Archived: Citylife Community Care Inc: mini-charity review

Mini-charity review of Citylife Community Care Inc (CCC) an organisation that invites the public to donate to it. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.)

Is it responsive to feedback?

• When sent a draft of this review, on 30 March 2017, they…did not respond.

Is it registered?

• Yes, as a charity.
• CCC is a Victorian incorporated association (VIC A0032528C).
  • Not to be confused with Citylife Community Initiatives Incorporated.
• Although it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citylife Church Inc., the group has not taken advantage of the ACNC’s group reporting provisions.
• CCC operates, per the ACNC Register, in Victoria. It also raises money on the internet. It has no fundraising licences^[1].

What does CCC do?

• Described here.
• It is an arm of Citylife Church Inc.

Do they share the Gospel?

• No.
  • It describes itself as a ‘faith-based organisation’, not Christian, or Christ-centred.
    • It does say, though, that ‘Our counsellors are competent in using various trusted and proven therapeutic approaches informed by Christian principles.

What impact are they having?

• Nothing systematic found.

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

• The way the expenses are classified does not allow this calculation.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• Yes

Is their online giving secure?

• If security is mentioned, it is after you enter your personal details.

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

• None.

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (five and a half months after their year-end).

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• Annual Information Statement 2015 (AIS 2015): Almost – no outcomes are reported.
• Financial Report 2015: Only if
  • You agree with the directors that CCC has no users, present or prospective who need general purpose financial statements for their decisions about CCC.
    • The directors don’t give a reason for saying that CCC is not a reporting entity, and therefore able to produce the lower standard special purpose financial statements.
  • There is no Note on related parties (an ACNC expectation).

What financial situation was shown in that Report?

• Surplus as a percentage of revenue declined from 2% to 1%.
• Working capital declined marginally, but is still strongly positive (440%).
• Long term capital structure is sound.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• He gave a ‘clean’ opinion^[2].

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

• Yes

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• Not shown on the website.
• ‘Responsible Persons’ on the ACNC Register:
  • Mark Conner
    • Is this correct? He says he has moved on.
  • Peter Leigh
  • Gavin Osborne
  • Zillah Everett
  • Presumably it is this Zillah Everett?
• Assuming the ‘Position’ shown is correct, this number of directors is two short by the constitution.

To whom is CCC accountable?

• To the ACNC.
• And to the Victorian regulator of associations.
• To Citylife Church (as a wholly-owned subsidiary).

1. Opinions vary on whether an internet invitation qualifies as ‘fundraising’. ↑
2. To take the right amount of comfort from a ‘clean opinion’, please read here and here. ↑