Good News – Bushfire Relief
With an intended goal of only $30,000, social media personality, Celeste Barber, raised an incredible $51 million to fight the devastating bushfires across Australia. Despite the astonishing achievement and amazing display of solidarity from generous donors, Celeste soon appreciated that because funds were raised for NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades they could only be applied to its charitable purposes: training of RFS volunteers and supply of vehicles and equipment.
In light of these issues, charities should be very mindful that when fundraising, donations can only be applied for the documented objects of the charity.
It is very difficult to change a charity’s objects after the event. We now see Celeste has applied to the Supreme Court NSW for directions asking the court how the funds can be applied
Grace Brophy, Solicitor
Josephine Heesh, Partner