Check whether DGR status is realistic for your organisation

It helps to look at the service as a one-off legal assessment rather than a full restructuring project. We review your organisation's setup, including founding documents, governance arrangements, stated purposes and current activities, then prepare a written memo on whether DGR eligibility appears likely, uncertain or unlikely on the information provided. The advice also points out issues that may affect your position, such as document wording, membership or control settings, or the way your activities are described. It does not include regulator representation or broader tax advice.

This service is commonly useful when an organisation wants to attract deductible donations, is planning a fundraising push, has been asked by donors about DGR status, or is unsure whether its current structure supports an application. It can also help where a group has charitable aims but mixed activities, trading elements or governance features that may complicate the analysis. In those cases, getting legal advice early can highlight whether the issue is mainly about eligibility, document wording, or whether broader structural work may be needed first.

We will usually need your constitution, trust deed or rules, plus a practical summary of what the organisation does, how it is governed and how funds are used. If you have existing charity registration material, board papers, fundraising descriptions or previous correspondence about status questions, those can also help. The more closely the documents match what happens in practice, the more useful the advice will be. If your activities have changed over time, it is worth flagging that, because eligibility analysis often turns on the current operating model rather than historic wording alone.

Your memo will explain the main legal factors relevant to DGR eligibility, how those factors appear to apply to your organisation, and where any gaps or uncertainties sit. For example, the advice may comment on whether your purposes are expressed clearly enough, whether governance settings create issues, or whether your activities suggest that amendments may be worth considering before taking further steps. The aim is to give you a practical basis for deciding what to do next. It is an assessment service, not a promise that DGR status will be available or approved.

Sometimes the main issue is not the DGR question itself, but the underlying structure or governing documents. If that comes up, we can outline what further legal work may be appropriate, such as amending rules, updating a trust deed or considering a different operating model. That extra work would be separate from this fixed-fee. This page is intentionally narrower than broader not-for-profit structuring services, so the focus stays on DGR eligibility advice rather than implementing a full governance or restructuring project.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the DGR Eligibility Advice service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.