RAWCS Ltd acts as a trustee for
- Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAOAF)
- Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS)
- Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF)
What is the Rotary Australia Relief Fund?
This is a public ancillary fund which means it is a distinct charity and designed by the Commonwealth Government to be a funding entity only for charitable causes. It has Level 2 DGR Status, meaning it must transfer all funds for which it has given a tax-deductible receipt to a DRG Level I to undertake the actual projects. The fund receives general donations that are not directed at specific projects and holds them until enough has been accumulated to release to a Level 1 DGR project selected by the RAWCS National Board. Eg The Drought Relief Fund
Rotary will be able to announce an appeal immediately with full tax deductibility once Federal or State declares a disaster. All donations to a project authorised by the RAWCS National Board to provide relief for a disaster will not have the Service Fee deducted.
I have included a Report from the National RAWCS Treasurer Mike Whitehouse on the RAWCS Drought Relief Fund
“At the beginning of August 2018, Channel 9, Rotary in Australia (RAWCS) and the National farmers Federation (NFF) formed a partnership to have a Drought Relief Appeal for farmers and their families impacted by the most serious drought in Australian recent history, Channel 9 provided the exposure through the “Today Morning Show”, RAWCS provided its online donation system and fund disbursement to farmers and their families and NFF consultation with service providers to deliver the aid where it was most needed.
The Appeal commenced 1 August and culminated in a telethon on 20 August. The profile created ensured donations kept flowing and the appeal closed on 30 September having raised $10 million plus. Some 55,000 donations were processed. Not one cent was taken from donations to fund the administration of the appeal funds. More than half the money raised has been distributed already, with Rotary District Drought projects being responsible for $2million plus.
RAWCS has established a new appeal (RAWCS Drought Appeal, 42-2018-19) which commenced accepting donations from 1st October on the RAWCS website home page. (Money donated) will be (transferred) directly to the 8 Rotary Districts drought relief (RABS) projects registered with RAWCS. These projects cover the whole of the drought declared area west of the Great Dividing Range, from far North Queensland to Victoria. Two of the Rotary District drought projects have been operating since 2014 in Central Queensland and Southern Queensland. The 6 new drought projects have been modelled on the success of these 2 projects. the emphasis is on Mental Health, particularly the factors associated with the high suicide rate in drought impacted areas. “Wellbeing rather than Welfare” is the driver in these 8 Rotary projects, by direct contact and financial support and involvement together, through a range of community activities of those affected”
Gloria Hargreaves
Co-Chair District 9810 RAWCS