We’ve matched the ‘Not-for-profit Sector Development Blueprint’ to our resources
The Institute of Community Directors Australia has a mission to help not-for-profit leaders achieve their goals in the short, medium and long term.
With that in mind, we’ve cast a forensic look over the sector-developed Not-for-profit Sector Development Blueprint, which is aimed at guiding the sector over those three horizons, and we’ve matched its key recommendations with our extensive library of resources.
The Blueprint was first flagged in 2022 as a plan to “boost the sector’s capacity to support and reconnect our communities”.
Guided by the Blueprint Expert Reference Group, composed of members of leading not-for-profits and supported by the Department of Social Services, the Blueprint was released in November 2024 after widespread consultation. At the time of publication (April 2025), the government had not yet responded.
The Blueprint – which lays out a 10-year plan – contains 18 recommendations organised into three main “pillars”, which seek to address the external operating and regulatory environment, the employed and volunteer workforce, and the challenge of technological and climate change. The three pillars are:
- an enabling operational and regulatory environment for the not-for-profit sector to thrive
- a people-led and purpose-driven not‑for‑profit sector
- an adaptive and dynamic forward-focused not-for-profit sector.
Blueprint initiatives your organisation can act on now
While the government has made little or no headway on implementing recommendations from the Blueprint, we’ve highlighted a series of recommendations that organisations can address now.
In each category you’ll find resources to help you get started.
Pillar 1: External operating and regulatory environment
Initiative 4a Promote benefits of funding the full costs of NFP sector activities, sustainable procurement and pricing to governments, philanthropy, and the NFP sector.
Resource
Pillar 2: People-led and purpose-driven sector
Initiative 7a Develop agreed sector standards for shared decision-making and services co-design.
Resource
Conducting a community needs assessment
Initiative 7b Collate and promote best-practice examples of shared decision-making and services co-design within and involving NFP sector organisations.
Resource
Social impact practitioners prove why they are the best
Initiative 8a Establish co-governance and shared decision-making protocols of the Blueprint with First Nations NFPs and communities.
Resources
The power of culture, community, country
First Nations cultural awareness training
Initiative 9b Invest in emerging leaders in multicultural community organisations and across the wider NFP sector.
Resources
Cultural diversity governance diploma scholarship
Initiative 10b Ensure disability inclusion and representation forms part of strategy and design related to digital transformation in the NFP sector.
Resources
Webinar: Welcome to neurodiversity
Why understanding neurodiversity will help your organisation
Ten questions every director should ask about neurodiversity
Ten questions every director should ask about diversity
Pillar 2: Workforce (including volunteers) and purpose
Initiative 11a Advocate for practices across sectors that support workforce development and secure and decent work in the NFP sector.
Resources
Keeping your best talent is essential
Initiative 12a Invest in volunteer leadership and management.
Resources
Help sheet: How to show your volunteers you love them
About the NFP leadership certificate
Pillar 3: Adaptive and dynamic sector
Initiative 13a Invest in and promote effective supports that enable NFPs to achieve a minimum level of data, cyber security and digital capability and data-informed management decisions.
Resources
Cyber security self-assessment tool for community organisations
Ten questions directors should ask about cybersecurity
Initiative 13c Measure the NFP sector’s digital capability and review and prioritise sector resourcing needs in relation to changing digital and data capability demands over the life of the Blueprint.
Resource
Privacy rules for community organisations
Initiative 14a Explore potential for developing agreed sector standards for outcomes measurement.
Resources
Ten questions directors should ask about outcomes measurement
More resources: webinars, policies, articles and help sheets on outcomes measurement
Initiative 14b Invest in refining and supporting take up of impact measurement tools and frameworks in use by NFP sector organisations.
Resources
How to measure outcomes in your not-for-profit
Template: Monitoring and evaluation framework
Initiative 17: Establish a social innovation diffusion program, utilising existing networks to enhance knowledge sharing, coordination and resources to all not-for-profit organisations.
Resource
Government-only Blueprint initiatives
These Pillar 1 initiatives from the Blueprint require direct government action, such as legislative changes, policy decisions, or funding allocations. Sector advocacy is likely to be required to spur government into action on these initiatives. We’ve listed them here for your information.
General guidance on advocacy
The experts at the Institute of Community Directors Australia suggest sector organisations will need to bring to bear cross-sector advocacy and partnerships and conflict resolution skills to influence government on the initiatives listed above.
Resources
Advocating in relation to legislation and regulation