Auditors and assets
In most Australian states, incorporated associations are required to have their accounts audited…
Finance for treasurers
Help sheets
Budgeting for treasurers
Budgeting is simply the process of planning your organisation's finances for a specified period,…
Financial management and your community group
In a not-for-profit organisation the board or committee of management is ultimately responsible for…
Financial Obligations for Not-for-Profit Organisations in Australia
Not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in Australia are subject to financial obligations that vary by…
Glossary of financial terms
The glossary of financial terms has been developed to give quick access to definitions of some of…
Keeping the books
The terms 'bookkeeping' and 'accounting' are often used interchangeably, but they have different…
Nailing the treasurer's report
Whether you're a veteran or have just recently been appointed treasurer of your not-for-profit…
Record-keeping for treasurers
A computer system is not a substitute for paper records. Make sure you keep a hard copy audit trail…
Articles
More honours for more women: your guide to easier nominations
Posted on 04 Feb 2026
Last week’s announcement that women made up only one-third of recipients in the Australia Day…
Them and us and we
Posted on 04 Feb 2026
As we move into 2026, I can’t help but think the world is wobbling a little.
Leading with a full backpack: How Chloe Jesson’s emotional honesty changed her leadership
Posted on 04 Feb 2026
At the Third Sector leadership conference in Sydney last year, Queensland health executive Chloe…
Australian Ethical Foundation looks to push philanthropy for nature to the next level
Posted on 04 Feb 2026
In this time of escalating climate impact, the head of Australian Ethical Foundation, Kate…
Navigating “headline fatigue” a challenge for charities
Posted on 04 Feb 2026
An academic studying the phenomenon of “headline fatigue” – where news consumers tune out of…
How a festival wrote itself out of the story
Posted on 28 Jan 2026
This year’s Adelaide Writers’ Week began with the cancellation of a talk by Palestinian-Australian…
Australia’s honours system: a mirror to our blindness
Posted on 28 Jan 2026
The 2026 Australia Day Honours list delivered a sobering reality check. After reaching gender…
Arms around the world: how Jimmy Pelletier is leading by example
Posted on 28 Jan 2026
French-Canadian Jimmy Pelletier, who lives with paraplegia, is six and a half months into a…
Checklists
Members Only
Making sure your annual report is complete
Once you have completed your annual report, use the following checklist to make sure you haven't…
Members Only
Preparing for bequests
Use this checklist to help determine if your organisation is ready to establish a wills/bequests…
Members Only
Treasurer's checklist: Can your group be trusted with money?
If you're asking for grants, you have to be able to guarantee you can handle the money. The…
Policies
Budget Planning Policy
Boards are responsible for overseeing the budget of the organisation and for ensuring that the…
Delegations Policy
This policy sets out the circumstances under which the Board may delegate its responsibilities.…
Financial Controls Policy
Finances and financial transactions, including credit cards, cheques, and petty cash, if properly…
Fraud Risk Management Policy
Just like commercial organisations, not-for-profit organisations may be subject to fraudulent…
Investment Planning Policy
Boards are responsible for ensuring that the organisation operates within a responsible,…
Procurement policy
Purchasing decisions can have a big impact on an organisation’s finances, reputation, and…
Reimbursement Policy
Staff or volunteers may on occasion be required to pay expenses consequent on their employment out…