Fundraising

During the year, and at key commemorations, sub-Branches may participate in local fundraising activity to help veterans and their families, and raise the profile of RSL NSW in the community.

It’s important that any sub-Branch that chooses to fundraise understands the opportunities and obligations outlined below…

What is fundraising?

In general, the following types of activities are fundraising:

accepting donations (whether requested or received unsolicited) to help a person, cause or organisation (whether in person, by post, by phone or online),
selling goods (merchandise/tokens/food) where some or all of profits will go towards helping a person, cause or organisation,
holding an event to raise money for a person, cause or organisation,
accepting a benefit other than money (whether requested or received unsolicited) for a person, cause or organisation,

where these activities involve members of the public. Representations you make that money or benefits will be used to help a person, cause or organisation can be express or implied.

Examples of the kinds of activities described above could include:  

receiving a cheque in the mail from a local business for the purpose of funding an ANZAC Day lunch, or simply to put towards a sub-branch’s activities (whether or not you have requested it);
selling tokens to or holding a sausage sizzle or cake stall in the local community;
running a trivia night, auction, dinner dance or other event for members of the public to attend for the purpose of raising money for the sub-branch;
accepting goods (for example, sausages for a sausage sizzle to be served at a sub-branch lunch) from a local business.

In NSW, fundraising is governed by the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2021 and regulated and administered by NSW Fair Trading. If your fundraising activity includes a lottery or game of chance, it is also governed by Community Gaming Act 2018 and the Community Gaming Regulation 2020 regulated and administered by NSW Fair Trading. Games of chance include raffles, bingo, sweepstakes and other forms of community gaming.

How do I start fundraising?

If you are intending to fundraise in NSW, you must have a charitable fundraising authority (CFA) unless you are specifically authorised to conduct an appeal without one (such as if your fundraising appeals are only run by volunteers and you do not receive more than $15,000 gross in any financial year).

A CFA is a type of NSW government licence issued by NSW Fair Trading for charitable fundraising.

ACNC-registered charities are automatically eligible to apply for and receive a CFA. You only need to provide your ACNC registration details on the application form.

You must also:

understand your obligations under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2021;
understand and comply with fundraising laws in other states (if your fundraising activity is likely to go beyond NSW); and
understand any other legal obligations or requirements of the fundraising activity being conducted.

Examples of things you may need to have in place include:

A designated bank account to clearly identify fundraising income received from each individual fundraising appeal.
Be able to issue receipts to donors.
To be able to clearly show donations have been spent on the specific purpose for which they were given.

This information page is not legal advice. If you are in doubt about any of the requirements, you should seek advice. Specifics of what you will need to do to meet your legal requirements will be determined by your own circumstances, and you will need to make sure you fully understand your obligations.

How can sub-Branches order fundraising tokens online?

A selection of new tokens, including backing cards, is now available for purchase, using the link below. Our supplier is offering a charity discount on fundraising tokens to the RSL NSW sub-Branch network, including:

Rosemary pins – $1.05 each plus shipping
Poppies – $1.05 each plus shipping
Pens – $2.15 each plus shipping

A limited number of free tokens formerly owned by Welfare and Benevolent Institution (WBI) are also available to sub-Branches and can be ordered online. Sub-Branches will be required to pay a small packing ($0.25 cents per token) and freight charge, however there is no charge for the tokens. Please note that these tokens will have outdated WBI details on the reverse side of the backing cards. The sub-Branch must cover these details before fundraising in the local community.

How to create an account and place an order:

Go to the online ordering portal by clicking here
Create an account login by clicking ‘Continue’ under ‘New Customer’ and completing your details. Please ensure you enter your official sub-Branch email address in the email field (which automatically also becomes your username)
Your account will usually be authorised the same business day, at which point you will receive an email notification. Once you receive authorisation, you will be able to login and place orders using your username and password
View the range of tokens available and select the quantity of each token you require below the image of the token listed, then press “Add to cart”
Once you have finished ordering all the tokens you require, click on the shopping cart image at the top right of screen to complete your order
Click on ‘Checkout” then fill in the name and address details – please note deliveries cannot be made to an address with a PO Box.
Select payment type (i.e. Credit Card, EFT or Cheque) to complete your order. Please note credit card is the fastest option as orders are packed and dispatched once payment is received.
Sub-Branches cannot return unsold tokens to PMA Global. Once the order is placed, paid for and shipped it becomes the property of the sub-Branch.

A video demonstration of the sign-up process described above is available here.

If you require assistance, please contact PMA Global directly on (02) 9629 0800 or support@pmaglobal.co

Fundraising

What is fundraising?

How do I start fundraising?

How can sub-Branches order fundraising tokens online?

More information