Fundraising
General Guidelines for Fundraising for Lions Home for the Elders
The Societies Act (Chapter 311) as amended in August 1998 has since been effective from January 1, 1999. Amended Regulations in the Act are onerous and need close adherence especially those on financial administration. Voluntary organisations including Lions Clubs registered with the ROS should be particularly attentive and in having well documented accounts on funds raised from the public. Fundraising organised by individual or corporation or association other than Lions Clubs would have the same criteria.
Lions Home for the Elders (LHE) appreciates the efforts of all fund raisers. However, as LHE has been approved as an Institution of a Public Character (IPC), it must abide by the Charity Act, and therefore the adherence of these aforementioned guidelines is essential. Please note that LHE reserves the right not to endorse and/or withdraw endorsement of the said event should the guidelines stipulated not be complied with. A member of the Management Board may choose to be in attendance in one or all the fundraising event organisation meeting or meetings to ensure compliance.
The Management Board of the LHE hopes that the following guidelines would assist its supporters and donors in the organising and planning to raise funds for the LHE. Guidelines as listed below in sections A, B, C, D and E are to:
● enhance closer and productive co-ordination and liaison between donors and fundraisers with the LHE
● enhance the transparency with regard to funds raised from the public
● improve the mandatory filing process with accurate financial accounts to IRAS
● avoid inadvertent contravention of any stringent ROS’ or relevant Authorities’ rules and regulations governing fundraising.
Listed below are five sets of guidelines which broadly meet five common circumstances on fundraising. They are:
A. Raising Funds from the Public with LHE being the Sole Beneficiary
B. Raising Funds from the Public with LHE being one of the Beneficiaries
C. Fundraising Events Organised by LHE
D. Fundraising in Lions Clubs’ Events with LHE being the Sole Beneficiary
E. Fundraising in Lions Clubs’ Events with LHE being one of the Beneficiaries
Section A
Raising Funds from the Public
with LHE being the Sole Beneficiary
a. Seek in-principle approval from the LHE Management Board by stating the intention and plan to raise funds under its name.
b. In-principle approval from the LHE Management Board will be subjected to compliance with the following conditions:
i. provide details of the fundraising event and the manner of which funds to be raised
ii. state the projected sum to be raised
iii. state the date on which the fundraising event commences and its duration
iv. state the venue of the fundraising event
v. provide the names of the two organising committee members who will co-ordinate with the LHE the progress of the fundraising event
vi. submit a copy of police permit at least one month prior to publicity date (mandatory, without which LHE will cancel endorsement)
vii. usage of LHE logo or name in any form on any publicity materials must be pre-approved by LHE at least one month prior to publicity date
viii. any request for assistance in publicity (be it from Lions or otherwise) must be made in your organisation letterhead stating the details of your fundraising activity, all requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
Section B
Raising Funds from the Public
with LHE being one of the Beneficiaries
a. Seek in-principle approval from the LHE Management Board by stating the intention and plan to raise funds under its name.
b. In-principle approval from the LHE Management Board will be subjected to compliance with the following conditions:
i. provide details of the fundraising event and the manner of which funds to be raised
ii. state the projected sum to be raised
iii. state the date on which the fundraising event commences and its duration
iv. state the venue of the fundraising event
v. provide the names of the two organising committee members who will co-ordinate with the LHE the progress of the fundraising event
vi. submit a copy of police permit at least one month prior to publicity date (mandatory, without which LHE will cancel endorsement)
vii. usage of LHE logo or name in any form on any publicity materials must be pre-approved by LHE at least one month prior to publicity date
viii. any request for assistance in publicity (be it from Lions or otherwise) must be made in your organisation letterhead stating the details of your fundraising activity, all requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
ix. Provide the names of all the beneficiaries with respective percentages of the funds receivable by each of them.
Section C
Fundraising Events Organised by LHE
a. The event will be chaired and organised by a member of the LHE’s Management Board.
b. LHE as the administrator of the event will attend to the compliance of statutory and any stipulated requirements by the relevant Authorities.
c. LHE will duly acknowledge and recognise respective Lions Clubs’ efforts and assistance rendered in the events. Such efforts and records will also be transmitted to the District Governor for his/her discretion on the evaluation of District’s Awards.
Section D
Fundraising in Lions Clubs’ Functions
with LHE being the Sole Beneficiary
a. LHE must be informed of the event if fundraising is a one-off item and being held during a Lions Club meeting/dinner.
b. Total collection raised from the event should be announced at the event.
c. All monies collected from the event should be promptly forwarded to LHE.
Section E
Fundraising in Lions Clubs’ Functions
with LHE being one of the Beneficiaries
a. LHE must be informed of the event if fundraising is a one-off item and being held during a Lions Club meeting/dinner.
b. Total collection raised from the event should be announced at the event.
c. All monies collected from the event should be promptly forwarded to LHE.
d. Provide the names of all the beneficiaries with respective percentages of the funds receivable by each of them.
Funds Raised Using LHE Donation Box(es)
a. The opening and counting of the total cash/cheques collected from the LHE Donation Box(es) must be witnessed by a member of the Management Board or an authorised representative of LHE.
b. All cash/cheques collected must be handed to LHE within two working days.
Important Notes
The above information is meant to serve only as guidelines. They inevitably cannot be exhaustive enough to cover all circumstances. Whenever any doubt arises, please make reference to regulations and rules governing fundraising from the public stipulated by the relevant Authorities like ROS and IRAS.
Issuance of tax-exempt receipts by LHE is governed by stringent rules as set down by the relevant approving Authorities, in particular the IRAS. Donors requiring such tax-exempt receipts need to provide LHE their full names, NRIC numbers and sums donated for accurate recording and correct issuance of the receipts. All cheques are to be made payable to “Lions Home for the Elders”.
Basic Regulations on Public Fundraising that apply to IPCs to be extended to Charities that Raise Funds Publicly
a. Ensure that the total expenses incurred on public fundraising appeals in a financial year should not be more than 30% of total donations collected through the public appeals in that year
b. Have an independent examiner or auditor to certify whether the charities have met the 30/70 rule as part of their annual audits1
c. Submit an examiner or auditor’s report on the use of donation monies raised through public appeals and whether such use is in accordance with the charity’s objectives to COC no more than 6 months from the close of their financial year
d. Exempted from complying with 30/70 rule for house-to-house and street collections under the House-to-House and Street Collections Act and lotteries under the Common Gaming Houses (Exemption) Notification.
e. Ensure the information provided to donors, potential donors and the general public in their public appeals does not contain any misrepresentation or material omission that would lead to a conclusion of misrepresentation
f. Disclose the name of their organisation, intended use of funds and use of commercial third-party fundraisers during their public appeals
g. Disclose the total funds raised, fundraising expenses incurred and planned use of funds raised for each public fundraising event that raises $1 million or more. The disclosure should be done online at the end of each financial year (need not be audited or examined separately)
h. Maintain separate financial accounts for public fundraising events that raise $1 million or more, the accounts need not be audited or examined separately
i. Ensure adequate control measures for all collection instruments used in public appeals, e.g. serialise collection tins or pledge cards
j. Ensure that funds and donations raised through public appeals are used in accordance with donors’ intentions and the specific purpose as communicated when soliciting for donations
k. Respect donors’ confidentiality e.g. not to transfer donor lists or records without the donor’s prior approval, respecting wishes to remain anonymous and to be excluded from contact lists, etc
l. In a commercial third-party fundraisers’ arrangement, all donations shall be made directly to the charity. Fees to the fundraisers shall be separately paid
m. Where a non-commercial third-party fundraiser raises funds for or on the behalf of a charity, the third-party fund-raiser should submit to the charity a statement of its expenses2
n. Definition of fund raised from public includes but not limited to street collection, concert where tickets are sold to the public through SISTIC (for example), exhibition where tickets are sold to public, any form of events where tickets are sold to public, goods or materials sold to the public, mailers to non-related individuals/companies, etc.
¹ Inter-Ministry Committee (IMC) recommends that for this computation the charity shall include sponsorships both as expenses and donations when receipts have been issued.
² This is currently not a requirement for IPCs. The IMC in this report is recommending it to be a requirement for all IPCs.
Lions Home for the Elders Fundraising Form
To fundraise for Lions Home for the Elders, please download and complete the application form. Please ensure the application form is duly signed before sending it via one of the following options,
By Email (scanned copy):
lhe.pr@lionshome.org.sg
By Fax:
Corporate Affairs Department
6353 5725
By Post:
Lions Home for the Elders
Corporate Affairs Department
9 Bishan Street 13
Singapore 579804
YES, I have read the General Guidelines for Fundraising for Lions Home for the Elders and agreed to the terms and conditions
Download Data Protection Policy
Locate Us
Contact Us