Infrastructure Principle

Elevate.gift operates as neutral infrastructure for charitable giving. We do not endorse, rank, or editorially select causes. The platform exists to facilitate the flow of philanthropic capital — not to direct it.

Eligibility criteria exist to preserve that neutrality. They ensure the platform serves genuine charitable purposes and cannot be instrumentalised for political advocacy, lobbying, or influence operations — regardless of the cause or position.

Eligible Organisations

The following organisation types are eligible to receive funding through Elevate.gift:

DGR-endorsed charities
Organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient status from the ATO
Public Ancillary Funds (PAFs)
Philanthropic trusts distributing to DGR recipients
Registered not-for-profits
ACNC-registered organisations with charitable purposes
University and research institutions
For scholarship, research, and educational programs

Eligible Activities

Direct service delivery
Community development
Research and knowledge production
Environmental conservation
Arts, culture, and heritage
Emergency relief
Scholarship programs
Capacity building

Ineligible Organisations and Activities

The following are not eligible to receive funding through the platform. These exclusions apply regardless of the political position, ideology, or cause involved:

Political and Advocacy Organisations

Organisations whose primary purpose is political advocacy or lobbying
Electoral campaign entities or political parties
Organisations primarily engaged in geopolitical advocacy on any side of any conflict
Lobby-funded not-for-profits where a majority of funding derives from political or lobbying sources

Influence Operations

Organisations that use charitable status as cover for political influence campaigns
Entities that channel donations toward non-charitable political ends
Organisations that weaponise community identity for political mobilisation rather than community service

Note on identity-based organisations: Community groups organised around shared identity (ethnic, religious, cultural, or otherwise) are welcome on the platform when their primary purpose is genuine community service. Research consistently shows that identity-based giving circles are among the most effective forms of collective philanthropy — 75% of non-white majority giving groups fund their own communities, and this is healthy, democratic philanthropy. The exclusion applies only where community identity is instrumentalised for political capture rather than community benefit.

Assessment Process

Eligibility is assessed through a three-gate framework:

Formal Status Check

Verification of DGR endorsement, ACNC registration, or equivalent recognised charitable status.

Primary Purpose Test

Assessment of whether the organisation’s primary activities are charitable service delivery, not political advocacy or lobbying. Organisations may engage in incidental advocacy related to their charitable purpose (e.g., a homelessness charity advocating for housing policy) — the test is whether advocacy is the primary purpose or incidental to service.

Influence Risk Assessment

Review for indicators of political instrumentalisation, including funding sources, public positioning, and organisational affiliations. This gate exists to prevent the platform from being used as infrastructure for influence operations.

Review Cycle and Appeals

Eligibility is not permanent. Organisations are subject to periodic review:

Annual review — All listed organisations are reassessed annually against current criteria
Triggered review — Material changes in an organisation's activities, governance, or public positioning may trigger an out-of-cycle review
Community reporting — Platform users may flag concerns about listed organisations for review

Appeals Process

Organisations that are declined or delisted may request a review by contacting eligibility@elevate.gift. Appeals are reviewed by the platform governance team within 30 business days. Decisions are provided in writing with reasons.

Why This Policy Exists

Charitable platforms that do not maintain clear eligibility boundaries risk becoming vectors for political influence disguised as philanthropy. This undermines trust in the entire charitable sector.

Elevate.gift exists to make philanthropic capital circulate more effectively — not to serve as infrastructure for advocacy of any kind. These criteria protect donors, beneficiaries, and the integrity of the platform equally.

This policy is reviewed annually and may be updated. Material changes will be communicated to all listed organisations. For questions, contact eligibility@elevate.gift.

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