FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Donations & Tax Deductibility

Q: Are my donations to Chai tax-deductible?

Yes. Chai Charitable Foundation is registered as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). This means that all donations made to Chai are tax-deductible in Australia.

In the USA? Chai is also a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, making U.S. donations tax-deductible.

Fund Allocation & Transparency

Q: What proportion of my donation is used to provide direct relief?

Chai is committed to maximising impact, ensuring that the highest proportion of funds goes directly to providing financial aid, medical support, and emergency relief. Administrative costs are kept to a minimum and are transparently reported. Historically, Chai’s expenses have not been more than 5% of overall operating costs, making Chai one of the most efficient and cost-effective charities in Australia.

Q: Where can I find information about Chai’s finances and activities?

Chai operates with full transparency. Our Annual Information Statements and financial reports are available on the ACNC website.

Q: How do I know that my donations are being effectively used?

Chai ensures funds are allocated in strict accordance with its charitable mission. We conduct compliance checks, request reports from partner organisations, and perform on-site verification where necessary.

Chai’s Global Operations

Q: Does Chai operate overseas?

Yes. While based in Australia, Chai provides financial assistance internationally in strict compliance with Australian charity regulations and ACNC External Conduct Standards.

Q: Which countries does Chai operate in?

The countries in which Chai operates include:

Argentina
Belgium
Hungary
India
Israel
Japan
Nepal
New Zealand
South Africa
Thailand
United Kingdom
USA
Vietnam

Q: How does Chai partner with organisations overseas?

Chai collaborates with registered charities and trusted organisations to distribute aid. Chai’s Compliance Officer ensures each new Partner successfully completes Chai’s onboarding process. This includes a range of Compliance Checks and collecting information from the charity seeking to be a Chai Partner. If compliant, each new Partner must then sign a Recipient Agreement, comply with Chai’s financial accountability policies, and report on fund usage if requested.

Q: Does Chai have an associated entity in the USA?

Yes. Chai Charitable Foundation is also registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in the United States, enabling tax-deductible donations for U.S. donors.

Eligibility & Use of Funds

Q: Can I direct my donation to a particular organisation or individual?

No. To maintain our PBI and DGR status, Chai must retain full discretion over how funds are allocated. While donors may express preferences, all funds must be used in alignment with Chai’s charitable mission.

Q: What kinds of assistance does Chai provide?

Chai provides a range of financial and non-financial assistance designed to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for individuals and families in need. Each request for support is carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that assistance is directed where it can have the greatest impact.

Examples of Chai’s benevolent activities include providing therapy for individuals affected by PTSD, delivering meals to families experiencing poverty, offering emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence, supporting the relocation of terror victims, funding essential medicines and life-saving surgical procedures, and supplying disability equipment to enhance daily living and relieve distress.

Q: Which purposes are not eligible for support from Chai?

As a Public Benevolent Institution, Chai can only support purposes focused on relieving poverty, sickness, suffering, or distress.

Some purposes that, while charitable, are not eligible for support through Chai include: advancing the natural environment, promoting reconciliation or harm prevention, advancing religion, advancing education (if it’s not directly tied to relieving distress), and promoting culture. For example, a school focused on religious education, even though charitable, would not align with Chai’s benevolent mission. Our support must remain strictly for direct benevolent relief.

For more information, contact us at gift@chai.org.au.