Applying for Deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement can make a big difference to your fundraising. DGR endorsement allows donors to make tax-deductible donations to your organisation.
But before you hit 'submit' on your application, avoid mistakes by taking a few minutes to check you’re eligible.
There are lots of different DGR categories, each with its own requirements. Whether for a fund, authority, or institution, it's important to choose the right DGR endorsement type. Your first step is to head to our website and read the eligibility information at Deductible gift recipient eligibility.
How to apply
There are two ways to apply:
- If you’re registering as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), you can apply for DGR endorsement at the same time using their application form.
- If you already have an ABN and are either registered as a charity or not required to be, you can complete the ATO’s Application for endorsement as a deductible gift recipient.
If you need endorsement for more than one fund, authority or institution, you’ll need a separate application for each.
Use the right schedule
Some DGR categories have more complex eligibility requirements, and we’ve designed schedules to collect the information we need to process your application.
When applying for DGR endorsement, you'll need to complete the relevant schedule for your category and lodge it with your application. By answering all the questions in the schedule, you can help us reduce unnecessary requests for information and process your application faster.
We’ve recently added new schedules for:
- School building funds
- Necessitous circumstances funds
- Community sheds
- Public libraries, museums and galleries
All the schedules are available at DGR schedules.
If you’re registering as a charity with the ACNC, you'll need to attach your completed schedule to your charity registration application.
Don't just hope for the best
Be guided by the schedule - if you answer a question and it says you’re not eligible, you probably aren’t. If you need further guidance, call us on our Not-for-Profit advice service on 1300 130 248 before lodging an application. We’re happy to talk it through and save you the hassle and wasted time of a rejected application.
The bottom line is do your homework first. Check your eligibility, complete the right schedule, and call us if you’re unsure. It’ll save you time and help us process applications faster.
After you're endorsed
Once you have DGR endorsement, you'll need to regularly review your organisation to ensure that it continues to operate for the purposes for which it obtained DGR endorsement.
If there have been changes to your organisation's structure or operations and your organisation stops being entitled to endorsement, you must inform us in writing. Find out more at Review your DGR endorsement.
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