FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are proud to say that the Impact Circle has members all over the globe and you do not need to live in Sydney to be a member.

All the IMPACT groups follow the key principles of the IMPACT100 model started in the US. Each IMPACT group operates independently but supports each other and shares information. Our shared vision is to grow collective giving in Australia.

• 100% of the money donated is given away
• Low, affordable minimum donation level
• Agreed mission and shared decision making process
• High impact grants to lesser known charities where $100,000 makes a big difference.

All contributions to The Impact Circle are 100% tax deductible and each donation will receive a tax receipt. The Impact Circle operates as a sub-fund of Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), which is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). As a sub-fund, this is how the Impact Circle is able to maintain a low administration cost, while also providing tax deductions for donations.

ACF is a not-for-profit community foundation committed to helping philanthropic individuals and organisations support community causes and initiatives they care about. Community foundations share the following aims:

• They seek to improve the quality of life for all people within their community
• They are independent from control or influence of other organisations or government
• They are governed by a board of citizens broadly reflective of the communities they serve
• They make grants to other nonprofit and community groups to address disadvantage and a wide variety of emerging and changing needs in the community
• They provide services to donors to help them achieve their philanthropic goals.

All donations to The Impact Circle are administered by ACF. The Impact Circle must operate in accordance with the legislative regulations of ACF. Member donations are deposited into the sub-fund and members collectively decide which organisation receives the grant. All grants are paid directly by ACF to the chosen organisation.

As a sub fund with ACF, donations are responsibly invested, meaning the money can both grow and do good while the right granting opportunities are identified. This tax-free growth means the pool available for charitable purposes can increase over time.

All of ACF's pooled philanthropic assets are responsibly invested, with 100 per cent of their investment portfolio managed under a responsible investing approach.

The Foundation's investment advisors currently are Koda Capital, who help actively seek investments with strong financial returns alongside positive social or environmental impact.

Governance sits with the Investment Committee, which oversees the philanthropic assets to ensure the portfolio meets financial and ESG objectives in line with ACF's Investment Policy and Responsible Investment and Impact Policy.

The Impact Circle elects the offered capital-preservation option — aimed at ensuring capital is preserved given the immediate requirement for grantmaking of collective giving funds.

The Impact Circle reserves the rite to change this option at any time.

For more information on the ACF investment policies please visit: https://communityfoundation.org.au/impact/responsible-investing/

The Impact Circle was designed as a ‘low-touch’ way for individuals to affect change in their community. Outside of the $1,000 minimum membership there are no other requirements for membership. Each $1,000 parcel allows the right for a single vote during the grant selection process; however proxy voting is also facilitated. Participation is determined by each individual member, there are many opportunities and way to be further involved with the Impact Circle and the IMPACT100 model. Examples include; evaluating grant applications, site visits, potential event planning, membership engagement, etc.

One off donations are available, however the spirit of the Impact Circle is a yearly membership. Each one off donation of the required $1,000 per vote, will entitle a member to the corresponding number of votes, per $1,000 parcel, for that year.

Members only obligation is their yearly donation and the utilisation of their corresponding votes.

The Impact Circle was designed as a ‘low-touch’ philanthropic community. All official communications will be made via the members registered email proved to ACF upon their donation. Members will receive communications regarding the yearly grant and voting process as well as limited pertinent updates. The Impact Circle also maintains a presence on social media.

In order to change your registered contact or membership details, please contact us at: contact@theimpactcircle.com.au

The Impact Circle operates on a minimum yearly membership of $1,000 per vote. The vast majority of members contribute multiple parcels of $1,000. $1,000 was selected as a minimum in order to ensure commitment as well as maintain the impact of each individual vote. This amount also allows the Impact Circle to maintain a low administrative cost base. For more information here please contact the Impact Circle at: membership@theimpactcircle.com.au

The yearly minimum membership for the Impact Circle is $1,000. While we accept donations of less than $1,000, these donations do not qualify for a full vote. If this is not within your ability to contribute, multiple individuals can pool their funds together to create a ‘mini-circle’ and register in this manner. For more information here please contact the Impact Circle at: membership@theimpactcircle.com.au

The majority of members contribute more than $1,000 per year. Members are entitled to a single vote per $1,000 parcel. E.g. If a member contributes $5,000 per year, that member will be entitled to 5 votes during the end of financial year grant selection process. For more information here please contact The Impact Circle at: membership@theimpactcircle.com.au

In order to maintain the democratic spirit of the Impact Circle and the grant selection process, each member will be entitled to a maximum of 10% of the total votes available for that year. 

The Impact Circle aims to distribute a flagship $100,000 grant each financial year. If the Impact Circle raises more than $100,000 in a single financial year, ‘runner-up’ grants will be distributed in lots of $25,000. For Example, if the Impact Circle raises $125,000 in a financial year, a Flagship grant of $100,000 and a ‘runner-up’ grant of $25,000 will be distributed. If the Impact Circle raises $150,000 in a financial year, a Flagship grant of $100,000 and a ‘runner-up’ grant of $50,000 will be distributed.

If the Impact Circle raises more than $100,000 in a financial year, but less than, or part-there-of a $25,000 ‘runner-up’ parcel, this amount will be maintained until the next financial year. In this way we ensure that the power of our members contributed capital and the impact of each of our grants, is maintained.

The Impact Circle was designed as a group of individuals each donating a minimum membership of $1,000 per year. All donations are appreciated and if we are able to maintain the voting system in place for the grant selection process we will be able to accommodate matched funds. For more information here please contact the Impact Circle at: contact@theimpactcircle.com.au

100% of each members $1,000 voting parcel is donated to charity via the grant distribution process. We ask our members to consider donating an additional $100 upon joining to go towards our minimal administration costs. Administration costs not covered by our members, are covered by committee members as well as the support of the Fussell Family Foundation. Our operations and administration are maintained by the time and effort of volunteers.

The Fussell Family Foundation is a philanthropic private-ancillary-fund (PAF) that seeks to affect change and support impactful projects on a local and international setting. The Fussell Family Foundation supports the impact circle from an operational cost perspective. Members of the Fussell Family may maintain membership within the Impact Circle. Committee members of the Impact Circle may also hold managerial positions within the Fussell Family Foundation.

At the start of each Financial year, The Impact Circle sends out a call for initial Expression of Interest Applications (EOIs). Members of the grant review committee evaluate these EOIs, of which ten will be selected to submit full applications. Our grant applications guidelines and parameters, can be read on the grant applications information page.  These ten applicants are then evaluated by researching, modelling outcomes and – where deemed necessary - visiting applicants, to then arrive at four finalists. The information on the four finalists is sent to each member for review. Each applicant will then submit a presentation which is made available to each members. Members are then invited to vote for the primary grant recipient.  

More information here can be found via our 'Applications' page: https://theimpactcircle.com.au/applications/

At the start of each financial year, The Impact Circle sends out a call for initial Expression of Interest Applications (EOIs). These EOIs can be received for a period of 6 months. After the 1^st Jan each year, these EOIs are revied by the grant review committee and a shortlist of ten applications is made. These ten applicants are then evaluated by researching, modelling outcomes and – where deemed necessary - visiting applicants, to then arrive at four finalists, by the end of March. These final four applicants then have three months to prepare a presentation to the Impact Circle Members. The voting for each financial year, takes place after the end of each financial year. This is to ensure that the capital has time to accumulate fully, before deployment.

At the start of each financial year, The Impact Circle sends out a call for initial Expression of Interest Applications (EOIs). These EOIs can be received for a period of 6 months. After the 1^st Jan each year, these EOIs are revied by the grant review committee and a shortlist of ten applications is made. These ten applicants are then evaluated by researching, modelling outcomes and – where deemed necessary - visiting applicants, to then arrive at four finalists, by the end of March. These final four applicants then have three months to prepare a presentation to the Impact Circle Members. The voting for each financial year, takes place after the end of each financial year. This is to ensure that the capital has time to accumulate fully, before deployment.

More information here can be found via our 'Applications' page: https://theimpactcircle.com.au/applications/

We are committed to acting with integrity in all of our relationships and in selecting grant recipients through an honest and fair process. In support of this commitment, our conflict of interest policy requires disclosure of relationships between our committee members with any grant applicant or potential grant applicant. We also require committee members to excuse themselves from the discussion and/or collective choosing on any topic where an issue or conflict arises. We require only those members serving on a committee to disclose conflicts of interest.