One-off charitable appeals

Organisations and individuals can fundraise for a charitable purpose.

A charitable purpose is when you supply any of the following to a person in distress:

• help
• aid
• relief
• support
• care
• housing
• education
• instruction.

A person may be in distress because of:

• the death or disability of another person upon whom they are dependant
• disease or sickness
• age
• physical or mental infirmity
• poverty
• unemployment
• a natural disaster or other emergency.

Sanction for a one-off appeal

We must give approval before you can fundraise. It is an offence to fundraise in Queensland without our approval.

If you want to fundraise for a charitable or community purpose on a one-off basis, you need to apply for a ‘sanction’. A sanction is your permit to fundraise.

Eligibility

We can authorise a group of individuals or an association to conduct the charitable appeal.

The appeal must be for a duration of less than 6 months unless we agree to a longer term.

The funds must be donated during or at the end of the appeal and used for the purpose they were raised.

To be sanctioned for a one-off appeal, you must:

• name at least three promoters, not related to each other or the beneficiary, who will conduct the appeal
• have the promoters sign a letter saying they are aware they need to submit audited financial statements within four weeks of the appeal ending
• choose and name a charity that will receive any donations not able to be used for the purpose of the appeal
• open a bank account in the name of the appeal (at least two people not related to each other or the beneficiary must operate this account).

Lodgement

Download the application form.

Attach:

• a statement explaining the reason for the appeal
• evidence of the need for the appeal (for example, if the appeal is for a person with a medical condition, a statement from the beneficiary's doctor)
• where the beneficiary is a person or association, a letter signed by the beneficiary (or legal representative) stating that they will accept the appeal proceeds.

There is no fee to lodge your application.