It is a good practice to read through and review your Constitution annually to ensure it remains fit for purpose. And if there are changes required, it is important that these aren’t put off because the process seems intimidating or too difficult. Updating a constitution to stay in line with an organisation's evolution, is critical to governance an…

There are many reasons why an NFP would look to merge or be acquired but like everything, a merger or acquisition is more likely to succeed if you have a plan or strategy to achieve it rather than just hoping. In assessing the viability of a merger or acquisition it’s important to obtain the ‘why’ and the ‘common motivation’ for all in this process…

Are you following Best Practice in governance? This term is utilised in many board discussions and is often taken as the ‘way’ of doing things. However best practice isn’t always “best” for your Board, especially when looking through the eyes of a high performing Board. In this video I’ll explain why, from the perspective of a high performing Board…

What does it mean when you are a Treasurer of an Association moving to a Company Limited by Guarantee and then becoming a Director on the Board, and what affect does the role change bring? Before we start thinking about the size and sophistication of your organisation, it’s important to see things from an operational perspective when defining roles…

In a business or work context, the phrase “better to be lucky than good” is one that I have come to associate with. On face value the phrase seems a little comical, but there is a meaning to this and one that I personally align to. In doing this it requires an exploration of what being lucky means versus being good, in the context of business and p…

What is an “in-camera” session at an NFP Board meeting? In today’s podcast I discuss the; what, who, why, when, and where… of the in-camera session. When executed well, everyone stands to gain from the in-camera session, from the Board, the executive, through to the way the organisation creates an impact. Does your NFP Board meeting include in-came…

As a not-for-profit, are you clear on who your customers and beneficiaries are? In my experience, those that are clear on this perform better overall in terms of sustaining their organisation and delivering long-term impact. In this video we’ll discuss customers and beneficiaries from both a for-profit and non-profit viewpoint. It’s useful to refle…

When I think about the NFPs we work with, I would like to see that their impact endures. That the changes they made, the lives they touched is remember and continues to have ripples long after the NFP ceases to exist. Being in a NFP is about playing to win, while sustainability is more about playing not to lose. So, how do we make your NFP enduring…

Thinking about becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee? In Australia, when an incorporated association is looking to make the transition, each state is slightly different. With that in mind, I’ll talk through the principles involved the overall process, before touching on a few issues for you to consider. Changing to a company limited by guarantee,…

Is Financial Governance something unique to the NFP space? No, but it is needed, and it’s very obvious when an NFP doesn’t have it in place. Financial reports left to organically grow, can turn into lot of reports. This is something that is very painful to deal with at a Board level, so how do we turn these excessive reports into good governance? I…

As the CEO of an NFP, telling your story in meaningful and consistent ways is vital to delivering on your purpose. In this video I discuss storytelling through the language of accounting, and why the CEO, Board and stakeholders should speak it regularly to tell their story. Creating a meaningful story with the numbers on the page may be challenging…

Are there too many not-for-profits? Is this causing the NFP sector to be ineffective? Would consolidation improve efficiency in the NFP space? These questions frequently play into conversations. However, let’s not forget, in the NFP space our DNA is all about finding solutions to problems not yet solved. In this video I discuss the consequences of …

How does an independent Company Secretary contribute to a high-functioning Board? Why would a Board consider recruiting an independent CoSec when they can source this role in-house? In today’s video we consider this specialised role from the truly independent perspective, as there are many benefits to an outsourced solution. A governance profession…

As a Board Chair, are there skills you bring to the role other than being able to run a Board meeting? Would not having to run the Board meeting allow you to add more value in the role of Chair? With NFPs being all about innovation, it’s only natural that they would be drawn to solutions that allow the Chair and leadership team more time to what th…

What makes a good Chair? I have worked with many Boards, and I have worked with good and great Chairs. However, never have I come across a Chair able to do the litany of tasks required of a Chair. In exploring the role and responsibilities of the Chair, which is always a much bigger role than it appears on paper, what is the common thread amongst C…

There are several reasons why a Board collapses, and it is never fun when it does. When the majority of the Board decides the situation is untenable and a lot of knowledge and history walks out the door, how do you recover? How do you rebuild? In this podcast I discuss options for consideration, specifically in the NFP space. Bringing back stabilit…

Who is accountable when Boards aren’t performing well? Technically it is the members, but for those working in the NFP space this is not always an effective relationship and can be very nuanced. In this video I discuss situations that affect Board accountability and highlight why it’s important to be proactive. It’s not only when Boards are perform…

We are often asked if we help with NFP Boards that are performing poorly, and this often leads to some interesting conversations. The most common being what defines a poor performing Board and how you accurately judge poor performance. In my experience, looking into poor Board performance can be a very subjective exercise. Here I discuss some insig…

The history of director independence and how we have dealt with conflicts in the past, can assist and guide us in the future. How do you determine director independence in your NFP, and should you? There are unique considerations for NFPs, because they are set up by people who have a personal interest from the start, for example they been affected …

Have you considered the Federated Model structure for your NFP? This week we continue the topic of Federated Models and discuss the benefits and opportunities. I also deliver thoughts on when and why, NFPs don't merge. While federated models can be a joy for some and frustrating for others, it is important to obtain clarity on your structure requir…

You can create a powerful decision making structure with a dynamic of three. This week we continue on the topic of NFPs and structure, and focus on the dynamics of the Chair, CEO and Secretary. Regardless of whether you outsource a secretary or hire internally, there are some important factors to consider when it comes to setting up an optimal NFP …

As an NFP with a federated model structure, there are a couple of things to be aware of to ensure success and maintain a meaningful impact. What are federated models and how are they efficient? While federated models can be a joy for some and frustrating for others, it is important to effectively maintain structure to ensure success. If there is fr…

This week we continue with the topic of NFP structures. What are the implications of having an NFP subsidiary? What should you be aware of when thinking of having a subsidiary? In this video I discuss subsidiary structures, how they can occur, what are the implications and the importance of paying attention to the element of ‘control’. Connect with…

The NDIS has impacted the not-for-profit space in many ways. One of the challenges for organisations that have fully embraced the NDIS, is the allocation of funding. In this podcast I discuss how you might tackle this strategically, by suggesting a clear separation of your purpose and your allocation of funding. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit…

The NDIS has ushered in a rapid growth of the not-for-profit space. There are strategies and capabilities to consider when turnover grows from 1 to 10 million, or 10 to 50 million, within two or three years. In this podcast I discuss how organisations, boards, and CEOs might evolve to successfully maintain their rapid growth. I also include the cha…

Not-for-profit CEO transition is topic that has come up a lot in the past 12 months. Most people agree there are two undeniable truths regarding the CEO, they are the most pivotal and key personnel in the organisation, and one day the CEO will inevitably leave the organisation. Has your board identified a process for when your CEO moves on? In this…

One of the new requirements for ACNC is increased disclosure - related party transactions. While compliance is important, in this podcast I focus on understanding related party transactions from a governance perspective specifically why and how to implement these changes. Related party transactions are similar in principle to managing conflict of i…

This is the fourth in the series on governance and culture. Culture is important and it’s something the board need to be aware of and actively managing. In this podcast I discuss how understanding governance tools, can help you affect the culture of the organisation. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have an…

This is the third in the series on governance and culture. Goals have to incorporate: vision, expectations, accountability and responsibility. Watch my video to see how these lead to the alignment of goals and how this helps you manage culture. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the…

Legacy is something you leave behind. Will you leave behind something of value from your time on a not-for-profit board? How can you protect your legacy? Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the process of starting up an NFP, or interested in becoming an NFP CoSec, feel free to contac…

What is board culture? You can't see it, you can’t hold it - how can you effect it or change it? We’ll discuss the motivation of directors, director roles, board charter and how they can affect an organisation’s culture. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the process of starting up …

Board charter is also known as Board terms of reference. Board charters should reference the constitution, director appointment, Board meeting details, Board papers, sub-committees, diversity/lived experience on the Board and more. Remember, governance is always evolving, it’s ok to change things along the way. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit …

Would you not-for-profit benefit from some independent research? We’ll talk about the pros and cons of in-house, collaboration and outsourcing. Research helps with advocacy and provides an independent viewpoint to lean on when applying for funding. It confirms the value your organisation is adding to society. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit ou…

Yes! It can provide a great deal of opportunity for both the CEO and the not-for-profit organisation. It can help with strategic thinking, teamwork, collaboration, networking and growth opportunities. There are also a few risks, which I will discuss. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are …

How do you move from being an operationally focussed Board towards being a strategically focussed Board? You need to have strategic long-term goals and visions. If you want the board to be strategic, you need to have CEO/exec team who can focus on operations. Think about whether the Board papers are operational or strategic, because that’s what the…

As a Company Secretary, it takes me around 15-20 hours to prepare for a Board meeting. Some people are shocked at this amount of time, but it’s worth it when it helps the Board run more efficiently and effectively. What’s involved in preparing for a Board meeting: setting the agenda, working out the flow of the meeting, organising board papers, loo…

There is bias everywhere. If you can be aware of bias, you can do something about it. At a Board level, there should be equal input in decisions etc, but that is not always the case. Authority bias or power bias, is when Board members defer to someone (perhaps the Chair), instead of putting their own ideas forward. Listen to this episode to find ou…

CEOs do not need to placate the Board, rather they need to know the Board’s direction, and navigate the organisation on that path. CEOs need to be curious and ask questions of the board. How is the CEO moving towards their strategic objectives and moving the organisation in the right direction? CEOs need to articulate challenges to the Board clearl…

The attendees of the board meeting are usually the directors and CEO. Who else should attend your board meeting? Sometimes inviting more of the exec team to the board meeting can feed information back to the other staff better than if it comes only from the CEO. It also allows the board and the operations team to understand each other better. But b…

Governance is a toolkit. A skills matrix is an inventory of the skills possessed by your board of directors. It comes in handy when you are recruiting, and helps achieve your organisation’s goals. Running an NFP in Australia - you should use a skills matrix. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questio…

Are you an NDIS provider who struggles with the NDIS payment system in Australia? In this episode we look at how, often times, it’s not actually a systems issue within the business but more likely a few simple tweaks you need to make in order to streamline the process a little better. For any NDIS providers, if you’re wanting to discuss any of this…

Did you know that there are often business opportunities during crisis? We just need to train our eyes to be able to see them! Fortunately in this video, I’m taking the brain work out of it for you and helping you shift perspective to see how this time can be fruitful for you. As a National Disability Insurance Scheme provider you have your own set…

If you need help understanding how to invoice clients in the NDIS system in Australia then this episode is for you! In this episode I walk you through the steps you need to know in order to successfully invoice your clients in the most efficient way possible. For any NDIS providers, if you’re wanting to discuss any of this at a deeper level or you …

Do you need clarity around capturing data for NDIS Australia customers? In this episode I dive deeper into the NDIS providers’ responsibility around data capture and how that affects employees and ultimately the organisation. The National Disability Insurance Scheme is here to help families get the help THEY need in difficult times and I’m here to …

Now that we’ve looked at invoicing, the customer journey and capturing data you are probably wanted to know how to get your systems sorted out. If you’re a non profit in the NDIS space in Australia then listen to this to see how to pull together your systems to effectively manage NDIS customers. If you’re an NDIS provider, and wanting to discuss an…

If you are an NDIS provider, I created this episode to help you understand the client journey better so you can make better decisions around your processes. In this episode I delve into client journey mapping for NDIS Australia providers to help improve overall customer experience. For any NDIS providers, if you’re wanting to discuss any of this at…

What should you do if your NFP in Australia finds itself with too much spare cash? You need some cash on hand for working capital and your business continuity plan, but what do you do if you have more than that? You could invest the spare cash, grow your funds until you’re ready to spend them according to you purpose. Connect with me on LinkedIn or…

The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) registers and assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations to run properly—according to their own rules and cultures—and ensure they don't break the law. ORIC provides training and charges no fees. Think of it like ASIC, but it’s specifically for indigenous corporations in …

Looking to start your not-for-profit director career in Australia? Make sure you’re there for the right reasons! What can you bring to the organisation? Watch the video to find out my other tips. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the process of starting up an NFP, or interested in …

Not-for-profits and charities are some of the most innovative in The Australian economy. They are out there solving problems that government and corporate have not found solutions for yet, usually with a small budget. What charities are often NOT doing, is investing in their own capabilities. What we’re trying to do at Right Source, is help NFPs ac…