The Federal Government says its push to reform donations from foreign entities with legislation introduced late last year is about protecting and strengthening Australia's democracy.
It says it wants to stop any chance of non-Australian governments, organisations or individuals affecting Australian politics, particularly through donations.
That advertisement, launched by 25 groups, including the Australian Council of Social Services, Amnesty International and Caritas Australia, calls for a rethink of the proposed changes.
The groups argue the changes would impede their work, impose unnecessary regulations and deprive them of much-needed funding.
The Australian Council for International Development says up to 11 per cent of its members' funding -- $176 million -- could be at risk under the legislation.
Regulating Australia's more than 50,000 registered charities is the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission, or ACNC.
Melbourne Law School professor Ann O'Connell says the Government has gone too far in its attempts to fix what it sees as a problem.
Professor O'Connell says speculation that the bill is an attempt to silence criticism of the Turnbull Government is warranted.
GetUp head Paul Oosting has told a joint standing committee the organisation is not very popular with politicians.
