Archived: Aztem Inc: mini charity review

Mini charity review of Aztem Inc (Aztem) as an organisation that has the option for you to support it financially and is a member of Missions Interlink^[1], (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.)

See here for the previous review.

Are they responsive to feedback?

• When sent a draft of this review, on 10 July 2017, they…did not respond.

Is Aztem registered?

• As a charity, yes.
  • Not showing the ACNC’s ‘charity tick’ yet.
• Other registrations:
  • Aztem is a Victorian incorporated association (VIC A0019358F).
  • For GST
  • The absence of a business name means that Aztem must use its full name on all documents and publications.
  • It operates in Australia, at least per the ACNC Register, only in New South Wales. It therefore does not need an ARBN registration.
  • Aztem doesn’t have a fundraising licence in any of the seven states that have a licensing regime^[2].

What do they do?

• ‘(O)ur organisation supports Aussie Tentmakers to live and witness overseas.’
• See the website for more information.
• This is they report on 2016’s ‘activities and outcomes’ (in the AIS 2016):
  • Activities conducted by Aztem achieve our purpose by providing a range of services for Australians who undertake international work assignments. As individuals and their families have a wide range of professional skills, and go to different country destinations and work roles, we offer individual mentoring. Mentoring covers a wide range of life and work matters; begins in the pre-departure phase, and continues with ongoing mentoring. This covers advice, resources, networking with others engaged in similar roles and pastoral support. Debriefing is provided for those on leave in, or returning to, Australia. We also do some promotion of the benefits of having this type of support among those who may in future undertake international assignments.

Do they share the Gospel ^[3]?

• No

What impact are they having?

• Nothing found.

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

• ‘Grants and donations made…’ were 16% of expenses.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No

Is their online giving secure?

• NA

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

• Online: NA
• Via contact with them: ‘Support AZTEM financially to help cover administration costs and also to augment the salaries of tentmakers on assignment when this is necessary.’

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (lodged five 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 over a year ago.

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• AIS 2016: Except for the absence of outcomes, yes.
• Financial Report 2016: NA
  • Not required to submit a financial report to the ACNC (because of its size).
  • Not submitted voluntarily.
  • But Aztem, as a member of Missions Interlink, is required to ‘have available for its members and supporters a clear and appropriate financial statement which has been approved by its auditor [Standards Statement, 4.1]^[4].
  • Last year I got no response to my request for this statement. I leave it to you this year.

What financial situation was shown by that Report?

• NA
  • The AIS 2016 shows a loss of $2K and assets of $3K.
  • And says that they have no employees.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• NA

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

• Yes

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• Not shown on the website.
• Per the ACNC Register (under ‘Responsible Persons’):
  • Rosalind Gooden
    • Is it this Rosalind Gooden?
  • John Jamieson
  • Richard Lai
  • David Mills
  • Jillian Quartel
  • Merilyn Riley
    • Is it this Merilyn Riley?
  • Grace Tjandraatmadja
  • Paul Wansbrough

To whom are they accountable?

• To Missions Interlink, as a member. Membership confirmed^[5].
• And to the regulator of Victorian incorporated associations.

1. An organisation that, among other things, gives members income tax exemption even though they do not meet the “in Australia” test and do not have deductible gift recipient status. ↑
2. 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. ↑
3. “Good living and social concern are important [to the cause of evangelism], but they are not uniquely Christian graces…I’ve met a lot of fine Hindus, Muslims and atheists. Just living the life is not going to bring someone to Christ. There is much more to it than that. We must help people, certainly, but we must also share with them why we are motivated to do so. We must stand against injustice, poverty and need, but we must at the same time point to the One who brings justice and who can meet the deepest need. Until they know our reasons, how can they come to know our Lord?” [Dan Armstrong, the Fifth Gospel: The Gospel According to You, Anzea Books, pp. 13-14. ↑ ↑
4. As an association, the law also requires financial statements that ‘give a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the association during and at the end of its last financial year’. The constitution repeats this requirement. ↑
5. For one opinion on the strength of the Missions Interlink accountability, see the section Activities in this review. ↑