Articles

What is the difference between a charity and not for profit organisation?

In Australia, there is a clear difference between a charity and not for profit organisation. To be legally recognised as a charity, an organisation must meet a strict set of requirements and be endorsed by both the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and the Australian Taxation Office. Despite its liberal colloquial use, the term “charity” actually has a very specific meaning in Australian law. Only some types of organisations are recognised as charities and qualify for charitable tax exemption status.

Cyber Security 1.0.1 For Boards

The traditional concept of IT Disaster Recovery (DR), i.e. the solution where an organisation sets up an alternate site where servers, applications and data can be used in case the primary data centre burns down, floods, loses power or otherwise fails, needs to be re-thought completely due to two major developments. The first one is Cloud computing, resulting in the IT DR responsibility seemingly being transferred to the shoulders of an external supplier.

Integrated Leadership – Solving complex problems with the power of many

How to solve complex problems with integrated leadership teams that harness the power of many. The world is an increasingly complex place to navigate, especially in the stakeholder heavy NFP space. But that is your job. Our leaders are busier than they have ever been. The problems they face require people with diverse skill sets and perspectives to work together to solve. Talent alone is not enough. There is a lot of noise (especially in the NFP sector) about ‘diversity’.

What is an Unincorporated Association?

Although an unincorporated association does not have the same economic significance as larger non-profit organisations, its great number and presence in many communities across the country attest to the robust nature of choosing it as a legal structure. In a 2021 report, Volunteering Australia found that there are nearly 6 million people who volunteer through an organisation every year. The most popular activities for volunteering are sports and physical recreation, religious organisations, and education and training.

What is Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status?

Deductible gift recipient (DGR) status carries with it certain legal responsibilities and only certain types of entities qualify. As with organisations registered as a charity, a deductible gift recipient or DGR receives a special legal status that can only be assigned and endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). These entities must conduct their activities under specific categories. What is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status? Entities that are endorsed as a deductible gift recipient (DGR) can receive income tax deductible donations.

The Intersection of Risk, Culture and Crisis and at What Price

Much is said and written about personal, brand and company reputations, but when all is said and done reputation rests on three pillars: context, stakeholders, and culture. Context because what happens around a business from a government, social, environment and economic perspective dictates the level of risk associated with your operations and your business decisions. What was right or acceptable 20 years ago may not be right today. What is right according to the letter of the law may not be perceived as right by the society in which you operate.

What is an Indigenous Corporation?

When establishing a non-profit organisation specialising in providing programs or services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait groups, founding an Indigenous Corporation is a great option. An Indigenous Corporation is a specific type of organisational legal structure that can be used in Australia. Indigenous Corporations are overseen by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), an independent statutory office appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

What is an Incorporated Association?

An incorporated association is one of several formal legal structures available to non-profit organisations in Australia. Incorporating your association can offer your members certain rights and legal benefits. The main benefit of incorporating as an association is that your members will have limited liability status and will be protected legally if you fail to meet your financial obligations or are sued for negligence. When establishing a non-profit organisation, founders can choose from a large range of legal formats.

Cooperatives in Australia: What are they?

Co-operatives in Australia come in several different forms. The co-op organisational structure may be the right one for you if your goal is to produce goods and services in an isolated community where the middleman is making it difficult for businesses to thrive or people to access affordable services. Co-ops in Australia may vary since each has its own unique purpose and membership. An organisation’s legal structure will determine the types of activities you are legally able to carry out and which government bodies it is required to seek registration from or report to.

Constitutions – The Foundations of Good Governance

Constitutions are crucial documents. At a national level, they describe how a country is governed. In democracies Prime Ministers and Presidents are elected to office following the processes described in a nation’s constitution. The Australian parliament states that the “national constitution is a set of rules for governing a country”. Similarly, constitutions lie at the heart of associations and charities and provide their rules. Significantly, they define who the members are and the process by which the organisation is run and elects its leadership.