Every Home Global Concern Ltd: charity review

This is a review in the series ‘Members of Missions Interlink’, Missions Interlink being ‘the Australian network for global mission^[1]’ (and a means for a Member to get income tax exemption when it might not otherwise be available^[2], with a consequent accountability regime).

The previous review (September 2016) (in black) is used as a base, with comment only if the situation has changed or extra information would be helpful.

‘Every Home Global Concern Ltd ’ is one such Member, and an organisation that seeks donations from the public.

And from its other website: https://ehgc.givingfuel.com/global-concern

Both Members and Associates have to accept a set of standards, the introduction to which includes this statement:

They did not respond to a draft of this review.

I sent them a draft of the review. Lorraine Leach responded with some information she thought I needed in order to make the review correct. I gave her information that showed her why I thought that she was mistaken, and again invited her to submit comments for publication. I did not hear from her again.

The ACNC, in their article, Donating to Legitimate Charities, gives “some things to consider to help you make sure your donation is going where it is intended”:

1. Check the charity’s name.
2. Ask for identification from anyone seeking a donation.
3. Be careful of online requests for donations.
4. No tax deduction doesn’t mean the charity is not a legitimate one.
5. Find out more about how the charity says it uses donations.

Here’s the results for ‘Every Home Global Concern Ltd’^[3], with #5 supplemented by the essentials of the ACNC’s What should I consider when deciding which charity to support?^[4]

1.   A search on the ACNC Register of charities leads to a one in that name [EHGC].

However, the website on the Register, www.globalconcern.com.au, leads to a website in the name ‘Global Concern’. This is not a registered business name.

The website that is linked from Missions Interlink is different again: www.everyhomeforchrist.org.au.

The website on the Register is now www.everyhome.org.au. This leads to the ‘Every Home for Christ’ website.

A search of the Register on the name ‘Every Home for Christ’, leads to the above charity. This is because the charity has recorded that name under ‘Also known as’.

The equation of the two can be seen on the home page of Every Home for Christ: the name in the header is ‘Every Home for Christ’, while in the footer the ACFID accreditation of the charity is described. But the description uses another two different names for the charity, ‘Every Home Global Concern Australia’, and ‘Every Home Global Concern’, neither of which is registered:

Because it does not have the necessary provisions in its governing document, EHGC  is not permitted to trade without included ‘Ltd’ or ‘Limited’ on the end.

Note 14, Notes to the Financial Statements], says that EHGC pays its directors, something that would stop it being able to use the shortened name anyway. (But from Lorraine’s email – see above – it appears that this Note may be incorrect.)

And the second name reports its ABN as 28 004 778 081, an ABN that belongs to World Vision Australia.

This was changed following the receipt of the draft review.

The charity also operates a fund, gifts to which may be tax deductible: Every Home Global Concern Ltd Australia Overseas Fund. There is no mention of this fund on either website.

Confusing.

End of review.

2.  There is nothing to indicate that EHGC uses third-party (donation) collectors.

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3.  Both web addresses begin with a closed padlock symbol, so the websites are secure [the ACNC article above]. Both ‘Donate’ pages use the Giving Fuel service, a secure service.

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4.  EHGC’s ABN record says that it is not entitled to receive tax-deductible gifts. But it has a fund, Every Home Global Concern Ltd Australia Overseas Aid Fund that can.

The websites are not consistent with this: tax deductibility is offered on Every Home for Christ via the ‘Donate’ button, but not via the same button on the other site. Neither site mentions the fund.

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5.  ‘Find out more about how the charity says it uses donations.’

Here’s the accrual accounting view of where the money went:

That’s 79% of the total expenses in one line, ‘Other expenses’, with no further explanation^[5]. Not a true and fair view.

Here are the directors responsible for this disclosure:

Alexander Thomas

D Arcy Watson

Davidson James

Eric Leach

John Ealand

Ken Koh

Laurel Siokos

Richard Snellenburg

Setatow Befekadu

The auditor who approved this disclosure is A F Gilbert CA, WSC Group – Audit Pty Ltd^[6].

• That firm also prepared the financial statements [Note 15]. You might ask EHGC how he handled the clear threat to his independence.

Normally directors are accountable to the members. But directors of EHGC are not elected by the members, but by the directors themselves. And there are only 10 members anyway.

End of review.

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Contact me if this charity is still in the running for your donation, and you want the answers to the other questions. A lengthier review is also possible.

1. https://missionsinterlink.org.au/about/ ↑
2. ↑
3. See here for last year’s review. ↑
4. Focus on the nature of the charity’s work, its beneficiaries and the impact the charity is having in the community.Is it clear what the charity is trying to achieve and how its activities work towards its objectives?Would you like to spend your money, or time if volunteering, to support these objectives?Is the charity being transparent about its activities? [A section in the article, Donating and Volunteering]. ↑
5. In addition, all bar $2K of the revenue is classified as ‘Other income’. And this ‘Other income’ includes an item ‘Other income’. ↑
6. And included an Emphasis of Matter paragraph in his report when one wasn’t appropriate. ↑