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 difficu...

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 o...

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 th...

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...

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.  

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 Bo...

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 vide...

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 pl...

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...

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 ver...

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 spe...

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 t...

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 speciali...

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 ...

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 res...

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?&...

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 aff...

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 performan...

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 f...

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 f...

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 secret...

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...

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 ...

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 discu...

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...