Ten questions every board director needs to ask about the board’s director payment policy
Historically, charity and not-for-profit boards have worked for the good of the cause, with no…
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Getting started
Whether you need to know more about starting up a not-for-profit organisation, or have just landed your first role as a board member, our tools and resources on the right will help you get your head around the basics.
Ten questions the board should be asking about...
Ten questions every board director should ask about child safety
Everyone has a role to play in preventing and responding to child abuse. As a director of a…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about climate change
Climate change is real and dangerous. It has been caused by human activity and thus demands radical…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about measuring outcomes
Board directors are generally excellent when it comes to monitoring and evaluating the financial…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about ESG
ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance criteria, factors or issues, which are…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about marketing
Marketing is key to the success of your organisation.
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about funding
An organisation’s financial viability is a crucial responsibility for every board director, so your…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about cyber security
Not-for-profits routinely collect highly sensitive personal information, including information on…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about succession planning
Succession planning is about much more than just replacing board members when they leave. It is…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about diversity
In simple terms, "diversity" refers to the degree to which an organisation’s board, staff,…
Ten things board directors should know about the board’s powers (that CEOs might not want them to know)
The board and the chief executive officer (CEO) both have leadership roles in an organisation, but…
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A positive start, but more work ahead
Posted on 05 Dec 2023
The final Productivity Commission report into Philanthropy will need to be much bolder than the…
Guide dogs show the way at social impact measurement awards
Posted on 05 Dec 2023
A young, fast-growing consultancy has won Australia’s most prestigious award for social impact…
ACNC takes first step toward greater transparency
Posted on 05 Dec 2023
The charities regulator has published its first “deidentified” charity registration decision under…
People with Purpose: Finding humanity through medicine
Posted on 05 Dec 2023
Delivering help to some of the most desperate regions of the world is what drives the executive…
Win for charities in electoral donation law reform
Posted on 04 Dec 2023
Registered charities could soon be exempt from caps on donations under a review of changes to…
Disadvantaged Australians turn to charities for Christmas cheer
Posted on 03 Dec 2023
As Australia heads into the festive season, for many disadvantaged people, the nation’s…
Comment: Australia’s philanthropic review suffers from a colossal blind spot
Posted on 01 Dec 2023
The Productivity Commission's draft report on philanthropy takes a deep dive into charities, but…
DGR tax rules 'not fit for purpose': Productivity Commission
Posted on 30 Nov 2023
The Productivity Commission has recommended an overhaul of tax rules to give thousands more…
Environment the number one concern of young Australians
Posted on 29 Nov 2023
The environment, discrimination, the cost-of-living crisis, and mental health are the key concerns…
Giving Tuesday counters Black Friday splurge
Posted on 28 Nov 2023
Hundreds of Australian charities and not-for-profits have adopted Giving Tuesday as a generous…
‘Death taxes’ would breathe new life into charities
Posted on 28 Nov 2023
Despite the political risk, it may be time for Australia to bite the bullet and introduce an…
Aussies remain generous in face of tough economic times
Posted on 28 Nov 2023
Charitable giving in Australia has fallen by a relatively modest 3% over the past year to $1.9…
People with purpose: Not-for-profits protecting the planet
Posted on 27 Nov 2023
Veteran social justice warrior Paul Bird is on a mission to harness the collective power of…
For most of us, the cost-of-living crisis is a moral panic, not an existential threat
Posted on 27 Nov 2023
There's no doubt many Australians are struggling financially. So why do the nation's poorest…
Free speech advocates fight back against anti-protest laws
Posted on 27 Nov 2023
Human rights groups have united to call on governments across the nation to protect the rights of…
Regulator accused of harassing former charity board members over director IDs
Posted on 23 Nov 2023
Former charity directors are allegedly being harassed to register for director identification…
NFP sector calls for a seat at Canberra’s cyber-security table
Posted on 22 Nov 2023
Sector leaders have called for the federal government’s new cyber-security blueprint to include…
High-profile charities academic slams lack of DGR reform
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
A leading expert on not-for-profit law has slammed Australia’s system for regulating which…
Multicultural values at risk amid falling social cohesion
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
The battle to maintain support for multiculturalism in the face of prejudice and discrimination…
NFP sector to play key role in financial counselling initiative
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
The federal government will spend $1.5 million to establish an independent not-for-profit body to…
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Should you trust artificial intelligence? Ethics and governance issues for not-for-profits
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov first conceived of the three laws of robotics in a 1942 short…
Five ways NFPs should use AI, and three warnings for the wary
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
The artificial intelligence landscape that has developed over the past year has had a significant…
ChatGPT tells NFPs: 'Don’t be afraid of AI'
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
We asked ChatGPT about some of the AI resources available to not-for-profits, and whether we should…
How NFPs can use artificial intelligence to slash the cost of hiring experts
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
Chris Dodds, Icon Agency’s managing director of growth and innovation, offers tips on how to…
Copywriting expert says NFPs can employ robots in their typing pool
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
Professional copywriter and marketer Steven Lewis, of agency Taleist, has honed his craft over a…
Leadership means making judgement calls
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
Staff leaders and board leaders have many important responsibilities, but perhaps none is as…
Cold comfort for the dying as government care funding terminated
Posted on 21 Nov 2023
Victorian government budget cuts threaten to deny Victorians dying in hospital access to spiritual…
People with Purpose: Connecting through karma
Posted on 16 Nov 2023
A desire to harness the power of human connection to make a positive difference in the world…
Report reveals a nation under pressure
Posted on 16 Nov 2023
The cost-of-living crisis, a lack of housing affordability and polarising national debates such as…
Money talks: How the gambling industry imposes untold misery on our nation
Posted on 15 Nov 2023
It’s time for the not-for-profit sector to step up and champion the need for gambling reform,…
Is the starvation cycle here to stay?
Posted on 15 Nov 2023
Cutting back on organisational infrastructure and capacity to ensure there is enough funding for…
Bridging the gap between insight and impact
Posted on 15 Nov 2023
A growing awareness of rising inequality in Australia has been identified as one of four key social…
Study finds risk and reward in AI powered jobs search
Posted on 14 Nov 2023
New research has raised fears the rise of artificial intelligence tools could have a negative…
Philanthropy report highlights sector concerns
Posted on 13 Nov 2023
Inflationary pressure, high staff turnover and cyber security threats are three of the top issues…
Report a technology wake-up call for NFP sector
Posted on 13 Nov 2023
A new survey has revealed the Australian not-for-profit sector is largely unprepared to meet the…
Our Community chief urges big shift in federal grants management
Posted on 10 Nov 2023
Our Community has urged the federal government to make a major “technological and cultural shift”…
People with Purpose: Agent of change
Posted on 10 Nov 2023
Social change campaign veteran Lea Corbett has left few stones unturned in a decades-long career…
Room with a view
Posted on 09 Nov 2023
Rules on Deductable Gift Recipient status for charities, cutting red tape and protecting the…
Not-for-profits embracing AI: report
Posted on 08 Nov 2023
One-in-four not-for-profit and charity organisations are already using artificial intelligence with…
More decoration or meaningful reform?
Posted on 07 Nov 2023
When it comes to government forging a stronger community sector, the time for asking questions is…
Celebrating Inclusion is now more important than ever
Posted on 06 Nov 2023
After months of so much division in our lives., it's time to take a moment to celebrate unity and…
Untapped billions could fuel greater social impact
Posted on 06 Nov 2023
The world’s problems are big and getting bigger, and it’s time that philanthropic funders followed…
ACNC clarifies position on PBI
Posted on 06 Nov 2023
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has clarified its position on Public…
Have your say on the future of the NFP sector
Posted on 06 Nov 2023
Interested parties are invited to map a better future for the not-for-profit and charity sector.
Charity workers lead the way for workplace giving
Posted on 02 Nov 2023
The Smith Family has become the first charity to win the “Best Payroll Giving” category at the…
People with Purpose: The big value in being small
Posted on 02 Nov 2023
Small Non-Profits Alliance CEO Bianca Crocker believes small charities can still make a big impact.
This charity means business
Posted on 02 Nov 2023
An innovative new microfinance program backed by Care Australia aims to support financially…
Post-pandemic volunteering recovery slow: report
Posted on 31 Oct 2023
After falling dramatically during the pandemic, volunteering rates are yet to fully recover to…
It's time to call it out - Australia is not an egalitarian society
Posted on 31 Oct 2023
Australia is an amazing country, but we have a lot of work to do if our claims to be an egalitarian…
People power key to piecing together the philanthropy puzzle
Posted on 30 Oct 2023
Personal connection to charitable causes, empathetic story telling and engaging with loved ones are…
Mission Australia’s journey to data maturity
Posted on 30 Oct 2023
Sophisticated inhouse data monitoring and evaluation is a must if purpose-led organisations are to…
Push to help struggling telco customers
Posted on 30 Oct 2023
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is reviewing protections that help keep…
Charity data breach telemarketer hangs up the phone
Posted on 30 Oct 2023
UPDATED: The charity telemarketer behind a massive data breach that affected more than 70 charities…
Art competition frames ageism in a different light
Posted on 30 Oct 2023
Take a tour of the winners of the Art Against Ageism public art competition, designed to break down…
Charity regulator issues advice on overseas aid amid a flood of crises
Posted on 26 Oct 2023
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has published new advice in relation…
Politicians and philanthropists converge on Canberra for giving summit
Posted on 24 Oct 2023
Charities Minister Andrew Leigh met with some of the nation’s top philanthropists in Canberra this…
People with Purpose: Home truths
Posted on 24 Oct 2023
St John’s Youth Services CEO Nicole Chaplin refuses to define struggling youth by their temporary…
"Our sector is people": Placing a premium on staff
Posted on 24 Oct 2023
In a speech delivered at the Benefolk Foundation's Reimagining Resilience breakfast in Melbourne,…
Not-for-profits are write on message
Posted on 24 Oct 2023
Open letters co-signed by dozens of charities and not-for-profits have become a powerful weapon to…
Education and truth – the keys to change?
Posted on 24 Oct 2023
The overwhelming rejection of the Yes campaign to give Indigenous Australians a Voice to Parliament…
Burnout fears for stressed out sector workers and volunteers
Posted on 23 Oct 2023
More than half of Australian not-for-profits and charities said they prioritise the needs of…
Charity regulator investigations increasingly complex: ACNC report
Posted on 23 Oct 2023
Almost a third of concerns raised with the charities regulator in the past financial year related…
New tech program hands NFPs the digital keys
Posted on 20 Oct 2023
A joint initiative between IT company Ingram Micro and Microsoft is designed to grant…
Bright ideas from bright young minds
Posted on 19 Oct 2023
Young people from rural communities across Australia have shared in almost $150,000 in grants…
Completing this survey may prove to be a solid investment
Posted on 18 Oct 2023
A first of its kind survey is designed to learn more about the for-purpose sectors attitude to…
Fundraising, legal skills in demand on NFP boards
Posted on 17 Oct 2023
A national survey of Australian not-for-profits shows the vast majority (91%) find recruiting new…
Our Community: a social enterprise before the term was coined
Posted on 17 Oct 2023
When Denis Moriarty founded Our Community – the parent company of the Institute of Community…
Victoria finally has a can-do attitude to recycling
Posted on 17 Oct 2023
Charities and community groups in Victoria are finally on the verge of joining the rest of the…
Endless inquiries taking us for a ride
Posted on 17 Oct 2023
It’s time to stop the inaction merry-go-round of government consultations, inquiries and reports…
Why not-for-profits should care about the rise of social enterprises
Posted on 17 Oct 2023
What exactly is a social enterprise, and is it as great as it sounds?
Opportunity from the ashes
Posted on 16 Oct 2023
The failed referendum is a political disaster, but opportunity exists for those brave and willing…
Aboriginal flags lowered as hopes for The Voice are silenced
Posted on 16 Oct 2023
Australia’s most vocal supporters of a First Nations Voice to Parliament will remain silent for a…
Advice from the social enterprise experts: Cathy Truong
Posted on 12 Oct 2023
GiveNow executive director Cathy Truong Before Cathy Truong joined Our Community as GiveNow’s…
Putting fractured families back together
Posted on 12 Oct 2023
Separating children from their families because they are at risk, even when done for valid reasons,…
Tackling risks to business resilience can be its own reward: report
Posted on 11 Oct 2023
Fear of cyber attack tops the list of risks that organisations are most concerned about, according…
Case study: Social enterprise emerges stronger after climate action ‘winter’
Posted on 11 Oct 2023
Impact Sustainability is a Melbourne-based social enterprise helping businesses measure their…
Ready or not: not-for-profits in start-up land
Posted on 11 Oct 2023
When I sat recently on a panel established to appoint a new CEO to a national not-for-profit…
Founder’s syndrome: why the board has a responsibility to rein in its hero
Posted on 11 Oct 2023
First comes the hero. An out-of-the-ordinary citizen sees a glaring abuse in our society, hits the…
Restoring trust is a must after divisive Voice debate
Posted on 11 Oct 2023
Charities and not-for-profits can play an important role in healing the fractures in society, says…
Voting Yes is our chance to show we have evolved as a nation since 1901
Posted on 10 Oct 2023
Voting Yes in the Voice referendum is our chance to show we have evolved as a nation in the 122…
From poverty to possibility: charities look for practical solutions to help low income earners
Posted on 10 Oct 2023
For purpose organisations are harnessing the power of research to help alleviate the plight of…
NFP sector in Canberra cyber security talks
Posted on 09 Oct 2023
Charity leaders have met with senior federal government cyber security officials to discuss the…
People with Purpose: Putting the bite on food insecurity
Posted on 06 Oct 2023
From improving animal welfare to shining a light on poverty and combatting food insecurity amid the…
Super funds accused of gambling with transparency over ethical investment portfolios
Posted on 05 Oct 2023
Responsible gambling advocates have called for greater consumer transparency around superannuation…
Data is the key to reducing inequality
Posted on 03 Oct 2023
The Australian Inequality Index is an indispensable online data analytics tool for NFPs trying to…
Elderly left behind in battle for disability care
Posted on 03 Oct 2023
Older Australians with disability are falling through the cracks when it comes to receiving the…
Sector adds its voice to referendum debate
Posted on 03 Oct 2023
With less than two weeks to before the referendum, we canvassed a cross section of sector…
Tough climate for debate
Posted on 02 Oct 2023
The Climate Council is celebrating a decade of advocating to save the planet.
People with purpose: Mum’s the word
Posted on 29 Sep 2023
Children's charity St Kilda Mum’s purpose is to rehome essential items such as cots, prams and…
Have your say on ACNC secrecy reform
Posted on 28 Sep 2023
Proposed reforms to allow the charity regulator to reveal more about its investigations are open…
The power of one: Windana and TaskForce merge to expand services
Posted on 28 Sep 2023
Two of Victoria’s longest running drug and alcohol services are set to merge into a single…
New research debunks the myth of the ‘lazy’ flexible worker
Posted on 28 Sep 2023
Pushback by home-based employees against bosses urging them to return to work has received a boost…
Mass charities data breach prompts warnings about outsourcing fundraising
Posted on 27 Sep 2023
Authorities have warned organisations to be wary of relying on third-party providers who have…
Working for purpose deserves its own reward
Posted on 26 Sep 2023
In an increasingly competitive employment environment, the charity and not-for-profit sector is…
New arrivals identify with Australia’s original peoples: report
Posted on 26 Sep 2023
Refugees new to Australia are keen to learn more about First Nations peoples’ history and culture…
Carlton defender awarded most valuable player for fundraising impact
Posted on 26 Sep 2023
Carlton may have fallen short in their fairytale bid for a Grand Final berth against archrivals…
People with purpose: Wash and learn
Posted on 23 Sep 2023
For Orange Sky volunteer Annmarie Lambert, ensuring homeless people have clean clothes via the free…
I am, you are, we are Australian
Posted on 22 Sep 2023
From the unifying force of Matildas mania to the increasingly rancorous debate around the Voice, a…
NFP legal eagles build a stronger nest for whistleblowers
Posted on 21 Sep 2023
The launch of Australia's first dedicated legal service for whistleblowers aims to support those…
Australia, it’s time – for a nationwide spring clean
Posted on 21 Sep 2023
The future is still here: it just isn’t evenly distributed, as futurist William Gibson said. And…
Anti-domestic-violence music program hits the right note among young boys
Posted on 21 Sep 2023
An innovative program that harnesses the power of music to combat violent attitudes in young boys…
Charities at risk of being left defenceless in cyber-crime battle
Posted on 20 Sep 2023
The federal government appears to be taking the risk of cyber-crime seriously – just not when it…
Gender Compass set’s right direction for women’s rights
Posted on 19 Sep 2023
An overwhelming majority of Australians believe women should have the same rights as men, but…
Submissions open for community sector consultation
Posted on 19 Sep 2023
The Albanese government has acted on its election promise to create a “stronger more diverse and…
When innovation means independence
Posted on 19 Sep 2023
When it comes to helping Australians who have conditions such as cerebral palsy to harness the…
Tackling the cost-of-living crisis one savings goal at a time
Posted on 19 Sep 2023
For 20 years the Brotherhood of St Laurence Saver Plus program has helped financially disadvantaged…
Bridging the generational digital divide
Posted on 15 Sep 2023
Community leaders play a critical role in helping seniors grapple with the world of digital…
Government moves to expand DGR eligibility
Posted on 14 Sep 2023
The Australian government has moved to expand eligibility for deductible gift recipient (DGR)…
Top treasurers win thousands for their organisations
Posted on 14 Sep 2023
The nation’s top community treasurers have boosted the bank balances of their organisations after…
How you can stop the Victorian Government making a membership muddle
Posted on 14 Sep 2023
The Victorian Government has flagged changes to the regulations governing most of the state’s…
We’re preparing women to lead local government
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
Scores of women from diverse backgrounds have graduated from the Institute of Community Directors’…
Multicultural service amplifies call for the Voice
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
One of Australia’s top providers of support for new migrants and refugees has used its diverse…
The cost of silence on your board
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
Stepping up into a role as chair of the board is a big deal.
Colour your boardroom decisions with more LGBTIQ+ awareness
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
One of Australia’s top LGBTIQ+ thinkers and advocates has told an ICDA webinar there’s much more…
It’s time to welcome neurodiversity. Here’s why.
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
If embracing diversity is important to your organisation, working out ways to accommodate…
Disability advocacy is a new part of Paris’s story
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
As a disabled woman, Paris McMullen has no representation in politics.
New research links workplace inclusion and flexibility to employee mental health
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
Feeling included by work colleagues and being employed in a flexible environment are two key…
Disability advocate says welcoming organisations are winners
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
Having a disability doesn't mean you haven't got a responsibility to contribute, says Mary…
What’s your diversity and inclusion strategy?
Posted on 13 Sep 2023
Australia’s not-for-profit peak for diversity and inclusion in the workplace has outlined several…
Price wise warrior back in the saddle
Posted on 12 Sep 2023
Amid an unprecedented cost of living crisis, the charity and NFP sector are expected to play an…
Leveraging the power of data to improve the lives of young Australians
Posted on 12 Sep 2023
Australia is considered the "lucky country" but we are witnessing a growing gap between children…
Time to bridge the gap between climate concern and climate action
Posted on 12 Sep 2023
Charities and not-for-profits have been at the heart of community resilience for decades. Putting…
People with purpose: for Alannah and Madeline
Posted on 12 Sep 2023
Walter Mikac established the Alannah & Madeline Foundation in the wake of the Port Arthur…
Wealthy Australians drive tax deductible donations to $4.4 billion: report
Posted on 11 Sep 2023
The top end of town has helped push charitable donations across the nation to $4.4 billion but just…
Got a problem in your community? Get angry – then take action!
Posted on 08 Sep 2023
Faced with a frustrating lack of action on pressing issues in her local community, veteran…
Where there's a will, there's a way to give
Posted on 06 Sep 2023
Legacy giving is a rapidly growing segment of the charitable landscape.
Charities in fear of cybercrime: report
Posted on 06 Sep 2023
One in five Australian charities and not-for-profits fears that a cyber security attack would…
Giving voice to facts about the Voice
Posted on 05 Sep 2023
A leading academic and Indigenous elder has urged Australians to focus on facts, not opinions, as…
Understanding whether your charity registration will be successful
Posted on 05 Sep 2023
Benefits such as income tax concessions have helped drive a surge in charity registration…
Charities veteran has great advice for good causes wanting to step up
Posted on 05 Sep 2023
As new chair of the recently revamped Australian Charities and not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)…
New government measuring tool takes years off people’s lives
Posted on 05 Sep 2023
Australia's first national wellbeing framework Measuring What Matters is a welcome development, but…
ACNC updates PBI advice
Posted on 04 Sep 2023
The charities regulator has updated its guidelines around the contentious definition of Public…
People with purpose: taming the technology tiger
Posted on 02 Sep 2023
After more than two decades helping not-for-profits navigate the rapidly changing world of digital…
Need help? Sign me up, say Castlemaine volunteers
Posted on 31 Aug 2023
With a proud tradition of community activism dating back to the 1970s, the historic central…
More charity donor leak details emerge as watchdog poised to launch probe
Posted on 30 Aug 2023
UPDATE: Several more charities have confirmed they are among the victims of a massive data breach…
Volunteers help give voice to the ‘Yes’ campaign
Posted on 30 Aug 2023
Anne Duggan can accept that Australians have different views on the merits of a First Nations Voice…
Reforms to government contracting? Once in a blue moon – but still not likely
Posted on 29 Aug 2023
Urgently needed reforms to government contracting have been buried in the too hard basket for too…
Actions, not words key to addressing gender inequality
Posted on 28 Aug 2023
The Victorian government has launched a comprehensive four year strategy containing 110 actions and…
Not-for-profits say there’s no time to wait to act on Intergenerational Report
Posted on 28 Aug 2023
The 2023 Intergenerational Report is an attempt at predicting what Australia will look like four…
Time to get on board for the Voice
Posted on 28 Aug 2023
Has your not-for-profit found it's voice on the Voice?
People with purpose: Laying out the welcome mat downunder
Posted on 25 Aug 2023
Migrating to Australia from Lebanon gave Settlement Services International’s Yamamah Agha a deep…
Arts key to community disaster recovery: report
Posted on 25 Aug 2023
A report has highlighted the importance of arts projects in aiding rural communities’ recovery when…
Musical message aims to connect all Australians before the vote on the Voice
Posted on 22 Aug 2023
The composer of an electrifying new musical composition that blends the ancient sounds of his…
The Australian Government is getting better at impact investing – just not at home
Posted on 22 Aug 2023
Stronger charities and not-for-profits able to better access the capital they need to improve their…
An insiders view of life on the outside
Posted on 21 Aug 2023
Former homeless man Garry Liakoureas had it all before falling on hard times and living in his car.…
After school care pilot study a class act
Posted on 21 Aug 2023
Children have played a key role in helping design a pilot program aimed at improving their own…
All care, plenty of responsibility
Posted on 21 Aug 2023
There are more than 2.65 million unpaid carers in Australia. Yet even though one in nine…
People with purpose: Surveying the sector to save the planet
Posted on 18 Aug 2023
After three decades working and volunteering with for-purpose organisations, Jaya Manchikanti is…
Sector experiencing growing pains on the road to data maturity: report
Posted on 17 Aug 2023
The overall level of data maturity among not-for-profit organisations has declined over the past…
Sanctuary’s survival is all about the connections
Posted on 17 Aug 2023
A not-for-profit managing a pristine wedge of publicly-owned bushland just 30km north of Sydney’s…
Golf club basks in solar savings
Posted on 17 Aug 2023
A Melbourne golf club has shown that not-for-profits can afford major green upgrades, without…
Action on climate change will help NFP leaders sleep at night
Posted on 16 Aug 2023
Climate change is our very own modern-day monster, but if we act together, it is possible we will…
Clean, green and increasingly part of the scene
Posted on 16 Aug 2023
We all know electric cars are a powerful weapon in the battle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Should I stay or should I go?
Posted on 16 Aug 2023
Stepping up into a role as chair of the board is a big deal.
Loans paid through council rates could pay for green upgrades for NFPs
Posted on 16 Aug 2023
The biggest challenge for many not-for-profits wanting to go green is finding finances or…
Answering ageism with art
Posted on 16 Aug 2023
The power of art is being harnessed to help break down the barrier of ageism and foster inclusivity.
Is ALP policy just decoration?
Posted on 15 Aug 2023
While the federal government is well disposed toward the charity and NFP sector, it’s time to start…
Matildas score win for girls’ participation in community sport
Posted on 15 Aug 2023
The Matildas’ round ball heroics have captured the imagination of junior female soccer players…
Measuring what matters: Digital ability is key to modern life for all Australians
Posted on 14 Aug 2023
The federal government's recently announced Measuring What Matters Framework, which covers digital…
Studying what makes student volunteers tick
Posted on 14 Aug 2023
A lack of flexibility around study and a negative bias against young people willing to help are key…
People with purpose: Home is where Deb’s heart is
Posted on 11 Aug 2023
Unison Housing community engagement place manager Deb Wilson studied economics at university but…
In a floods crisis, social media and volunteer power come to the rescue
Posted on 10 Aug 2023
The floods which devastated the NSW Northern Rivers region in 2021–22 were among a raft of extreme…
AI may be AOK: ACNC
Posted on 10 Aug 2023
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is investigating the use of…
We need a stronger public service. Here's why
Posted on 08 Aug 2023
A better Public Service is vital to improving the effectiveness of charities and NFPs, says David…
Taxing times for charities as philanthropy inquiry gets up steam
Posted on 08 Aug 2023
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status for charities has emerged as a hot topic in the ongoing…
To improve charitable work, share the lessons – and allow the right to fail
Posted on 07 Aug 2023
Our Community's Denis Moriarty suggests in this comment on the Productivity Commission review into…
Housing crisis hits home
Posted on 07 Aug 2023
It's time for a co-ordinated national plan to solve Australia's housing crisis, writes Emma…
Decades on from landmark report, not much has changed for vulnerable kids says homelessness hero
Posted on 07 Aug 2023
When it comes to standing up for the rights of homeless children, the fire still burns bright in…
Home truths about the ways we live – and why we need to move closer together
Posted on 07 Aug 2023
The origins of the nations housing crisis can be traced back to changes in Australians tolerance…
Bridging the digital divide for disadvantaged school kids
Posted on 05 Aug 2023
Not for profits have played a key role in implementing a $4.5 million federal government program…
People with purpose: This media pro can teach any not-for-profit leader how to stay on message
Posted on 04 Aug 2023
As a senior corporate affairs professional at national organisations ranging from Telstra and the…
ACNC up for the fight on contested charity status ruling
Posted on 03 Aug 2023
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has signalled it is ready for a…
Federal court stoush looms over charity status
Posted on 01 Aug 2023
Equality Australia has taken its fight with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission…
Putting the public good in public policy
Posted on 01 Aug 2023
When groups of highly paid people from the public service and major consultancy firms sit in…
Execs lead pay rises for not-for-profit staff
Posted on 31 Jul 2023
Not-for-profit CEOs are enjoying their highest pay bump for a decade according to a sector-wide…
Canberra announces more support for migrant and refugee services
Posted on 31 Jul 2023
Not-for-profit organisations helping refugees and migrants settle in Australia have welcomed a $2.6…
Minister revamps charities regulator board
Posted on 31 Jul 2023
Charities Minister Andrew Leigh has unveiled a new gender diverse and multicultural advisory board…
NFPs pile the pressure on government to do more for needy
Posted on 30 Jul 2023
Not-for-profit organisations are playing a crucial role in highlighting the effect of the…
Helping the community takes a lot more than just 'thoughts and prayers'
Posted on 30 Jul 2023
When traditional methods of helping the most vulnerable members of the community don’t seem to be…
People with purpose: Food for thought
Posted on 29 Jul 2023
Matt Tilley spent 25 years in the cut and thrust of breakfast radio before bringing his passion for…
Charities minister Andrew Leigh reveals details of transparency push
Posted on 26 Jul 2023
Charities Minister Andrew Leigh has expanded on the federal government’s plans to increase…
All this shouting has nothing to do with the Voice
Posted on 26 Jul 2023
Our Community's Denis Moriarty urges our leaders to be less cautious in backing the Voice.
Advocates step up to give Indigenous groups a Voice
Posted on 25 Jul 2023
As the campaigns for and against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament shift into a higher gear,…
What the Voice means to me
Posted on 25 Jul 2023
Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo reveals in this clear and heartfelt book extract why he's a…
From little things, big things grow: the inside story of the Voices for Indi movement
Posted on 25 Jul 2023
From its early days as a grassroots movement that helped launch the political career of independent…
From unity comes strength
Posted on 25 Jul 2023
It’s time not-for-profits stood united and refused to continue accepting scraps from the table of…
Report reveals almost 40 per cent of homeless are children or young people
Posted on 25 Jul 2023
A new report paints a harrowing picture of the plight of homeless youth on Australia’s streets.
Dissecting the sector: New measurement indicators released
Posted on 22 Jul 2023
From Australia's first national wellbeing framework and a cutting-edge online tool to measure…
Ten million searches for help and counting on Australia’s largest service directory
Posted on 21 Jul 2023
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, David Spriggs, CEO of technology focused social…
ACCC cracks down on green claims that won’t wash
Posted on 20 Jul 2023
The environment lobby has welcomed moves by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission…
Great question, thanks for asking: Q&A with Andrew Leigh
Posted on 19 Jul 2023
When the Assistant Minister for Charities, Andrew Leigh, asks a room full of people from across the…
Is it time for charities to mean business?
Posted on 18 Jul 2023
In his first weekly column for the Community Advocate, the CEO of the Community Council for…
Sector leaders welcome the Community Advocate
Posted on 18 Jul 2023
The sector welcomes our new weekly newsletter covering all the news, views and issues that matter…
Boost to volunteers helping elderly age with dignity
Posted on 18 Jul 2023
An innovative program designed to combat loneliness and isolation among elderly members of the…
ICDA helps local women leaders eye the next election
Posted on 16 Jul 2023
The Institute of Community Directors Australia is helping to cultivate the next generation of local…
Where's the bill for multinationals that benefitted from PwC’s breach?
Posted on 16 Jul 2023
There’s been a lot of fuss recently about accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers’ approach to tax…
Members Only
Cultivate the courage to develop strong ethics
Posted on 16 Jul 2023
Want to know how to cultivate good ethics in your organisation? Here's some expert guidance.
How to embed good ethics in your organisation
Posted on 16 Jul 2023
Agreeing to ICDA’s code of ethics is a requirement of membership. That’s deliberate. We’re proud to…
People with purpose: By George, there’s still work to be done
Posted on 14 Jul 2023
“Be inspired, have your say, get involved.”
Minister steps up moves to remove secrecy muzzle from ACNC
Posted on 11 Jul 2023
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to lifting secrecy provisions that prevent the…
A champion for people with disabilities
Posted on 06 Jul 2023
A few weeks ago I went to Rosemary Crossley’s memorial service in Melbourne’s St Paul’s cathedral.…
Canberra acts to simplify DGR
Posted on 29 Jun 2023
The federal government has streamlined the process for some charities wishing to apply for…
Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) invests $4.5 million in better governance and free news service for not-for-profits
Posted on 29 Jun 2023
Australia’s leading body for not-for-profit leaders is responding to the cost-of-living crisis by…
Charities report reveals covid-era volunteering drop could have been worse
Posted on 26 Jun 2023
Our Community thinker in residence Chris Borthwick delivers his take on the recently released…
Mining magnate Twiggy Forrest gives $5 billion boost to own charity
Posted on 22 Jun 2023
Australia’s richest man, Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, has given a $5 billion boost to Minderoo…
Australians more generous to the tune of $676 million: ACNC Report
Posted on 22 Jun 2023
The amount of money donated by Australians to charity each year has increased by $676 million to…
Charity shops: your bargain bin is somebody else’s lifeline
Posted on 20 Jun 2023
There's a groundswell of complaint that op shop prices have increased, are increasing, and ought to…
Youth organisation leads the way in NFP awards
Posted on 19 Jun 2023
Youth Projects, an organisation committed to breaking the cycle of disadvantage for young people,…
Community conference in a search for the soul of the nation
Posted on 15 Jun 2023
Thought provoking conversations sparked by big ideas defined the 2023 Communities in Control…
Only half of us donate despite, tax incentive : research
Posted on 15 Jun 2023
Despite high awareness among most Australians that they can claim charitable donations on tax, just…
Capturing a nation’s soul through art
Posted on 07 Jun 2023
The talents of graphic artist Debbie Wood helped bring to life the theme of the 2023 Communities in…
Charities Minister urges Australians to choose community over social media
Posted on 07 Jun 2023
Smartphone and social media addiction is relentlessly fraying the bonds of community, with…
Seven ways to make your organisation a digital dynamo
Posted on 03 Jun 2023
Not-for-profit organisations must digitally transform if they are to effectively meet the needs of…
New online tool empowers community organisations to tackle rising inequality
Posted on 01 Jun 2023
The level of inequality in Australia has increased markedly over the past seven years, according to…
Community conference embarks on search for the soul of the nation
Posted on 01 Jun 2023
Thought provoking conversations sparked by big ideas defined the 2023 Communities in Control…
Charities regulator flags top challenges for the sector
Posted on 17 May 2023
Reversing the slide in volunteer numbers, reducing red tape, addressing cyber security threats to…
Our Community’s experience of the four-day work week
Posted on 16 May 2023
Our Community was the only Australian firm to join the world's biggest trial of the four-day…
Not-for-profits hail federal budget as a good first step
Posted on 11 May 2023
Australian not-for-profits and charities are expected to do much of the heavy lifting when it comes…
Budget time is a good time to think about donations
Posted on 11 May 2023
Our Community’s giving platform, GiveNow, is preparing for its annual end-of-financial- year…
A 'tentatively good’ budget for not-for-profits and charities
Posted on 11 May 2023
This is a 3½ “lamingtons” out of five budget for our sector, using a measure we’ve invented to…
Better together: How the federal budget will build a stronger community
Posted on 11 May 2023
The very best moments in life are usually moments of togetherness. Whether it’s celebrating a…
Budget spends big on support but won’t make much difference to poverty
Posted on 10 May 2023
The 2023 federal budget has a strong emphasis on the cost-of-living, with a A$14.6 billion plan…
Not-for-profit news blog: Latest developments in the sector
Posted on 10 May 2023
Stay in touch with news, information, and politics affecting the community sector.
Want to know about grants in the pipeline from the 2023–24 federal budget? Sign up for alerts
Posted on 10 May 2023
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his second budget as treasurer in the Albanese…
Charities work better with light-touch regulation – even Hillsong
Posted on 12 Apr 2023
Speaking as a gay atheist, I’m normally able to bear with equanimity hearing people say nasty…
Budget fears for community groups
Posted on 12 Apr 2023
Australian community organisations are on tenterhooks amid fears of tightening state and federal…
Three ways to boost your data capability
Posted on 12 Apr 2023
Our Community’s data science team continues to look for better ways for not-for-profits to use…
Can a robot write your next funding application?
Posted on 12 Apr 2023
Not-for-profits and charities are leaping onto the ChatGPT bandwagon for a range of reasons, and…
If your membership changes, your organisation needs to listen
Posted on 12 Apr 2023
In kids’ sport, we often tell our smaller competitors that a short-term loss can be a long-term win…
NFP leaders, it's time to upgrade our chat
Posted on 16 Mar 2023
In a sign of the lightning speed of technology development, a newer and more powerful version of…
Social marketer challenges NFPs to ‘Ask me anything’
Posted on 15 Mar 2023
Social marketer Brett de Hoedt is a man of 1000 opinions, and he’s here to share his knowledge…
Australia needs an activist poet laureate – here’s why
Posted on 14 Mar 2023
So Australia is now to have a poet laureate.
Why not-for-profits should speak up for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament
Posted on 08 Mar 2023
First Nations advocate Thomas Mayo has urged not-for-profit leaders to encourage a “yes” vote for a…
Community sector leaders create a coalition for ‘Yes’ vote on Voice
Posted on 08 Mar 2023
Social sector organisations have joined forces to support an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Women’s leadership program ready to tip the balance on councils
Posted on 06 Mar 2023
The search is on for women ready to run in local council elections, with experts ready to equip…
Black sovereignty call highlights just how moderate the Voice proposal is
Posted on 23 Feb 2023
There’s a lot to be said for impractical demands, including Black sovereignty. If nothing else,…
Why Communities in Control is good for the soul
Posted on 07 Feb 2023
Australia’s biggest conference for community leaders, Communities in Control, has set a new…
Leaders’ scholarships a boost for women
Posted on 07 Feb 2023
Women leaders in Victoria have the chance to win one of 50 government-funded scholarships to gain…
How your not-for-profit can successfully navigate 2023
Posted on 01 Feb 2023
Australian not-for-profits must continue to work hard to adapt to a world facing endemic covid-19,…
Not-for-profits now more at home with tech tools, but cyber threats are rising
Posted on 14 Dec 2022
Not-for-profits are transforming the way they use technology in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic,…
Have a heart – altruism is more than a matter of logic
Posted on 14 Dec 2022
Every now and again the news presents us with a situation that seems to have combined every…
Our top 50 help sheets of 2022
Posted on 14 Dec 2022
Here are the 50 most-viewed help sheets of 2022.
Staying ahead of the game in 2023
Posted on 14 Dec 2022
Hasn’t this year been a wild ride? Not-for-profit leaders have had to contend with natural…
How to get more done with hybrid work
Posted on 13 Dec 2022
Hybrid work is now locked in as the standard for Australians, with a global study suggesting that…
NFP news blog: Latest developments in the sector
Posted on 13 Dec 2022
Stay in touch with news and information on the politics affecting the community sector.
NFP leaders welcome return to in-person learning
Posted on 13 Dec 2022
The Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) hosted 10 community directors and…
Most small NFPs won’t need director IDs amid reprieve on deadline
Posted on 01 Dec 2022
Most small not-for-profits don’t need to worry about the advent of director IDs, now required by…
Sector hails new charities chief
Posted on 23 Nov 2022
The community sector has reacted with glee to the appointment of a self-confessed not-for-profit…
Wages alert for not-for-profits: Avoid underpaying your staff
Posted on 15 Nov 2022
Not-for-profits have been urged to take more care with their payment processes after a string of…
Human error behind many NFP data breaches
Posted on 14 Nov 2022
Human error is a weak point for Australian charities and educators affected by data breaches,…
To make better decisions, follow the data
Posted on 14 Nov 2022
Measuring really matters, because knowing what effect you’ve had and how well your strategies have…
When sports sponsorship crosses the line
Posted on 14 Nov 2022
Cricket captain Pat Cummins pulls out of appearing in advertisements for Alinta, a Cricket…
Heritage town turns to the sun to bury use of fossil fuels
Posted on 14 Nov 2022
An historic cemetery with an eye to the future has ended its reliance on fossil fuels and embarked…
What's in the October 2022-23 federal budget for your organisation?
Posted on 02 Nov 2022
Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down a “bread and butter” budget last Tuesday, his first as treasurer…
Don’t let sexual harassment wreck your workplace
Posted on 19 Oct 2022
Sexual harassment can destroy organisations, wreck people’s careers, and trigger serious…
A diverse not-for-profit team will help you ride the bumps
Posted on 19 Oct 2022
Sport makes headlines off the field as much as on it. Questions concerning governance, decision…
Our obsession with privacy comes at a cost
Posted on 19 Oct 2022
The Optus leak has sprayed our names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses across the…
Push to streamline not-for-profit financial paperwork
Posted on 19 Oct 2022
Australian not-for-profits could boost their funding, reduce costs, and slash red tape by…
Aussie charity register clocks millions of views with our help
Posted on 19 Oct 2022
Our Community’s social sector classification system, CLASSIE, is now being used to power…
It’s not enough to care, the government should love us
Posted on 18 Oct 2022
No government can be much worse, or much better, than the people who voted it in, and anything I…
When your 'outcomes' are way off target
Posted on 04 Oct 2022
Just one in four “grantseeker outcomes” is actually an outcome, an analysis of data entered into…
Future of women’s leadership meets in Melbourne
Posted on 14 Sep 2022
More than 60 future political leaders have met for the first time in Melbourne as part of the…
To be a better leader, ask more questions and practise silence
Posted on 14 Sep 2022
Organisations – and the communities in which they operate – tend to be complicated, even messy,…
New site to help NFPs tackle climate change
Posted on 12 Sep 2022
A new website with practical tools for community leaders aims to help the $176 billion…
Meet Australia’s top community treasurers
Posted on 07 Sep 2022
Australia’s top community treasurers for 2022 have been revealed following a national search and…
Why is doing good mercilessly mocked?
Posted on 01 Sep 2022
The federal Opposition under Peter Dutton is still hostile to action on climate change.
Five ways the census is gold for your community group
Posted on 04 Aug 2022
Data is the buzz word of the decade: the information age is generating more of it than Tim…
Where’s the good in crypto anyway?
Posted on 26 Jul 2022
It’s easy to laugh at people who’ve been caught up in popular crazes, and more than that, it’s fun…
Great moments from the 2022 Communities in Control conference
Posted on 15 Jun 2022
The 2022 Communities in Control cemented its place as Australia’s most important conference for…
Why Our Community is moving to a four-day week
Posted on 07 Jun 2022
Our Community is moving to a four-day week as part of its progressive commitment to work-life…
Media lessons from the federal election
Posted on 11 May 2022
All politicians, whatever their stripe, are media tarts. Why? No media = no exposure. No exposure =…
Poli-Pix: Help put community groups in the picture this election and win!
Posted on 11 May 2022
Snap a photo of a 2022 federal election candidate visiting your charity or community group and you…
Sick of election malaise? Let's raise the flag of hope once more
Posted on 09 May 2022
There’s not much hope around today. Specifically, neither major party seems to want to own that…
Guide Dogs lose their way
Posted on 09 May 2022
Everybody (close enough) likes dogs, and everybody wants to help blind people, so a charity that…
With Communities in Control, change is in your hands
Posted on 03 May 2022
Australia’s most important conference for community leaders has laid down the challenge to…
New Victorian program urges women to embrace local leadership
Posted on 02 May 2022
A Victorian Government-funded program delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia…
If no-one pays for overheads, not-for-profits are going under
Posted on 04 Apr 2022
A new study provides the ammunition that not-for-profits need to argue for funding for core costs…
Australian not-for-profits are tops for talent, but there’s more work to do
Posted on 04 Apr 2022
Australian not-for-profits are world leaders when it comes to attracting top talent, but most…
Diploma helping build healthy organisations in the top end
Posted on 04 Apr 2022
Le Smith was an accomplished leader in Darwin before she took on ICDA’s Diploma of Governance in…
Women, luck is not the reason for your achievements
Posted on 04 Apr 2022
Author, journalist, commentator and feminist Jamila Rizvi says women must decide whether they want…
‘Be seen to go green’
Posted on 04 Apr 2022
A Queensland theatre group with a flair for the dramatic and responding to its critics has been…
Community groups are the sleeping giant that can transform our nation
Posted on 04 Apr 2022
I’ve spent the past 20 years working with what’s known as the third sector, and it’s a term that’s…
Not-for-profits must be bold to navigate covid-19 world: ICDA graduate
Posted on 25 Feb 2022
If there’s one thing that not-for-profits should learn, according to Community Vision CEO Michelle…
When apologising for mistakes, do it right!
Posted on 25 Feb 2022
Social marketer Brett de Hoedt is a man of 1000 opinions, and he’s here to share his knowledge…
Turning a blind eye ends up costing us all
Posted on 25 Feb 2022
I work with the not-for-profit sector, and I know that the difference between that lot and the…
What next for not-for-profits? Experts pick the trends leaders must know
Posted on 25 Feb 2022
Australian not-for-profits have the chance to reshape their sector in the wake of covid-19…
Voters must insist on electoral courage
Posted on 01 Feb 2022
There are a lot of genuinely terrifying bogies out there: COVID, climate change, rivalry with…
Not-for-profits must grasp pandemic opportunity
Posted on 03 Jan 2022
Leadership expert, Leading Edge author and Emergent CEO Holly Ransom says not-for-profits have a…
National borders offer no protection against global problems
Posted on 29 Dec 2021
In his latest column, Our Community's Denis Moriarty argues community responsiblity is the key to…
Community groups deserve a tax break
Posted on 17 Dec 2021
Australia needs a reboot. We need to rebalance the weight we allocate in our lives and our…
Social impact measurement superstars light the way to better outcomes
Posted on 13 Dec 2021
Australia’s best social impact measurement practitioners have been recognised for showing the way…
Not-for-profits more plugged into tech after covid-19 shocks
Posted on 27 Nov 2021
Not-for-profits are accelerating their digital transformation in the wake of the pandemic, but…
Pulse poll results: 40% of NFP workers tempted by the 'Great Resignation'
Posted on 27 Nov 2021
Not-for-profit employers should brace for a huge movement of workers in the next year, according to…
Grant rorts weaken our communities
Posted on 18 Nov 2021
Government abuse of grantmaking schemes seems to be attaining a solidly bipartisan level of concern…
Family violence champion confident of steering group's growth
Posted on 10 Nov 2021
Paula Westhead is among scores of recent graduates of ICDA’s governance diploma, which is tailored…
Women, here's your chance to step up as not-for-profit leaders
Posted on 29 Oct 2021
The Institute of Community Directors is doing its bit to boost women in leadership, rolling out a…
Four easy things to do now to boost your not-for-profit’s cybersecurity
Posted on 27 Oct 2021
Data breaches are among the biggest risks facing not-for-profits, but according to one cyber…
Unsocial media: Facebook comments could spell trouble for not-for-profits
Posted on 27 Oct 2021
Not-for-profits are increasingly relying on social media to get their message out, but a recent…
Seven ways to adapt to covid-19, from the nation's best NFP thinkers
Posted on 27 Oct 2021
As organisations begin to adapt to a world with covid-19, here's some advice from the Community…
Case study: How a “cause day” can help reinvigorate your NFP
Posted on 27 Oct 2021
“Cause days’’ have long been a key part of NFP marketing – think Daffodil Day (since 1986) and Red…
Free webinars: How not-for-profits can beef up their balance sheets
Posted on 26 Oct 2021
Julienne Price, executive manager, Schools, Not-for-Profits and Women in Focus, Commonwealth Bank…
How to perfect your policies with the Policy Bank
Posted on 22 Oct 2021
It’s no surprise that the Institute of Community Directors’ Policy Bank is one of its most visited…
If you believe you’ve got rights, you’re wrong
Posted on 04 Oct 2021
Australians get most of their ideas about politics from television, and most of their television…
We know it’s time to rethink the business of charity, but here’s what’s holding us back
Posted on 30 Sep 2021
Leading not-for-profit thinker Paul Ronalds, CEO of Save the Children Australia, says many…
How to communicate with clout
Posted on 15 Sep 2021
As the head of a small organisation with "big ambitions", former ABC broadcaster and accomplished…
Red tape is choking the community sector just when we need it most
Posted on 06 Sep 2021
When you hear the word ‘charity’, what’s your first thought? I’d suggest that ‘charity’, like…
Workplace vaccinations a prickly business
Posted on 25 Aug 2021
The urgency to get Australians vaccinated continues to grow and begs the question for…
Looking for your piece of the funding pie?
Posted on 24 Aug 2021
Pressure on not-for-profit organisations comes from all quarters: shifting government’s priorities,…
‘Recovery’ reveals path out of pandemic
Posted on 23 Aug 2021
Policymaker, public servant, and author Andrew Wear is sick of problems and is hell-bent on finding…
Diploma powering a new generation of leaders like Yasmine Poole
Posted on 18 Aug 2021
Yasmin Poole, 22, is part of the next generation of not-for-profit leaders studying with the…
Top treasurers awarded for hard work and financial wizardry
Posted on 12 Aug 2021
Australia’s best community treasurers come from a range of not-for-profits and every corner of the…
Proposed code on charity donations is an unnatural disaster
Posted on 28 Jul 2021
Every now and then in Australia something goes badly wrong for a not-for-profit in full view of the…
Why purpose is the competitive edge for not-for-profits
Posted on 28 Jul 2021
With three decades of experience across business and the not-for-profit sector in Australia,…
What do not-for-profits, zombies and werewolves have in common?
Posted on 06 Jul 2021
When people phone Our Community asking about how to sort out glitches in their meetings, my usual…
Pandemic pressure grows on volunteers, demand, fundraising but there's hope on the horizon
Posted on 23 Jun 2021
Not-for-profits in Australia are coming under intense pressure a year on from the start of the…
Don’t reform, but transform, sector leader urges community directors
Posted on 14 Jun 2021
Not-for-profit sector doyen Robert Fitzgerald has issued a rallying cry to Australian board members…
Community directors highlight the big issues at national conference
Posted on 14 Jun 2021
Not-for-profit board members want greater recognition of their sector and the unique challenges…
Can you force your workers to get vaccinated?
Posted on 14 Jun 2021
As not-for-profits seek to resume COVID-normal service, many organisations will want their staff…
Communities in Control conference a spark to ‘Think Bigger: Fix Everything’
Posted on 30 May 2021
Australia’s most progressive leaders, thinkers and community agitators have gathered in their…
Who says we can’t change the world?
Posted on 25 May 2021
One of the things about a global upheaval is that afterwards things that were once taken for…
Distance no barrier for online diploma students
Posted on 20 Apr 2021
Broome student Eloise Page has become the first person to complete ICDA’s governance diploma course…
Proposed charity power grab isn’t very charitable
Posted on 14 Apr 2021
In his latest commentary, Our Community's Denis Moriarty takes aim at the Federal Government's move…
Data collaboration: Knowledge is power and it’s time to share
Posted on 15 Mar 2021
Not-for-profit data experts Seer Data & Analytics say there are good reasons why for-purpose…
New laws boost portable long service for community sector workers
Posted on 05 Mar 2021
Portable leave entitlements for community sector workers, which allow employees to accumulate long…
Young scholarship winner says ICDA's governance diploma has helped him 'step up'
Posted on 05 Mar 2021
The first winner of a new round of scholarships plans to use the networking opportunities of the…
Legal experts join the ‘Our Community family’
Posted on 05 Mar 2021
Our Community has forged a new legal partnership with leading law firm Maddocks to cater for the…
Our Community digs into diversity
Posted on 05 Mar 2021
The Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) is quizzing sector members about their…
Get back on track with the 2021 Festival of Community Directors
Posted on 02 Mar 2021
The Institute of Community Directors Australia are hosting the third Festival of Community…
A quick and sometimes messy guide to apologising
Posted on 12 Feb 2021
Even not-for-profits make mistakes. In this help sheet, media professional Brett de Hoedt, aka the…
New guide to help others boost their financial health
Posted on 12 Feb 2021
Taking control of your finances is never easy at the best of times and has become even harder for…
Live longer. Join a community group.
Posted on 27 Jan 2021
In his latest column, Our Community group managing director Denis Moriarty reflects on the…
Members Only
COVID-19 proves value of cash reserves held for that ‘rainy day’
Posted on 09 Dec 2020
The Institute of Community Directors has always maintained that having diverse funding sources is…
Top treasurers reveal their tips for surviving COVID shocks
Posted on 09 Dec 2020
Australia’s best community treasurers say riding out the tough times requires the kind of creative…
COVID-19 shows why Communities in Control is more important than ever
Posted on 26 Nov 2020
Against the odds, the 2020 Communities in Control conference was one of the liveliest ever. An…
Accolades to Innovation Lab in not-for-profit tech awards
Posted on 11 Nov 2020
Our Community’s Innovation Lab has taken out top honours in its category in the Connecting Up…
With communities in control, Australia is better off
Posted on 02 Nov 2020
In his latest column, Our Community group managing director Denis Moriarty reflects on the…
NFPs face tech struggle during pandemic
Posted on 29 Oct 2020
As an Aus-NZ study revealed 70% of NFPs struggled with work-from-home tech, here's a few tips to…
Why this free privacy policy is essential protection for your organisation
Posted on 08 Oct 2020
The latest addition to our Policy Bank is a fully revised privacy policy template.
Politicians must act now to fix fundraising red tape
Posted on 06 Oct 2020
In his latest commentary, Our Community's Denis Moriarty reveals why recent suggest fundraising…
Social impact measurement awards now open – with extra impact
Posted on 17 Sep 2020
How do you measure the social impact of anything when the nation has been thrown into disarray by…
Our Community tells govt to "get off its @r$e" and fix fundraising
Posted on 11 Sep 2020
Social enterprise Our Community (“where not-for-profits go for help”) has described recommendations…
$5000 goes a long way for clever treasurers
Posted on 08 Sep 2020
One of Australia’s best community treasurers, Mark Floresta, is upbeat about the possibilities for…
Who is holding up the groups that support our community?
Posted on 07 Sep 2020
Everybody approves of community. I certainly do. Everyone agrees we need more of it. There’s a…
World-first ‘Donation Dollar’ is a huge charity boost
Posted on 02 Sep 2020
The world’s first $1 coin designed to spark greater generosity is set to transform donations in…
Charities must tell their stories better: regulator
Posted on 01 Sep 2020
Amid criticism over bushfire fundraising and spending, charities need to "tell their story" better,…
Why putting people first provides the best results
Posted on 26 Aug 2020
Taking a human-centred approach to decision-making could be the key to harnessing your…
Community connectors could help win the battle against COVID-19
Posted on 20 Aug 2020
Want to get in touch with hard-to-reach groups? Help could be at hand with a special group of…
How to build hope for a post-COVID world: join up
Posted on 03 Aug 2020
For nearly all Australians, everything about COVID-19 seems to be precisely calculated to fall into…
Top not-for-profit leader training now available anywhere, any time
Posted on 16 Jun 2020
Australia’s best qualification for not-for-profit leaders just got better. As workers amp up their…
OPINION: If more debt means fewer suicides, let’s spend big
Posted on 01 Jun 2020
As the high tide of the coronavirus crisis recedes over the coming months (touch wood), we know…
Navigating JobKeeper a painful maze for charities
Posted on 28 May 2020
The Australian government has, quite rightly, provided assistance to Australian businesses to get…
Judgement on liability shows horse sense
Posted on 21 May 2020
As part of the Institute of Community Directors’ commitment to encouraging good governance, this…
Generosity Register will help tackle COVID 'threat to 230,000 groups'
Posted on 15 May 2020
This article is just one of the ways the Our Community Group is working to support not-for-profits…
How COVID-19 might be a positive for our mental health
Posted on 12 May 2020
If COVID-19 can be thanked for anything, it might be for creating an unprecedented focus on mental…
COVID-19 case study: How one organisation is harnessing the disruption
Posted on 11 May 2020
Think Impact director Suzi Young explains why the coronavirus crisis is an opportunity for the…
For country towns to thrive, some assembly is required
Posted on 08 May 2020
Let’s cut to the chase. Rural Australia is in a downward spiral which has no natural stopping…
Virus shows us social change can happen, now
Posted on 06 Apr 2020
We go through life, all of us, thinking that the world around us is stable, fixed and reliable. We…
Save Our Sector: Our pledge to not-for-profits
Posted on 20 Mar 2020
The Our Community Group is working to support not-for-profits through the COVID-19 crisis, as part…
Coronavirus and the community sector
Posted on 20 Mar 2020
This article is just one of the ways the Our Community Group is working to support not-for-profits…
Upcoming on the Festival of Community Directors calendar
Posted on 05 Mar 2020
The Festival of Community Directors is well underway for season 2020, and over the next two months…
Lena lands LGBTIQ+ scholarship to study good governance
Posted on 24 Feb 2020
The first LGBTIQ+ winner of a $1000 part-scholarship to complete a Diploma of Governance wants to…
Cracker 2020 calendar for directors built on community insights
Posted on 19 Feb 2020
The 2020 Festival of Community Directors – a year-long celebration of community governance – has…
Pray this never happens to your organisation
Posted on 13 Feb 2020
Confucianism and Taoism are among the world’s great religious and philosophical traditions, and…
ICDA fast-tracks scholarships for community leaders
Posted on 13 Feb 2020
Hundreds of not-for-profit leaders will be given the chance to win a part-scholarship to complete…
Free whistleblowing policy contributes ‘millions’ in value
Posted on 12 Feb 2020
An updated free whistleblower policy released by ICDA for use by not-for-profits has been a popular…
Sapphire miners association digs itself into trouble
Posted on 12 Feb 2020
As part of the Institute of Community Directors’ commitment to encouraging good governance, this…
Why not-for-profits are Australia’s sleeping giant
Posted on 10 Feb 2020
Not-for-profits are yet to truly embrace the power they wield, former World Vision chief Tim…
Free boost for cemetery trusts
Posted on 10 Feb 2020
If you’re a Victorian cemetery trust member, make sure you’ve completed the free governance and…
Good governance crucial for arts community
Posted on 28 Jan 2020
A detailed study of arts governance published as a joint venture between the Australia Council for…
Changes to whistleblower laws: what not-for-profits need to know
Posted on 11 Dec 2019
There's never been a better time for all not-for-profits to review their whistleblower policies and…
Not-for-profit ‘roadmap’ tackles sector’s big issues
Posted on 11 Dec 2019
A landmark study of Australian not-for-profit governance has created the clearest picture yet of an…
Data visualisation: ICDA Not-for-Profit Governance Roadmap 2020
Posted on 04 Dec 2019
In December 2019, the Institute of Community Directors Australia launched a major study into…
Festival of Community Directors to return bigger and better in 2020
Posted on 18 Nov 2019
As the door closes on the 2019 Festival of Community Directors, the Institute of Community…
Communities in Control Conference
Posted on 01 Nov 2019
The talent that will illuminate Australia's most important community conference has been locked in,…
Second Virtual Disability Conference
Posted on 20 Oct 2019
The Festival of Community Directors is dedicated to providing the best tips, tools and training to…
Study proves not-for-profit leaders need a better welcome
Posted on 07 Oct 2019
Nearly half of Australia's not-for-profits are giving their directors - including treasurers,…
Study takes pulse of not-for-profits’ financial health
Posted on 16 Sep 2019
Australia’s not-for-profits are almost evenly split between thriving organisations and battlers…
Study spotlights not-for-profit crime threat
Posted on 02 Sep 2019
Thousands of crimes targeting Australia's not-for-profits are going unreported, a detailed study…
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Old-school not-for-profits risk losing trust
Posted on 15 Aug 2019
Schools governance is in the spotlight after a very public spat in Queensland, experts suggest that…
Spotlight report highlights issues for board and CEO performance
Posted on 22 Jul 2019
ICDA executive director Patrick Moriarty’s first response to ICDA's Spotlight Report Assessing…
Study puts the spotlight on the role of the chair
Posted on 20 Jun 2019
Nearly all chairs enjoy their role as a board member, understand their responsibilities as board…
Conference reveals how directors can measure their impact better
Posted on 14 Jun 2019
Community directors know better than most that not-for-profits must do as much as they can with the…
Come up to the lab: The neuroscientist helping you do data better
Posted on 11 Jun 2019
Our Community's Innovation Lab has flicked the switch to better understanding by not-for-profits.
Not-for-profits missing the data train
Posted on 03 Jun 2019
More than one in 10 not-for-profits doesn’t bother tracking its success, while one in four say they…
New accounting rules for not-for-profits
Posted on 10 Feb 2019
Not-for-profits will need to revise their approach to assessing income following the introduction…
Fundraising and the power of suggestion
Posted on 10 Feb 2019
Our Community researchers have proven how important it is for fundraisers to tailor their suggested…
What to expect (at work) when you're expecting
Posted on 10 Feb 2019
Pregnant women have the right to nap at work when they need to, under a new pregnancy and parenting…
How NFPs can keep calm under pressure
Posted on 10 Feb 2019
Directors under pressure to deliver funds, good leadership Why a net return at the end of the…
Brace for impact of elections, inquiries, board quotas
Posted on 10 Feb 2019
Elections a time to take stock Elections and likely changes in governments will mean inevitable…
Free analytics tool released to not-for-profit organisations
Posted on 15 Nov 2018
Not-for-profit directors wanting to know more about the performance of their organisations should…
When it's just not cricket: Culture review's global impact can't be ignored by directors
Posted on 15 Nov 2018
The explosive review that picked over the toxic culture linked to Australian cricket's shameful…
Tune in to the power of community
Posted on 15 Nov 2018
If anyone doubted the power of community to connect us, keep us healthier, and battle disadvantage,…
Plugging into 'the connectors' - a powerful resource for your community organisation
Posted on 15 Nov 2018
Connectors are the precious people who know many others and get things done. They have an uncanny…
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Inside Greening Australia's radical cultural transformation
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Looking at change? Consider this no-holds-barred Greening Australia presentation charting the…
Our Community's culture? Read the Manifesto
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Our Community founder and group managing director Denis Moriarty AM says Our Community's…
A new era for community directors: a navigator’s guide
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Community directors face an unprecedented burden of increased regulation, decreased funding and low…
Board members aiming higher after Community Directors Conference
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Community directors are better equipped to crack the code when it comes to regulation, data,…
Culture is key to healthy community organisations
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Words, like people, have their good times and their bad times. This is a very bad year for the word…
Good culture starts at the board table
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
ICDA's executive director and head trainer Patrick Moriarty says the strife striking down…
Wealthy exec jailed for charity theft
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
In June 2019, top executive Michael Clark from the Adelaide-based charity SYC was sentenced to…
Need support? Here's how to take your pitch from mediocre to memorable
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
A convincing pitch is a powerful tool you can use to unlock opportunities, form relationships with…
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Why not-for-profits must do data better
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Dr Lucy Bernholz, a world-recognised thinker on digital and data trends, and a specialist in…
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Why investing in your NFP workforce is critical to your culture
Posted on 15 Oct 2018
Knowing that an organisation needs a good culture to thrive is one thing, but how do you get there?
Seeing the big picture could be crucial to your survival
Posted on 10 Oct 2018
Culture will be the key for all organisations In the wake of royal commissions into child abuse and…
Doing More with More: Putting Shared Leadership into Practice
Posted on 16 Jul 2018
This article comes from Nonprofit Quarterly.
Ethics as a karate chop in the face of wrong
Posted on 16 Jul 2018
US education pioneer Dr Mary Gentile has seen first-hand some of the most devastating ethical…
The art of leadership at the Australia Council
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
Are leaders born, made, or something in between? It's a tricky question, and one that's been…
What makes a good community leader?
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
Each year, Our Community hosts the Communities in Control conference for 1000 representatives of…
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If ethics is so obvious, why is it so hard?
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
Most not-for-profit leaders aim to set - and expect the people in their organisations to practise -…
Vision and courage, the twin foundations of leadership
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
For all of the talk about the importance of leadership, relatively few resources are applied to its…
The problem with good leadership
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
Alexander conquered the known world in his twenties. Caesar conquered Gaul. Frederick the Great won…
Why diversity on boards makes sense
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
The concept of diversity applies to many factors besides gender, but gender diversity should be the…
Cyber attack exposes sex health clients, highlights threats to not-for-profits
Posted on 16 Apr 2018
A cyber attack on Family Planning NSW, which exposed the personal information of up to 8000 clients…
Decision less taxing on directors' decisions
Posted on 15 Jan 2018
Community directors can breathe easier following a significant tax ruling brokered by Our…
Get your head into the clouds
Posted on 30 Nov 2017
The cloud can keep you connected with your members and stakeholders.
NFPs face big digital decisions
Posted on 30 Nov 2017
Not-for-profits aren't investing enough on IT to keep pace with other sectors, an industry study…
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How to build your digital capability
Posted on 30 Nov 2017
Not-for-profits are being outspent on digital technology almost three-to-one by corporates, an…
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Recruit the ICT skills you really need
Posted on 30 Nov 2017
Not-for-profit recruiting expert Richard Green backs the Our Community Innovation Lab's finding…
Research shows why your board lacks ICT nous
Posted on 29 Nov 2017
You might assume that the demand for ICT skills on not-for-profit boards and executive teams would…
Great advice: Top five financial questions for not-for-profits
Posted on 17 Oct 2017
Knowing how to assess an organisation's finances is something that many people without accounting…
The art of survival for regional gallery
Posted on 17 Oct 2017
Our Community's thinker-in-residence, Chris Borthwick, casts a close eye over the financial…
Why being a perfect chair is for losers
Posted on 14 Sep 2017
A good not-for-profit board chair, if you consult the relevant literature, combines the leadership…
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Where are the women?
Posted on 23 Dec 2013
A quick look at building better board equality on not-for-profit boards.
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Tipping the scales - getting the size and shape of your board right
Posted on 23 Jun 2013
Over the past couple of months a continuing query in our governance training sessions has been…
Youth on board: Attracting and supporting young people on boards
Posted on 29 Mar 2012
A long standing challenge for groups in the sector is to attract young people to their board, and…
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Drive for diversity: A blueprint for board diversity
Posted on 29 Dec 2010
According to the Denver Foundation in the United States, full board diversity cannot be realised…
