What is the Foundation's structure?

The Foundation is a public company limited by guarantee, incorporated under Corporations Law. It acts for charitable purposes as a community foundation.

The Northern Rivers Community Foundation Ltd (the company) is the Trustee of two separate trusts:

The Trust is an Income Tax Exempt Charity and Deductible Gift Recipient. Grants from this Trust can only be made to organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient status whose activities are consistent with the Foundation’s aims and priorities. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible.

The Projects Fund is not limited by this Deductible Gift Recipient status. Donations can also be made to this fund but are not tax deductible. Grants from this fund may be applied to a range of community projects for charitable purposes, not only to Australian Tax Office endorsed Deductible Gift Recipients. 

Where the foundation offers the opportunity for donors to request how their gift gives back to the community, the NRCF Board has the final discretion over how the money is distributed.  This is part of our compliance requirements with the ATO, so that we can continue to receive tax-deductible gifts.