The Fundraising Act 1998 (Vic) says a ‘fundraiser’ is any person or organisation that collects money, food, clothes or other items for a beneficiary or a cause, including collections on behalf of someone else. An organisation collecting for commercial benefit or the profit of individual members is not considered to be fundraising.
- see the What is a fundraiser? page on the Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) website.
Registering as a fundraiser
Any organisation that undertakes fundraising must register with Consumer Affairs Victoria. You should apply for registration at least 28 days before you plan to start fundraising activities. Once approved, the normal registration period is three years.
- see the Register as a fundraiser page on the CAV website.
Exemption from registration
Gaming activities and games of chance are regulated by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR).- see our Gaming & games of chance page for more information.
There are other exemptions for some types of organisations and some types of fundraising activities. A full list of exempt organisations and exempt activities is available in the fundraising section of the CAV website.
- see the Exemptions from fundraising registration page on the CAV website.
Fundraiser responsibilities
Registered fundraisers have specific responsibilities. The CAV website has a list of responsibilities and detailed information about what your organisation has to do to comply with the law, including notifications, reporting and identifying collectors.
- see the Fundraiser responsibilities page on the CAV website.
Collecting money on roads and at intersections
In line with regulation 28 of the Road Safety (Traffic Management) Regulations 2009 (Vic), you will need a permit to collect on a public road. The Road Policing Strategy Division at Victoria Police has information on how to apply for a permit to collect on a public road.
- see the Permit to collect on a public road page on the Victoria Police website.
Collecting on the footpath, nature strip or other public area
If you are collecting on the footpath, nature strip, public car park or other part of the road or Council land, you will need a permit from the local council. You should contact the council with plenty of notice to ensure there is enough time to process the application.
- If you are not sure who your local council is, you can use the Find Your Local Council online tool.
Collecting money or other donations door-to-door
You will need a permit from the local council if you want to collect door-to-door. You should contact the council with plenty of notice to ensure there is enough time to process the application.
- If you are not sure who your local council is, you can use the Find Your Local Council online tool.
Patriotic Funds
You must establish a patriotic fund if you plan to collect funds, receive subscriptions, or request donations for anything related to any military service or duty. More information about patriotic funds is available on the CAV website.
- see the Establish a patriotic fund page on the CAV website.