Archived: Acc International Relief Inc.: mini charity review for donors

Mini charity review of Acc (sic) International Relief Inc. (ACCIR) as an organisation that seeks donations online. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.) Is ACCIR registered?

• As a charity, yes.
• Other registrations:
  • As a Victorian incorporated association (A0008672W).
  • ACCIR operates – according to the ACNC Register – throughout Australia. As an association, it has the necessary ARBN registration (26 077 365 434) to carry on business interstate.
  • But in three of the seven states that have a licensing regime it is not registered. (And in two others it is registered in the name it changed from six years ago.)
    • The law in this area is not straightforward – for instance, is an internet invitation ‘fundraising’ – and advice varies, so check with the charity before drawing any conclusions.

What do they do?

• From the main menu on the website:

We are transforming communities and nations, one life at a time, by developing holistic sustainable solutions to combat injustice, poverty and reinstate the value of life. We do this through:

Community Development Projects: We believe in addressing the issues of poverty and injustice, and partner with organisations that bring change to entire communities.

Child Rights and Child-Centred Development Projects: Providing support to vulnerable children through the provision of healthcare, education and family support services.

Disaster Relief: We provide support to individuals and communities in the wake of disasters and humanitarian crises, both in Australia and abroad. This encompasses the provision of emergency and recovery assistance to whole communities as well as services designed to protect children in post disaster settings.

• Also see What choices do you have….? Below.

Do they share the Gospel?

• No. From page 4 of the Annual Report:
  • ACCI Relief carries out aid & development activities only. Evangelistic programs and activities are administered and funded separately through the organisation ACCI Missions.

What impact are they having?

• Neither ‘impact’ nor ‘outcomes’ are mentioned on the website.
• The section in the Annual Report beginning on page 7 records some impacts.

What do they spend outside the costs directly incurred in delivering the above impact, that is, on administration?

• If we define ‘directly incurred’ as ‘Funds to international programs’ plus ‘Domestic programs expenditure’, it is 10%.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• Yes, both to ACCIR and to its two funds, World Relief Fund and ACC Relief Fund.
  • Only the World Relief Fund is mentioned on the ‘donate’ page.

Is their online giving secure?

• Security is not mentioned.

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (but lodged on the second last day, six months after their year-end).
  • But if you are considering a large donation, I would ask for more up-to-date financial information – the accounts are for a year end that is now nine months ago.

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• AIS 2015: Apart from the absence of outcomes, yes.
• Financial Report 2015: Yes

What financial situation was shown by that Report?

• Last year’s deficit of 3% of revenue was turned into a 3% surplus.
• No obvious concerns with financial structure.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• He gave a ‘clean’ opinion.
  • To take the right amount of comfort for this finding, please read here and here.

If a charity, is their information on the ACNC Register complete?

• Almost. ‘Phone’ and ‘Website’ are blank.

What choices do you have in how your donation is used?

• ‘Partner with a project
  • 7 under ‘Africa’
  • 9 under ‘Cambodia’
  • 1 under ‘Pacific Islands’
  • 4 under ‘South Asia’
  • 7 under ‘South East Asia’
  • 6 under ‘Vietnam’
• ‘Become a RAISE partner’
  • ‘RAISE: Madagascar’
  • ‘RAISE: Mozambique’
  • ‘RAISE: Sri Lanka’
• ‘Current Appeals’
  • ‘Syrian Refugee Crisis Appeal’
  • ‘Nepal Earthquake Appeal’

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• See the list at the bottom here.

To whom are ACCIR accountable?

• Although not claimed on their website, nor under ‘Accountability’ in the Annual Report, they are accountable as a Member of Missions Interlink.
  • For one opinion on the strength of this accountability, see the section Activities in this review.
• They are also accountable to the ACNC.

Are they responsive to feedback?

• When sent a draft of this review, they XXXX…did not respond [edited 13.01.18].