ACNC reports

In accordance with the third object under the ACNC Act, to promote the reduction of unnecessary regulatory obligations on the not-for-profit sector, the ACNC has prepared a paper examining the opportunities for a common definition of ‘charity’ in all Australian jurisdictions.

This report covers the ACNC's first seven months of operation from December 2012 to 30 June 2013.

This report covers the ACNC's activities from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014.

This report covers the ACNC's activities from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

This report covers the ACNC's activities from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

This report covers the ACNC's activities from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.

The ACNC Annual Report 2017–18 documents the work of the Commission over the past financial year.

The ACNC Annual Report 2018-19 provides an overview of the Commission's work in the 2018-19 financial year.

The ACNC Annual Report 2019-20 provides an overview of the Commission's work in the 2019-20 financial year.

The ACNC Annual Report 2020-21 provides an overview of the Commission's work in the 2020-21 financial year.

Each year the ACNC releases a report which analyses data drawn from charities' Annual Information Statements - the annual Australian Charities Report. The report provides important single-source, evidence-based research of Australia's charity sector.

The Australian Charities Report is the annual analysis of the information we receive from charities in their Annual Information Statements. This is the 8th edition. 

The Australian Charities Report 2013 is drawn from data from more than 38,000 registered charities which submitted through their Annual Information Statements (up until 30 June 2014) in their first year of reporting to the ACNC.

The Australian Charities Report 2014 reveals previously unknown facts about the finances and sustainability of Australia’s charity sector.

The Australian Charities Report 2015 is a comprehensive record to date of the Australian charity sector - and builds on previous years' Australian Charities Reports.

The Australian Charities Report 2016 is the fourth such report produced in partnership by the ACNC and the Centre for Social Impact and the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.

Each year the ACNC releases a report which analyses data drawn from charities' Annual Information Statements - the annual Australian Charities Report. The report provides important single-source, evidence-based research of Australia's charity sector.

Each year the ACNC releases a report which analyses data drawn from charities' Annual Information Statements - the annual Australian Charities Report. The report provides important single-source, evidence-based research of Australia's charity sector.

The ACNC's report on the reviews it conducted of three charities involved in the response to the 2019-20 Australian summer bushfires, Bushfire Response 2019-20 - Reviews of three Australian charities.

This report examines Australian charities that are involved in activities outside Australia and is based on the data provided by 38,341 charities that submitted a 2013 Annual Information Statement (AIS) by 30 June 2014.

The Compliance Report examines the ACNC’s compliance and enforcement activities. The report uses aggregated data and de-identified information to give readers an insight into the compliance work of the ACNC, and outlines the ACNC’s compliance focus for the year ahead.

In 2020-21, we were funded by Government to undertake a program of reviews of charities at risk of failing to meet their obligations under ACNC Governance Standards or External Conduct Standards. 

The purpose of the reviews was to enable us to work with charities to address issues early and respond proactively to emerging risks. Assisting charities to maintain good governance supports sustainability of the charity sector and public trust and confidence.

As part of the Commonwealth Government’s broader red tape reduction agenda, a key function of the ACNC is to help reduce the regulatory burden on the Australian not for profit sector.

In line with our risk-based regulatory approach, the ACNC regularly reviews financial information provided by charities in their Annual Information Statement (AIS). For some medium and large charities, we also review the quality of annual financial reports (AFR).

Economic contribution of the Australian charity sector draws on charity data submitted as part of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission’s 2014 and 2015 Annual Information Statements.

Each year the ACNC conducts proportionate, risk-based monitoring of charities' financial reporting to the ACNC. This report looks at the errors and reporting trends in the 2016 Annual Information Statement.

Each year the ACNC conducts proportionate, risk-based monitoring of charities' financial reporting to the ACNC. This report looks at the errors and reporting trends in the 2015 Annual Information Statement.

This study supplements the Australian Charities Report 2013. Faith-based charities are the largest single category of charity in Australia with a third of all charities including 'Advancement of Religion' as one of their charitable purposes and with 'Religion' nominated as the main activity for a quarter of all charities.

This report examines the scope and work of charities which also allocate grants. The ACNC commissioned the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney to analyse charity data to produce this report.

The ACNC commissioned the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney to analyse the ways Australia’s charities were growing and changing between 2014 and 2016, using the information provided in Annual Information Statements.

An report outlining the projects we have undertaken to ensure the integrity of the information on the Charity Register.

Each year the ACNC conducts proportionate, risk-based monitoring of charities' financial reporting to the ACNC. This detailed report aims to explain some of the material issues and errors identified and the results of this compliance activity in relation to the 2014 financial reporting period.

This report seeks to provide clarity on the definitions of robust, vibrant, independent and innovative in the second object of the ACNC Act, and suggests a range of measurements to help assess the health of the sector, and how that health changes over time.

This risk assessment of Australia’s not-for-profit sector was published in August 2017, and is a joint report from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits commission (ACNC) and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). It followed extensive analysis of the sector.

The National Standard Chart of Accounts (NSCOA) is an accounting tool for not-for-profit (NFP) organisations, designed to simplify and improve the consistency of financial account categories and terms used. The ACNC’s environmental scan of the NSCOA set out to analyse the current use and awareness of the NSCOA, as well as the challenges or benefits identified in its use.

This document presents the findings of research into community trust and confidence in the charities sector conducted by ChantLink on behalf of the ACNC.

This study examined public trust and confidence in Australian charities in 2015. The research consisted of in-depth interviews, focus groups and an online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,761 Australian adults.

This research was conducted by Kantar Public on behalf of the ACNC, to continue the tracking of confidence and trust in the Australian charity sector.

In late 2013, the ACNC engaged Ernst & Young (EY) to research the regulatory and reporting burden on charities. While this research focussed on Commonwealth burden, it also considered state and territory burden.

Australia’s registered charities have an ongoing obligation to report annually to the ACNC. Charities do this by completing and submitting an Annual Information Statement (AIS) and, in the case of medium and large charities, an Annual Financial Report (AFR).

This report looks at charities’ reporting during the 2017 reporting period.

Registered charities in Australia have an ongoing obligation to report annually to the ACNC. To do this, charities complete and submit an Annual Information Statement (AIS) and, in the case of medium and large charities, an Annual Financial Report (AFR).

This report analyses charities’ reporting during the 2018 reporting period.

Registered charities in Australia have an ongoing obligation to report annually to the ACNC. To do this, charities complete and submit an Annual Information Statement (AIS) and, in the case of medium and large charities, an Annual Financial Report (AFR).

This report analyses charities’ reporting during the 2019 reporting period.

Australia's registered charities have an ongoing obligation to report annually to the ACNC. To do so, charities complete and submit an Annual Information Statement and, in the case of medium and large charities, an Annual Financial Report (AFR).

This report analyses charities’ reporting during the 2020 reporting period.