An oversight within a well-intentioned promotional campaign appears to blur the lines between what constitutes a philanthropic gift and what is a commercial membership deal.
Members of a not-for-profit arts organisation’s donor circle were recently offered a discount deal from a for-profit business, which, if taken up, may put their tax deductible donation to the arts organisation at risk of scrutiny by the ATO. Photo: Jakub Zerdzicki, Pexels.
It’s a cautionary tale for anyone who is serious about raising philanthropic dollars in the arts.
In investigating this story, ArtsHub is not accusing either of these entities of breaching the laws around philanthropic giving, nor is it claiming that either party has acted in deliberate ignorance of the standards. ArtsHub is also in no way suggesting that anyone in the arts organisation’s donor circle is deliberately attempting to evade or avoid the laws pertaining to tax-deductible philanthropic donations.
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
