Benevity works with GOGO, an independent non-profit organisation that receives and disburses funds to charities and other non-profit organisations, and it's a bit different from the traditional charitable foundations we work with. This article explains the key differences in how funds may be used, helping your organisation confidently manage these disbursements.
For traditional foundations:
- Donations must only be used for charitable activities/purposes, meaning they go directly to help the cause without offering any perks to donors or private groups.
- You cannot give donors or their affiliates special rewards or benefits for their donations, like free tickets, memberships, or sponsorships.
- If you find you cannot use the funds the way you agreed to in the terms of use, you must return them to the charitable foundation.
For GOGO:
- The way you use the funds is more flexible and is guided by what the funder wants. This can include sponsorships that aren't just about charitable activities.
- Like with traditional charitable foundations, you still cannot provide private benefits in return for funds, like memberships, dues, or tuition.
- If you find you can't use the funds as directed by the funder or the way you agreed to in the terms of use, you must return them to GOGO.
Why This Matters
GOGO offers a flexible way for non-profits to receive and use funds, sitting alongside the traditional charitable foundation model. We work with GOGO because we recognise that sometimes funders and non-profits want to work together in ways that are not just about direct charitable activities — such as sponsorships that can help both the funder and the non-profit.
Even with this flexibility, it is crucial to keep things transparent and follow the rules. This ensures we all maintain trust in how non-profits operate.