Detailed fundraising guidelines


Fundraising

We have put together a list of fundraising guidelines to help you to plan a successful event.

  • Logo and Branding

    The Cancer Council’s name and logo can be provided for your use, on the condition that all promotional materials are provided to the Relay For Life office for approval prior to use. This step will help ensure our logo is always represented in a way that is consistent, as well as ensuring that we have full awareness of the many ways in which our Relay For Life participants are fundraising for the Cancer Council.

    Current standards for logo use are as follows:

    • Logos are not to be adjusted in anyway (size, colour or black and white)
    • Logos should appear at the top of your artwork
    • Include Cancer Council and Relay For Life logo on all material
    • If you use other logos on material for publication i.e. a sponsor, it must appear smaller than Cancer Council and Relay For Life logos.

     

    All written correspondence should also include the full names Cancer Council and Relay For Life and these should not be abbreviated (e.g. RFL).

  • Quit and SunSmart

    You will have read our Healthy and Active Fundraising tips listed above. However, it’s important to note that all fundraising activities and events must adhere to the Cancer Council’s policy of being smokefree and SunSmart. Upon request, signage may be provided for your event. Cancer Council will not knowingly accept support from tobacco related companies. Please do not approach these companies for fundraising support.

  • Legal implications and insurance

    Your events must meet the requirements of relevant laws and regulations (we can help you with this). You will need to consider:

    • Licenses and permissions (for example local council, raffle permits)
    • Insurance issues
    • The provisions of the Charitable Fundraising Act and Regulations
    • Implications of GST

     

    Your local Cancer Council office can help clarify any issues you may have in relation to the above points.

  • Public Liability Insurance

    Many venue owners / managers (e.g. local government or private businesses) will seek evidence of public liability insurance before accepting a booking or allowing use of their facilities.

    Upon request, low risk fundraising activities performed by registered teams can be covered by the Cancer Council’s public liability insurance policy.

    A simple application form for these insurance requests can be obtained via your local organising committee. Event details such as date, time, location and nature of activity will be recorded as part of this process.

  • Budget

    As part of your Relay For Life fundraiser, you need to make a fairly accurate estimate of the expenses you incur when fundraising. Cancer Council cannot pay expenses incurred by you, but you can choose to deduct your necessary expenses from the proceeds of your event. You will also need to estimate the income you expect the event to raise. A general rule when organising a fundraising effort is to keep your expenses at or below 30% of your expected profit. In a practical sense, this means that for every $1 you spend you should raise $3 in return.

  • Cancer Council Receipts

    Cancer Council will provide official tax deductible receipts for donations of $2 or more. Your team captain will have received these receipts in the Team Registration Kit. It is important to remember that if any benefit is received in return for money given, then it is no longer classified as a donation and is not tax deductible (for example, a ticket to a ball is not tax deductible, as food and entertainment is being received). Receipts for tax purposes can only be issued to people giving donations of money.

    It’s important to remember that all receipt books issued must be returned to your team captain, as they are considered auditable items by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). They need to be returned to Cancer Council whether they are used or unused.

    Please Note: It is a condition of participation in Relay For Life that all fundraisers act in a legal and ethical manner when representing the Cancer Council. Donors requesting information about your fundraising activities must be provided with full details, and if they require further information, they should be referred to Cancer Council staff.

    For some great fundraising ideas & fundraising guidelines download Relay For Life Fundraising Booklet.

  • Authority to fundraise

    As part of your Team Registration Kit, your team captain will receive a letter of authority to fundraise on
    behalf of the Cancer Council. This authority to fundraise letter should be produced upon request when asking for donations or sponsorship. This will help you to demonstrate that you’re a genuine Cancer Council fundraiser. If you require this letter, please request it from your team captain.