Archived: Tahlee Ministries Inc: mini charity review for donors

Mini charity review of Tahlee Ministries Inc (TM) as an organisation that depends on the public for funds. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.)

(Last year the Missions Interlink membership was in the name Tahlee Bible College, a business name of TM. Here’s last year’s review of that charity.)

Is TM registered?

• As a charity, yes.
  • TM has another ABN in its name. That TM is not a charity though.
• Other registrations:
  • As a NSW incorporated association (Y2385120).
  • TM operates – according to the ACNC Register – only in Queensland. It therefore does not need an ARBN registration to carry on business interstate.
  • The NSW Act governing fundraising does not apply to TM.^[1]
    • And it would only have to register in the other six states that have a licensing regime if they held that the invitation to give on the internet was ‘fundraising’.
  • There are two other charities operating from the same address and with the same Responsible Persons as TM:
    • Tahlee Bible College
      • This is an unincorporated entity.
      • TM’s constitution defines the College as ‘the trading name for training and education programmes of the organisation’.
      • The Business Names Register says that this name is owned by TM. However, neither of TM’s ABN records show this.
      • The College was seven months late in submitting its AIS 2014 last year, and is now nearly four months late in submitting its AIS 2015.
    • Port Stephens College
      • This is an unincorporated entity.
      • The Business Names Register says that this name is owned by TM. However, neither of TM’s ABN records show this.
      • The College was seven months late in submitting its AIS 2014 last year, and is now nearly four months late in submitting its AIS 2015.
  • There are also two TM charities that have had their registration revoked by the ACNC:
    • Gospel Service Ministries Inc (on 11 August 2016), and
    • Tahlee Ministries Incorporated – Riverview Camp Centre (on 30 March 2015).

What do they do?

• See their website, here.
• What they actually did in 2015 is not available because they have not submitted their AIS 2015 yet.

Do they share the Gospel?

• No.

What impact are they having?

• Nothing systematic found in a search of the website on ‘impact’ or ‘outcomes’.

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

• The Financial Report 2015, for the year ended 31 December 2015, has not yet been lodged.
  • Even if we wanted to use the financial statements for the previous year, this would not be possible because the ones for the year before that have been lodged instead.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No.
  • You can, however, get one for a donation to either of the two funds that belong to Tahlee Bible College.

Is their online giving secure?

• NA.

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• No. Nearly four and a half months overdue.

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• Nothing has been lodged since 3 February 2016, and that financial report was for the year ended 31 December 2013.

What financial situation was shown by that Report?

• No Report yet.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• No audit report yet.

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

• No. Reporting is well overdue, and, at least according to the ACNC, so is the selection of an Entity Subtype.

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

• No online giving facility, but presumably you could choose from at least these areas:
  • …we are dependent on the Lord for the provision of our needs. This includes providing for all the Tahlee staff members, the continuing maintenance of the property and the day-to-day operating expenses. We are thankful for every financial support that God brings to us through His people.

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• They are not mentioned on the website, but you can see them on the ACNC Register.

To whom are TM accountable?

• Not claimed on the website, but they are a member of Missions Interlink.
  • One of the directors of TM (and the other two TM charities), John Anderson, is part of the National Leadership Team and on the board of Missions Interlink (Australian Evangelical Alliance).
• As a registered charity, they are accountable to the ACNC.

Are TM responsive to feedback?

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

1. Because it is a prescribed organization by regulation. (Excludes section 48) ↑