Emotional intelligence: reflections for board directors
Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial for leaders because it enhances their ability to connect…
Leadership and ethics
Help sheets
Ten tips for leading in a polarised world
1. Embrace diversity and inclusion
Ten tips for leading organisational growth
1. Develop a clear vision and strategy
Ten tips for leading cultural change in an organisation
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – usually attributed to Peter Drucker, Austrian-American…
How to increase productivity in less time
1. Check your meeting habits
How to step away from managing everything and step up to governing
It may seem counterintuitive, but many community leaders wanting to get more done need to start…
Old-fashioned practices that NFPs should bin
How often do you hear the phrase “It’s the way we’ve always done things here” at your organisation?
Help sheet: With demand rising for not-for-profit services, something has to give
Not-for-profits in Australia face growing demands as a “trilogy of terror” sparked by the pandemic…
Mentoring
Articles
Community organisations are vulnerable to corruption: watchdog
Posted on 10 Apr 2024
A detailed study into the corruption risks faced by government-funded community organisations has…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
Policies
Affirmative Action Policy
Affirmative Action means taking positive steps, by means of systematic management programs, to…
Board Confidentiality Policy
Board confidentiality is important. It encourages open and frank discussion in meetings, helps…
Code of Ethics
The ethical climate of an organisation is an essential element in establishing its credibility and…
Dispute Resolution Policy
An effective Board is a harmonious Board, but often, disputes or grievances may arise. This policy…
Environmental Sustainability Policy
The earth’s environment is under severe stress from uncontrolled human activity, threatening the…
Ethical Fundraising Policy
Ensuring that all fundraising activities are carried out in an ethical manner is very important.…