Archived: AccessTruth: mini-charity review
Care: At least some of the information about this charity is no longer current. Use the ‘Search charity names’ box to see if there is a later review. If the latest review has a message like this, you are welcome to make your case for an updated review via email to ted@businessbythebook.com.au.
Mini charity review of AccessTruth (AT) as an organisation that seeks donations online. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.) Are they responsive to feedback?
- When sent a draft of this review, they responded immediately with just one comment, a comment that has been included below.
Is AT registered?
- Yes, as a charity.
- But it has chosen not to incorporate.
- There is, however, a company with the same name in the same suburb as AT. What is the relationship?
- Ministry comment: ‘We are in the process of being setup as a company, hence the same name in the same suburb.’
- There is, however, a company with the same name in the same suburb as AT. What is the relationship?
- It operates in two states that have a fundraising licensing regime, and has an online invitation to donate. It has no fundraising licences[1].
What does AT do?
- See here.
- Its Annual Information Statement 2016 (AIS 2016) is overdue, but last year this is what they said for ‘activities and outcomes’:
- The purpose of AccessTruth is to provide clear and accessible Bible teaching resources to the community and Christian public. We achieved that purpose through our website – with video, audio, DVDs and written materials – and also through connecting with individuals and organizations that are making use of our resources.
- Your donation is not sought so that they can provide the resources without charge, but to supplement their income from the sale of those resources. Here’s the pricing.
Do they share the Gospel?
- No
What impact are they having?
- No information found.
What do they spend outside the costs directly incurred in delivering the above impact, that is, on administration?
- No financial information is published, so it is not possible to make this calculation.
Can you get a tax deduction?
- No
Is their online giving secure?
- PayPal is used, so yes.
What choices do you have in how your donation is used?
- None shown on the website.
Is their reporting up-to-date?
- No. (The deadline was 31 January 2017, seven months after their year-end.)
Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?
- NA – not yet submitted.
- Last year they took advantage of their status as a Basic Religious Charity and didn’t submit any financial information.
- Whatever they do with the ACNC, their Associate membership of Missions Interlink requires them to “have available for [their] members and supporters a clear and appropriate financial statement which has been approved by its auditor.”
What financial situation was shown in that Report?
- NA – not yet submitted.
- They have not registered for GST, so this should mean that their gross income is less than $150K.
- Their size on the ACNC Register is ‘Small’, and these charities have revenue less than $250K.
What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?
- No audit report was published last year, and this year’s AIS has not yet been submitted.
If a charity, is their page on the ACNC Register complete?
- Yes
Who are the people controlling the organisation?
- Here’s the ‘management team’.
- With ‘Mac’ translated to ‘McIlwain’, the same people are shown as ‘Responsible Persons’ on the ACNC Register:
To whom is AT accountable?
- To Missions Interlink[2] via its an Associate membership.
- AT is also accountable to the ACNC.
- The law in this area is not straightforward – is an internet invitation ‘fundraising’ for instance? – and advice varies, so check with the charity before drawing any conclusions. ↑
- For one opinion on the strength of that accountability, see the section Activities in this review. ↑