Archived: Youth With A Mission Darwin Inc: mini-charity review

Mini-review of Youth With A Mission Darwin Inc^[1] (YWAMD) as an organisation that (a) seeks donations online, and (b) is a member of Missions Interlink, an organisation that, among other things, gives members income tax exemption even though they do not meet the “in Australia” test and do not have deductible gift recipient status. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.)

See here for the previous review.

Is it responsive to feedback?

• I sent them a draft of this review on 25 June 2017. Like last year, they…did not respond.

Is YWAMD registered?

• As a charity, yes.
• YWAMD is a Northern Territory incorporated association (No. 01556C).
• The trading name Youth With A Mission Darwin is missing here; however, YWAMD needs a business name to continue to operate under any name other than the full name.
  • Neither its name without ‘Inc/Incorporated’, nor the name it uses on the website and elsewhere, YWAM Outback, are registered.
• YWMD doesn’t have a fundraising licence in any of the seven states that have a licensing regime. (No licence is necessary in their home state.) ^[2]

What do they do?

• See here on the website.

Do they share the Gospel ^[3]?

• Yes^[4]

What impact are they having?

• Nothing found.

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

• The limited financial information available does not allow even an estimate of this.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• According to YWAMD’s ABN record, not to YWAMD generally, but yes if you give to the Youth With A Mission Darwin Inc School Building Fund.
  • This Fund is not mentioned on the website. Nor is tax deductibility.

Is their online giving secure?

• PayPal is used, so yes.

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (over 10 months after their year-end, which was over four months after the final date for submission).
  • 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 nearly 18 months ago.

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• AIS 2016: Not quite.
  • The response to ‘activities and outcomes’ reads as a description of what YYAMD does generally, not what it did in 2016.
  • No outcomes are given.
• Financial Report 2016: NA
  • Its rating as “Small” means that it doesn’t have to submit a Financial Report. (And it chose not to submit one voluntarily.)
  • Its constitution requires audited accounts, as does its membership of Missions Interlink:
    • ‘Each constituent shall have available for its members and supporters a clear and appropriate financial statement which has been approved by its auditor [Standards Statement, 4.1].
  • I asked for the financial statements last year, but got no reply. I will leave it to you to ask this year.

What financial situation was shown by that Report?

• NA
  • From the (unaudited) information in the AIS 2016:
    • No overseas grants made. (YWAMD say, on the ACNC Register, that they operate in Thailand and Timor-Leste.)
    • Local grants were less than one percent of expenses.
    • A deficit of 6% of revenue was recorded, but equity is still healthy.
    • Minimal liabilities.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• NA

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

• No, only one ‘responsible persons’ is shown.
• Missing, but not compulsory: “Phone” and “Website”.
• Missing, but of little consequence: their trading name.

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

• None

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• There is no mention of the committee on the website.
• There is meant to be, according to the constitution, at least four committee members. However, there’s still only one, Jennifer Keatch, shown on the ACNC Register (under ‘Responsible Persons’).
• Australian Mercy says that David Skeat is a director.

To whom is YWAMD accountable?

• Not claimed on the website, but it is a member of Missions Interlink^[5].

1. The name by which they are commonly known, YWAM Gold Coast, is not registered. ↑
2. The law in this area is not straightforward – is an internet invitation ‘fundraising’ for instance? – and advice varies, so check with the charity before drawing any conclusions. ↑
3. “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. ↑ ↑
4. YWAMD, like other YWAMs, promotes the The Seven Spheres of Influence (or Seven Mountains of Culture). Dominionism is the theology. ↑
5. For one opinion on the strength of this accountability, see the section Activities in this review. ↑