Anyone in Australia can run their own fundraiser for a registered charity, whether it's a community dinner, a school drive or a birthday appeal. This guide covers how to plan one, what to check with the charity first, how to set a realistic target, and how the money reaches families.

Key takeaways

·       Supporter-led fundraisers work because people give more readily when the person asking is someone they know.

·       Before you start, confirm the charity is happy for you to raise funds in its name, ideally in writing, since fundraising is regulated by each state and territory.

·       A realistic target comes from your own circle and your event's costs, so start with who you'll ask rather than a round number.

·       Gifts made directly to a charity with DGR status are generally tax deductible, while tickets, raffles and auction items follow different ATO rules.

·       At AusRelief, each fundraiser is listed on our website with its own goal and progress, and you can raise for a specific project or speak with us about where the need is greatest.

Can I run my own fundraiser for a charity?

Yes, and a good share of steady support for humanitarian work starts this way. A community dinner, a school drive, a hike, a birthday appeal and a fun run all work on the same principle. People respond to someone they trust, and so a request from a colleague, teacher or neighbour often carries further than a general appeal.

You can see this among the current AusRelief fundraisers, which are run by schools, a local mosque and boxing club, and individual supporters. One school group is raising for water wells, another is supporting winter relief, and a community group in Greenacre is raising for food packs in Lebanon. In each case the organiser chose a cause, set a goal and asked the people around them.

Local events follow the same pattern. When AusRelief held a grocery drive at Canley Heights Public School, student volunteers helped organise and prepare on the day.

What should I check with the charity first?

Start by confirming that the charity is willing for you to raise funds on its behalf, and ask for that agreement in writing. That matters because, as the ACNC explains in its guidance on charity fundraising and the public, fundraising is regulated at a state and territory level, and the rules apply where the money is raised.

In New South Wales, for example, the state government's guidance on fundraising for a good cause or disaster relief says you don't need your own fundraising authority if an authorised charity agrees in writing to let you fundraise for it. On top of that, a separate NSW explainer on the authority to fundraise notes that, from 1 April 2026, charities registered with the ACNC hold a deemed authority to fundraise in the state. Other states have their own requirements, so check with your local regulator if you're outside NSW.

After that, a few practical questions are worth asking before you invite anyone:

You can also confirm a charity's registration on the ACNC Charity Register, which your guests may want to do too.

How do I plan a community fundraiser?

Pick an event that suits the people you'll be asking, and then keep the planning simple. First, decide on the cause. You might choose food aid, education or one of the current emergency appeals, and our overview of every AusRelief project in Australia and overseas can help you choose.

Next, choose a format. Here's how the common ones compare:

So once you've chosen, set a date, a finish date for the appeal and a short explanation of why the cause matters to you. Keep that explanation factual and personal.

How do I set a realistic fundraising target?

Base your target on who you'll realistically ask, not on a round number that sounds good. For example, list the people you expect to approach, think honestly about how many will give, and then add a margin for people who pass your link on.

On top of that, account for costs. A dinner with catering and venue hire will raise less in net terms than an online birthday appeal with no expenses, so the event budget should be agreed before you set a public goal. Even so, a modest target that you reach and pass is far more encouraging for your supporters than an ambitious one that stalls.

It also helps to understand the tax side. The ATO's guidance on gifts and donations explains that a gift is deductible only when it goes to an organisation with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status and nothing of material value comes back. A DGR is an organisation endorsed to receive tax-deductible gifts. That's why buying a ticket to a fundraising dinner counts as a contribution with extra conditions, and why many crowdfunding campaigns not run by a DGR aren't deductible at all. AusRelief is endorsed as a DGR, so direct gifts made through an AusRelief fundraiser fall on the donation side of that line.

What support does AusRelief give someone running a fundraiser?

AusRelief has its own fundraising platform, where your friends or family can donate to your appeal and see how much has been raised. To begin, you start your own fundraiser after signing in to an AusRelief account. Each listing shows the organiser, a description of the cause, the goal, the amount raised so far and the date the appeal ends.

You can raise for a specific project, such as Palestine or Lebanon emergency relief, or for local work like the Grocery Drive Program. AusRelief's general donation form also includes a "where it's needed most" option, so if you'd prefer flexible funding, talk with us about how to set that up.

And when your guests have questions, they can contact AusRelief directly by email at [email protected] or on 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357). That way you're not left answering questions about delivery or receipts on your own.

How does the money reach the field?

Money raised through an AusRelief fundraiser goes to AusRelief and is directed to the project the fundraiser names. One current fundraiser, for example, states that all donations made to it will go towards food aid.

From there, the project team plans how the funds are used. For food distributions, households are identified against criteria agreed with local teams, as we explain in how food distributions are planned. For wells, communities choose the location and who maintains it, as set out in how a water well is built. In emergencies, funds move through AusRelief's own teams and vetted local partners, which we describe in how an emergency response is planned and delivered.

After that, spending is gathered into AusRelief's financial statements, which appear in the annual report. So if a guest asks where their gift went, there's a public record to point them to.

Shared effort and what continued support makes possible

The families AusRelief works with are living within long-term barriers, and they're already making careful decisions about food, schooling and work. Steady support helps remove some of those barriers, one project at a time. A community fundraiser adds to that, because it brings in people who may not have heard of the work before.

Not everyone will run an event, of course, and that's fine. Some supporters prefer a monthly gift, a one-off quick donation or volunteering their time. And as we've written about micro-giving, when people give together, the impact grows, supporting more families, more consistently.

Frequently asked questions

How do I fundraise for a charity in Australia?

Choose a registered charity and a cause, confirm in writing that the charity is happy for you to raise funds for it, and then set up your event or online appeal. Fundraising rules are set by each state and territory, so check your local requirements. Collecting donations through the charity's own website keeps the process clear for your donors.

Can I run my own fundraiser for AusRelief?

Yes. Supporters can start a fundraiser through the AusRelief website after signing in to an account. Each fundraiser is listed with its goal, the amount raised and the end date. Schools, community groups and individuals currently run fundraisers for projects including water wells, food packs and emergency relief.

What support does a charity give someone running their own fundraising event?

It varies between charities. At AusRelief, fundraisers are listed on the AusRelief website, where guests can donate directly, and donors can contact AusRelief by email or phone with questions about the cause or their gift. It's worth asking any charity what it provides before you start planning.

Do I need a permit to fundraise for a charity?

Often you don't, as long as the charity agrees in writing to let you fundraise on its behalf. In NSW, people fundraising for an authorised charity don't need their own authority, and ACNC-registered charities hold a deemed authority from 1 April 2026. Other states differ, so check with your state regulator.

Are donations to my fundraiser tax deductible?

Direct gifts to a charity with DGR status are generally tax deductible when the donor receives nothing of material value in return. Raffle tickets aren't deductible, and dinner tickets or auction purchases are treated as contributions with extra ATO conditions. AusRelief is endorsed as a DGR.

How do I set a target for disaster relief fundraising?

Start with the number of people you'll realistically ask and how your event is funded, rather than a round figure. Subtract any costs such as catering or venue hire. A modest goal that you reach and pass tends to encourage more giving than a large one that stalls partway through the appeal.

Thinking about running your own fundraiser?

Visit AusRelief fundraising to see current fundraisers and start one for a project that matters to you.