25,000 now registered with Charities Commission

25,000 now registered with the Charities Commission

The number of organisations registered with the Charities Commission has now reached 25,000, with the registration of Tennis Mid Canterbury Sub Association Incorporated.

Based in Ashburton, the Tennis Mid Canterbury Sub Association Incorporated is a sport and recreation organisation that provides coaching and information about tennis to the Ashburton community.

The Sub Association’s spokesperson Neil Fowler says registration with the Commission was important to help their charity secure funding for the operation of its organisation.

Mr Fowler says registration with the Charities Commission reflects the organisation’s charitable purposes, and adds credibility to its applications to funding organisations.

"We are a charitable organisation who is here for the community. We offer coaching and competition for all age levels from seniors through to children,” says Mr Fowler.

Tennis Mid Canterbury Sub Association Incorporated joins 24,999 other registered charities whose details are available for the public to search and view on the Charities Register.

The Charities Register is a large “live” database of valuable information about registered charities, which includes their legal name, officers, purpose, contact details, and, for those that have filed an Annual Return, financial statements.

Data taken from the Register late last year from the 12,000 organisations that have filed an Annual Return highlighted the important role the charitable sector plays in New Zealand society. For the previous 12 months, the 12,000 charities recorded a combined gross income of $5.2 billion with the areas of education, training and research receiving the largest chunk.

Charities Commission chief executive Trevor Garrett says the Register holds a wealth of information which can assist the public in making a better informed decision when choosing to donate time or money to a charity.

“The extensive range of information on the Register has never been available to the public before. The financial information filed annually by registered charities lets the public see for themselves how charities are spending public donations, and what they are doing to make a difference,” says Mr Garrett.

The Commission, established in 2005 under the Charities Act, contributes to building greater trust and confidence in the charitable sector, by making the sector more transparent. During the establishment phase of the Commission, much of its focus was on registering charities, but now with 25,000 charities registered, the Commission is expanding its monitoring and investigation and education functions.

ENDS