Archived: Crossroads PM Inc: mini-charity review

Mini-charity review of Crossroads PM Inc (CPM), an organisation that seeks donations online and is a member of Missions Interlink. (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, they…did not respond.

Is CPM registered?

• As a charity, yes.
• CPM is a New South Wales incorporated association – but in its old name, CBI Australia Inc.
• It has three business names: Crossroad Bible Institute, Crossroads Prison Ministry Australia, and the one it uses on the website, Crossroads Prison Ministries Australia.
• CPM operates in Australia, per the ACNC Register, throughout Australia.
  • It does not have the necessary registration to conduct business interstate (an ARBN).
  • They do not explain why do not hold any fundraising licences.
• CPM operates overseas, per the ACNC Register, in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tonga.

What do they do?

• See here.

Do they share the Gospel?^[1]

• Yes

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?

• This is not disclosed. And there is insufficient disclosure about the expenses to make an estimate.

Do they pay their board members?

• The constitution is silent on paying board members.
• From the expenses, it appears that no such payment is made.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No

Is their online giving secure?

• PayPal is used, so yes.

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (lodged five months after their year-end, a month earlier than last year).
  • 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 12 months ago.

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• AIS 2016: No
  • ‘Other names…’ does not match the business names held.
  • ‘Activities’ is not particularly about 2016.
  • No outcomes are reported.
• Financial Report 2016: No
  • One financial statement is missing.
  • Two of the other three financial statements are materially different from what is required by the Accounting Standards.
  • Almost all the usual Notes to the accounts are missing.
  • The auditor has used the wrong Auditing Standard.
  • ‘Provision for M Veh’ is likely not a liability.

What financial situation was shown by that Report?

• Surplus as a percentage of revenue decreased from 8% to negative 3%.
• Assets exceed liabilities by $107K.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• The auditor, Troy Vander Noord, Chartered Accountant, gave a ‘clean’ conclusion (it was a review, not an audit).
  • But before you decide how much comfort to take from this conclusion, please re-read the section ‘Financial Report 2016’, above.

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

• No
  • The ‘Other Name(s)’ do not match the business names that are held.
  • A PO Box is given for the ‘Charity Street Address’.

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

• None

Where were your (net) donations sent?

• Other than all over Australia, CPM operates in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tonga. The AIS 2016 says that no grants were made for use in Australia, and $17K went to the ‘South Pacific’. (This was from revenue of $271K.) There is no disclosure beyond this.

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• Not shown on the website.
• Per the ACNC Register (under ‘Responsible Persons’):
  • Paul Beringer
  • Bruce Bond
  • Anne Bruinsma
  • Anthony Dedda
  • Keith Dickson
    • Is it this Keith Dickson?
• The board is responsible to the members. The number of members is not disclosed.

To whom is CPM accountable?

• Not claimed, but CPM is a member of Missions Interlink.
  • For one opinion on the strength of this accountability, see the section Activities in this review.
• CPM is also accountable to the ACNC.
• And to the New South Wales regulator of incorporated associations.

1. “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. ↑