Archived: International Mission Ministries Inc: charity review
Care: At least some of the information about this charity is no longer current. Use the ‘Search charity names’ box to see if there is a later review. If the latest review has a message like this, you are welcome to make your case for an updated review via email to ted@businessbythebook.com.au.
Since the last time I checked, a few months ago, International Mission Ministries Inc has become an associate member of Missions Interlink.
Such members have to accept a set of standards, the introduction to which includes this statement:
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”:
- Check the charity’s name
- Ask for identification from anyone seeking a donation.
- Be careful of online requests for donations.
- No tax deduction doesn’t mean the charity is not a legitimate one.
- Find out more about how the charity says it uses donations.
Here’s the results for International Mission Ministries Inc:
1: There is a registered[1] charity in that name.
2. NA
3. The “web address begins with ‘https’ and there is a closed padlock symbol next to the web address in the address bar”, so the website is secure [the ACNC article above]. The expected information about security for your credit card information is, however, missing.
4. No tax deduction is possible, but International Mission Ministries Inc is a ‘legitimate’ charity.
5. The charity has lodged a Financial Report, but it is non-compliant because it has not included an audit or review. (Did it have one done?)
Ministry response: ‘Although not officially required by ACNC – We do actually get an independent audit done each year which is available to all IMM board and members. It is from this audited report that I post our finances onto the ACNC site.
Reviewer comment: Your size is Medium. You are required to include an audit or review in your Financial Report.
The Report itself is grossly deficient.
Ministry response: ‘We will be putting in the next AIS statements soon, I will endeavour to put everything in that is required.’
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If you are happy to continue to consider them for your money –
These are the expenses (largest to smallest):
- ‘Int. CP Sponsorship’, $80K.
- Salaries and wages, $67K.
- ‘Short Term Teams’, $42K.
- ‘Travel, accom & conference’, $17K
- ‘Int. Child Sponsorship’, $15K
- ‘Int. Community Projects’, $12K
There is no information about where the money went overseas. Not even the country[2].
Ministry comment: ‘Ted, we certainly do want to publish a true and fair report on the ACNC site and I’ll endeavour to give more details for the future. However, please try to understand the challenges and safety issues required when working in a creative access strategy country.’
There is no information about how they ensure that the money you give is used for the purpose for which it was given[3].
- The ACNC implies, therefore, that it is a ‘legitimate’ charity. But this is not correct – as the ACNC itself points out, registration is voluntary. ↑
- Its entry on the ACNC Register says that it operates in Nepal and Philippines. ↑
- These are the options on the website:‘where it is most needed’‘start up funding for three years in a location where there is currently no Christian church’
‘Provide protection for a vulnerable child living in high risk conditions’
‘Provide basic human needs in orphanages and school (sic)…’ ↑