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
Constraint, permission and leadership: the ingredients of innovation
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
As a teenager, I attended summer camp for seven years, first spending two weeks at a time camping…
Why most NFPs aren’t ready to innovate
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
Not-for-profits are full of people with great ideas, but that doesn’t mean they are set up for…
Beyond Eureka: What innovation teaches us
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
Charities Minister Andrew Leigh – a former professor of economics at the Australian National…
NFPs must think differently to win at election time
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
Election campaigns create a rare opportunity for not-for-profits, community groups and campaigners…
Why most new not-for-profit projects stall in the first 90 days
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
Most new purpose-driven projects falter in the early phase because there’s no one assigned to the…
Innovation: an optional extra or a governance go-to?
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
Innovation isn't just a buzzword, and it isn't just about technology. It’s a necessary part of…
A clamp on immigration will strangle our best ideas
Posted on 13 Aug 2026
One of the advantages of managing the building where my organisation, Our Community, has its…
Foster children deserve a brighter future, and that takes commitment
Posted on 12 Aug 2026
Our Community's founder and leader, Denis Moriarty, says fostering a child was his worst nightmare,…
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…
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…