Animal rescue organisations - registered charity or not?

[Kiltie]

I wondered if anyone had any experience of when it becomes viable for a non-profit organisation to become a registered charity.

The increased revenue from “Gift Aid” and other tax relief sounds great on the face of it but it would have to exceed costs attracted by additional administration and audit and the like.

I just wondered if there was a rule of thumb as to when it becomes worthwhile (in terms of turnover).

I think a registered charity has to have a board of directors. This itself, I suppose, could shove such a notion in to the “too difficult box” as opinions and personalities would invariably get in the way of the original ethos.

Cheers,

Eric

[ClassicMercs]

I would personally say there is no hard and fast rule - its what suits the individual organisation. Personally I don't think anything less than a couple of thousand warrants the registration.
Each is different and without knowing the exact circumstances. Things like leases for property and other things where the may be trustee liability can all play a part.

But - I would recommend a 'new' structure - a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) - which combines the benefits of both Charity Registration and Company Limited By Guarantee - all under one registration with the Charity Commission.
There is a lot of guidance on this on the Charity Commission website. Its only been in England for a few months but has proved very successful in Scotland over the last couple years. And much of the documentation is off their template - its just the important finishing stuff that they will judge your application on. I'm doing one at the minute for our Community (ex council) Library.