Charity Benefits
How donations work, what DGR means, and exactly how your support reaches the animals.
Understanding DGR
What is DGR registration?
DGR stands for Deductible Gift Recipient. It is a status granted by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that allows an organisation to receive tax-deductible donations from Australian taxpayers.
A donor can only claim a tax deduction for a gift if the recipient organisation holds DGR status at the time of the donation.
DGR status is granted by the ATO and requires an organisation to meet specific eligibility criteria, including operating for a charitable purpose and meeting governance standards.
Not all charities are DGR-registered. Registration with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and DGR endorsement are separate processes.
Donors should always verify DGR status on the ATO's ABN Lookup or the ACNC Charity Register before claiming a deduction.
Help My Mates current status
Help My Mates is currently working towards establishing the legal and governance structure required to seek DGR registration. Until that registration is obtained, donations made through Help My Mates are not tax deductible.
For donors
Tax deductibility for donors
Once Help My Mates or its nominated beneficiary charities hold DGR status, eligible donors may be able to claim a tax deduction for donations of $2 or more.
Donations must be genuine gifts — that is, made voluntarily without receiving a material benefit in return.
The recipient must hold DGR status at the time the donation is made.
Donors should retain a receipt or record of the donation for tax purposes.
The deductibility rules and thresholds are set by the ATO and may change. Donors should seek independent tax advice for their specific circumstances.
At this time, Help My Mates is operating in an interest-capture phase. No donations are being processed. When the donation platform launches, the DGR status of the platform and each beneficiary charity will be clearly disclosed at the point of donation.
This information is general in nature and does not constitute tax advice. Please consult a registered tax agent or the ATO for advice specific to your circumstances.
Follow the money
How funds reach the animals
Help My Mates is designed so that donations directed to a cause flow to the verified beneficiary charity for that cause. Here is how that works in practice.
You choose your causes
When you donate, you use the split tool to decide how your donation is divided across the 10 causes — kangaroos, koalas, whales, turtles, and more.
Payment is processed securely
Donations are processed through Stripe, a globally trusted payment platform. Help My Mates does not store your card details.
Allocation is recorded
Each donation and its cause split is recorded. The beneficiary charity for each cause receives a notification of the allocation.
Funds are disbursed
Funds allocated to a beneficiary charity are transferred to that charity's verified bank account in accordance with the disbursement schedule and applicable law.
Transparency reporting
Help My Mates publishes transparency information about how donations are allocated and disbursed, so donors can see where their support goes.
Beneficiary charities
How funds reach each partner
Each cause on Help My Mates is linked to a verified beneficiary charity. Here's what you need to know about each one.
Verify DGR status yourself
Always confirm a charity's DGR status directly with the ATO or ACNC before claiming a tax deduction.
Our promise
Our transparency commitments
Help My Mates is built on the principle that every dollar should be traceable. Here is what we commit to.
Public allocation reporting
We publish information about how donations are split across causes and which beneficiary charities receive funds.
Verified charity partners only
We only list charities that have agreed to our Beneficiary Charity Participation Agreement and whose details have been verified.
DGR status disclosed at point of donation
When the donation platform launches, the DGR status of Help My Mates and each beneficiary charity will be clearly shown before a donor completes a payment.
Open communication
If you have questions about how your donation is used, you can contact us directly at [email protected] and we will respond.
Participation agreement published
The terms under which beneficiary charities participate in Help My Mates are published on this website for full transparency.
Registered address
Help My Mates operates from a registered address at 55 Gawler Place, Adelaide SA 5000.
Emergency contact
An emergency contact line is available on 02 4263 6524 for urgent matters.
Important notices
Help My Mates is not currently a registered charity and is not DGR-endorsed. Donations are not tax deductible at this time.
The donation platform is not yet live. This website is currently in an interest-capture phase only.
Information about DGR registration and tax deductibility on this page is general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.
Donors should verify the DGR status of any charity on the ATO ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au) or the ACNC Charity Register (acnc.gov.au) before making a donation or claiming a deduction.
Help My Mates is working towards establishing the legal structure and governance required to seek DGR registration. This is a process that takes time and is not yet complete.
Questions about how donations work?
We're happy to answer any questions about our charity structure, how funds flow to our partners, or our progress towards DGR registration. You can also reach us at 55 Gawler Place, Adelaide SA 5000, or call 02 4263 6524 for urgent matters.
Email [email protected]