- no longer wants to pursue its objectives
- no longer has enough members, funding or committed people, or
- has decided to end
More information
Ending an organisation is different to merging or amalgamating with another association (where two or more organisations combine), although sometimes it may be necessary to bring an organisation to an end after a merger or amalgamation is complete. For more information on amalgamation, go to our resources on amalgamation.
- the legal structure of your organisation (ie. a company limited by guarantee or an incorporated association)
- why the organisation is coming to an end
- whether the ending of the organisation is voluntary or compulsory, and
- the organisation’s size and location
Tip
To find out what your organisation’s legal structure is, visit the Australian Business Register website to search for your organisation by ABN, ACN, or name.
Note
If your charity is closing and has surplus assets to distribute, instead of a one-off donation to another similar charity, another option may be to establish a sub-fund at a local community foundation. This can continue the legacy of the closing charity by setting up enduring funding streams for other charities. More information can be found on Australian Community Philanthropy’s website.
More information
For more information, see the ACNC’s webpage, ‘Wind up your charity’.
Note
All organisations that have been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as having DGR status are required to have a clause in their constitution (or governing rules) dealing with winding up the organisation.
More information
For more information on ending an organisation with DGR status see the ATO webpage on ending your organisation.
