The Real Media Collective (TRMC) and Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) have successfully negotiated with Australia Post across Charity Mail to assist during the COVID-19 recovery period.

Recognising the financial challenges charities and fundraisers are still facing, Australia Post will provide a postage rebate of 10 per cent on any incremental Charity Mail activity undertaken from 1 April to 30 June 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

The 10 per cent rebate applies to the incremental Charity Mail volume achieved from 1 April to 30 June 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, adjusted for:

• Any Charity Mail volume shortfall that occurs in the following quarter ie, 1 July to 30 September 2022 compared to 2021 and,
• Any applicable credit claims in those periods.

The rebate is only available where Charity Mail volumes have been lodged on the fundraiser’s own charge account both last year and this year.

TRMC CEO Kellie Northwood said the organisation and FIA have worked collaboratively with Australia Post throughout the pandemic, advocating for the needs of the charitable fundraising sector and have been successful in achieving temporary rebates for qualified Charity Mail campaigns to support fundraising organisations in 2020 and 2021.

She added that the rebates were provided to assist charities with their fundraising, lowering costs and encouraging them to undertake additional mailing activity to help supplement income from fundraising activities which have been impacted by COVID-19. The incentive has been secured once more for 2022.

“Our TRMC members include printers and mail-houses across Australia. Working with Fundraising Institute Australia and Australia Post to develop relaxations for charities provides solid volumes for our members and the broader industry, as well as support to charities who use direct mail for donor acquisition campaigns,” Northwood said.

“Now, more than ever, charities need this support and we thank Australia Post for working with industry to achieve this relief and now look to other Mail products and services to extend beyond Charity Mail for relief to all sectors of our membership and industry.”

FIA CEO Katherine Raskob said these initiatives help all charities, and that in these challenging times, the institute wants to ensure the Australian sector receives as much help as possible to fund their critical missions.

“This rebate has benefitted charities in the past with their fundraising efforts and will continue to do so during these recovery periods. We are delighted to have negotiated this kind of rebate – a great example of how working with industry, Australia Post and charities can deliver meaningful results,” she said.

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