraising activities.

To be registered as a charity your association's objectives must be fully charitable as defined in the Act. The definition of a charitable purpose includes:

The supplying of help, aid, relief, or support to,or the education or instruction, (whether spiritual, mental, physical, technical, social, or otherwise) of, or the care, housing, or assistance otherwise of, any persons in distress.

A charity may be an incorporated or unincorporated body such as a charitable trust, company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act or an Incorporated Association. However, it must:

• be an association (have more than one person); and
• have a constitution that contains a non-profit clause.

Applying for a sanction to fundraise for a community purpose

If your appeal's purpose is of benefit to the community, your association may be granted a sanction to conduct the appeal by the Office of Fair Trading. Examples of a community purpose include, but are not limited to, the construction, carrying out, provision, maintenance, or repair of buildings, works, parks, recreation grounds, or other places (or of amenities therein) for the purpose of use or enjoyment by members of the public.

In applying for a sanction your association must have a non-profit clause in its constitution. In certain circumstances, sanctions can be issued to an association or individuals for short term appeals without a constitution, provided the funds are to be dispersed shortly after they are raised.

An application form is available here:

For further contact information:

Office of Fair Trading
GPO Box 3111
Brisbane, QLD, 4001
Telephone: 13 13 04 (for the cost of a local call).
Facsimile: (07) 3405 0731
Webpages: www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

Other relevant fundraising information

Any organisation that wishes to publicly fundraise for a charitable or a community purpose in Queensland is governed by the Collections Act 1966.

To be registered as a charity, an association's objectives must be fully charitable as defined in the Act. These objectives include the supplying of help, aid, education, relief or support to any persons in distress. If the purpose of your appeal does not fit these objectives but is for a community purpose, you may be required to apply for a sanction.

How can I collect donations through Our Community's Australian Giving Centre?

Once you have obtained your fundraising license, you can expand your fundraising efforts by using Our Community's online donations service which will allow you to take credit card donations 7 days a week, 24 hours per day. Along with collecting donations via the internet, you will also be able to promote donating by phone, fax, post and leaving a bequest to your organisation.

This donations facility is a commission free service offered by Our Community - we take NO commission or fees for this service. The only online donations fees that will be incurred by you are the credit card fees and a bank transaction fee.

You also own all your data - Our Community does not use any of the donor details in any way and our systems have secure encryption for donor protection.

For further information, visit the Australian Giving Centre.

And for direct Internet links to more fundraising forms your group may need, follow this link to Our Community's Best of Community page.