Question 1

Do I need an account to give?

Accepted Answer

No. You can browse every campaign and contribute without creating an account. You'll enter your payment details and receive a receipt by email.

Question 2

Is my contribution tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

Not at this stage. Ready Fund Grow Foundation Limited is progressing ACNC charity registration, including registration as a Public Benevolent Institution, and is pursuing deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement. Neither has been granted yet. Until DGR endorsement is granted, contributions are not tax deductible and your receipt is not a tax-deductible gift receipt. We'll update this page and notify supporters if that changes.

Question 3

Does Ready Fund Grow take a fee or commission?

Accepted Answer

No platform fees. No commission. Ready Fund Grow doesn't take a percentage of donations raised for a campaign.

Question 4

Are there any payment processing costs?

Accepted Answer

Ready Fund Grow does not charge platform fees or take a commission from campaign donations. Any applicable third-party transaction costs will be explained before a contribution is confirmed.

Question 5

Where does my money go between now and the project being built?

Accepted Answer

Ready Fund Grow receives your contribution — not the school or organisation. Ready Fund Grow manages contributions to approved campaigns, records them against the specific campaign, and works with the organisation to arrange funding when the project is ready to proceed.

Question 6

When does the money actually reach the organisation?

Accepted Answer

After the campaign closes, Ready Fund Grow works with the campaign creator to arrange funding once the approved project is ready to proceed, subject to appropriate verification and funding arrangements. Timing depends on the project.

Question 7

What if the campaign doesn't reach its target?

Accepted Answer

There is no minimum fundraising threshold. Funds raised remain allocated to the approved project even if the target isn't reached, and RFG works with the organisation to adjust the scope or deliver the project in stages so it still serves its charitable purpose. Funding is released through RFG's usual verification and payment arrangements.

Question 8

What if the project can't go ahead at all?

Accepted Answer

If a project cannot proceed — the school withdraws, the site becomes unavailable, or the project can't be delivered even in a smaller or staged form — we work with the organisation and tell every supporter what has happened. Supporters can then choose to redirect their contribution to a comparable approved project at the same organisation, or receive a refund.

Question 9

Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

Accepted Answer

If you contact us at least 5 business days before the campaign closes, we'll refund you in full. After that, funds are committed to the approved project and we can only refund in exceptional circumstances.

Question 10

What happens if a campaign raises more than its target?

Accepted Answer

Any surplus is applied to the same project's stated stretch outcomes, held for the organisation's next approved project, or returned.

Question 11

Can I give anonymously?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can choose not to display your name on the campaign page. We still collect your details for the receipt and our own records, and we handle them under our Privacy Policy.

Question 12

Will I hear what happened?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Organisations post progress and completion updates, and completed campaigns stay published so you can see what was delivered. You can opt in to receive those updates by email.

Question 13

Can I give to Ready Fund Grow itself rather than a project?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contributions to Ready Fund Grow's own work keep the platform free for schools and community organisations to use. They're handled separately from campaign funds and aren't applied to any individual project, but may be used for matched funding or to support RFG's operations.

Question 14

Can I set up a regular monthly gift?

Accepted Answer

We'd love to talk about ongoing support. Visit our regular giving page to get in touch with our team.

Question 15

Is my payment secure?

Accepted Answer

Contributions are processed securely through an external payment provider. Ready Fund Grow does not store full payment card details.

Question 16

Who can run a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Australian schools (government, Catholic and independent), early learning services, and incorporated community organisations, where the project benefits students or the community and the organisation authorises the campaign. Individuals cannot run campaigns.

Question 17

What kinds of projects are eligible?

Accepted Answer

Practical environmental and outdoor learning projects with a clear educational, environmental or community benefit — kitchen gardens, sensory gardens, orchards, outdoor classrooms, water-wise and composting infrastructure, and similar. Non-eligible uses include general operating costs, salaries, travel, capital works requiring building approval, and anything political or religious in nature.

Question 18

Does it cost anything?

Accepted Answer

No. There is no sign-up cost, no subscription and no platform fee. The platform is funded by our funding partners. Any applicable third-party transaction costs will be explained to supporters before a contribution is confirmed.

Question 19

Do we need our principal's or committee's approval?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every campaign must be authorised by the organisation behind it — for a school, that means the principal or the delegated authority. Many education departments, dioceses and independent school boards also have their own fundraising approval policies, so check yours before you submit. We'll ask you to confirm authorisation as part of the review.

Question 20

Can our P&C, P&F or parents' group run a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with the organisation's authorisation.

Question 21

Do we need bank details to start?

Accepted Answer

No. You can create, save and submit a campaign without bank details. Bank details are verified later, at the funding agreement stage, once the campaign has closed and the project is confirmed.

Question 22

How long does review take?

Accepted Answer

We review every campaign for eligibility, clarity, budget, accuracy and fit within 2–3 days of submission. Nothing publishes automatically. If something needs adjusting, we'll tell you plainly what and why, and you can resubmit.

Question 23

Why might a campaign be declined?

Accepted Answer

Common reasons: the project falls outside our remit, the budget doesn't match the stated outcome, the organisation hasn't authorised it, the campaign makes claims we can't verify, or the images don't meet our image and consent policy. We'll always explain the reason and, where we can, tell you what would make it approvable.

Question 24

How long can a campaign run?

Accepted Answer

Campaigns usually run for up to 6 weeks, set by you at submission. You can extend a campaign, and if you'd like to close one early, get in touch and we'll talk through the options.

Question 25

Can we change the campaign after it goes live?

Accepted Answer

You can post updates freely. Material changes — to the project, the budget or the funding target — need our approval first, because supporters gave to the project as it was described when they contributed.

Question 26

Who owns and delivers the project?

Accepted Answer

You do. Ready Fund Grow provides the platform, the review and the support. You plan the project, promote the campaign to your community, deliver the work and report on the outcome. We aren't the project owner and we don't run your campaign for you.

Question 27

Do we have to promote it ourselves?

Accepted Answer

Largely, yes — your community is your best advocate, and campaigns that go quiet after launch don't reach their targets. We give you a campaign link, share cards and a printable QR code, along with guidance on how to run the launch.

Question 28

Do we have to buy from WaterUps?

Accepted Answer

No. Ready Fund Grow was founded with support from WaterUps, an Australian wicking-bed manufacturer, and WaterUps remains a related party. Using WaterUps products is always optional and is never a condition of approval or funding. You choose your own suppliers.

Question 29

What does “project verification” involve?

Accepted Answer

Before we release funds we confirm the project is ready to proceed as approved — that the site, permissions, quotes and scope still match what supporters were told.

Question 30

Can we run more than one campaign at a time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as the campaigns are separate and clearly communicated to your community.

Question 31

What if we can't deliver the project?

Accepted Answer

Tell us as early as you can. We'll work with you to adjust the scope, redirect the funding to a comparable approved project, or refund supporters. Supporters are told what happened either way.

Question 32

What reporting do we have to do?

Accepted Answer

Progress updates during the campaign, and a completion update with photos once the project is delivered. Keeping supporters informed is part of the deal.

Question 33

Can we use photos of students?

Accepted Answer

Only with the consents your organisation already requires, and in line with our image and consent policy. You are responsible for holding valid consent for every identifiable child pictured; we check images at review but we can't verify consent for you. Photos showing children's faces are not required — garden beds, hands, wide shots and finished projects work well.

Question 34

What data do you collect about supporters?

Accepted Answer

Essentially name, email and contribution amount; payment data is handled by our external payment provider. Unless a supporter chooses to remain anonymous, those details are shared with the organisation. Our privacy policy sets out the detail.

Question 35

Do organisations see who gave to their campaign?

Accepted Answer

Unless the donor chose to remain anonymous, their name and email are shared with the organisation so it can send thank-yous and project updates.

Question 36

How can a foundation, business or council get involved?

Accepted Answer

Partners can seed a campaign, match community giving, or fund a pool of projects by region or theme. Corporate and philanthropic support can help eligible projects and the Foundation's broader charitable work.

Question 37

What reporting do partners get?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the form of the funding and the funder's requirements — a grant acquittal pack, project-level outcomes, spend against approved budget, photos, student reach numbers and timing are all possible. We agree this with each partner.

Question 38

Can we fund a specific region, school type or theme?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Partners can direct funding by geography, organisation type or project theme, and we match it to reviewed campaigns that fit.

Question 39

How do you avoid conflicts of interest with WaterUps?

Accepted Answer

WaterUps is a related party and is disclosed as one. Campaign approval never depends on using WaterUps products, related-party transactions are declared to the board, and WaterUps-connected directors don't participate in campaign approval decisions.

Question 40

Are you a registered charity?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Ready Fund Grow is operated by Ready Fund Grow Foundation Limited (ABN 31 702 702 887), an Australian not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The Foundation is currently progressing ACNC charity registration, including registration as a Public Benevolent Institution, and is pursuing Deductible Gift Recipient endorsement. Neither has been granted. Until registration is granted we are not a registered charity, and we don't describe ourselves as one.

Question 41

How is Ready Fund Grow different from ReadyFundGo?

Accepted Answer

ReadyFundGo was a general-purpose rewards-based online fundraising service, later acquired by WaterUps. Rather than continue running it, it was restructured as a new not-for-profit with a much narrower remit: garden, outdoor learning and sustainability projects run by schools, early learning services and community organisations. Different purpose, different governance, different eligibility rules.

Question 42

Who runs Ready Fund Grow?

Accepted Answer

The directors are listed on the About page, supported by a small team of volunteers and paid contractors.

Question 43

How can I make a complaint?

Accepted Answer

Email us at support@readyfundgrow.org.au. If your complaint is serious, you can also raise it directly with the ACNC.

Question 44

How do I contact you?

Accepted Answer

Our email, phone number and postal address are in the footer of every page, and on the contact page.

The questions we get asked most

For supporters

For schools, ELCs and community organisations

Photos, privacy and safeguarding

Funders and partners

About Ready Fund Grow

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