Archived: Hope India Mission Australia Inc.: mini charity review for donors

Mini charity review of Hope India Mission Australia Inc. (HI), as an organisation that is a member of the Australian missions umbrella organisation Mission Interlink. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.)

(To see the situation last year, read this review.)

Are they responsive to feedback?

• When sent a draft of this review, they…did not respond.

Is HI registered?

• As a charity, yes.
  • The website says that HI ‘is registered with the government of India and is governed by an executive committee in India.’
    • A return submitted to the Indian government shows an organisation called Hope India Mission and Institute receiving money from the Chairman of HI in the year ended 31 March 2015.
• Other registrations:
  • As a WA incorporated association (A1003253C).
  • HI only operates, as least per the ACNC Register, in WA. (An ARBN registration is therefore not necessary.)
  • It does not have a fundraising licence in WA^[1].
  • It has no business names, therefore must use only its full name. (Not HIM Australia Inc and HIM, for instance.)
  • Not registered for GST. (It’s turnover is below the amount when it becomes compulsory.)

What does HI do?

• From the AIS 2015 (nothing on the website):
  • We partner with an organisation in Bangalore India called Hope India Mission that we partly fund to help them carry out the activities outlined in the previous answers’:
    • Economic, social and community development; emergency and relief, employment and training, grant-making activities, housing activities, income support and maintenance, international activities, primary and secondary education, social services.

Does HI share the Gospel?

• No

What impact are they having?

• Nothing found.

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

• If we define ‘direct’ as the money sent overseas, it cost them $12K to send $28K 205K.
  • That’s 30% on administration.
  • It would be reasonable to ask them why if would not be more efficient for you to send the money direct to the destination.
    • Just as the Australian Churches of Christ in Perth did in the year ended 31 March 2016.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No

Is HI online giving secure?

• No online giving offered.

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (19 days after their year-end).

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• AIS 2015: Except for the omission of outcomes, yes.
• Financial Report 2015:
  • NA. None required (charity size), and none offered.
  • Although none are required by their constitution, the website says that “The accounts are audited annually by an independent accountant.”
  • As a member of Missions Interlink, HI 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].

What financial situation was shown by that Report?

• NA
  • The ‘Financial Information’ section of the AIS 2015 shows:
    • Cash accounting is used.
      • This possibly explains the lack of balance sheet figures.
    • Receipts were $43K, which explains why HI is not registered for GST.
    • Donations was the only source of receipts.
    • The two expenses other than the money sent overseas (70% of expenses), were ‘Employee expenses/payments’ $4K and ‘Other expenses/payments’ $8K.

What did the auditor say about HI’s last financial statements?

• NA. (See above).

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

• No. ‘Phone’ and ‘Website’ are blank, and HI has yet to select a charity subtype (at least that’s what the Register says).

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

• No information available.

Who are the people controlling HI?

• Not shown on the website, but see under ‘Responsible Persons’ on the ACNC Register.

To whom is HI accountable?

• Not claimed on the website, but HI is a member of Missions Interlink.
  • Missions Interlink is an organisation that has standards^[2] with which HI must comply.
• HI is also accountable to the ACNC.

1. The law in this area is not straightforward and advice varies, so check with the charity before drawing any conclusions. ↑
2. For one opinion on the strength of this accountability, see the section Activities in this review. ↑