📰 Not-for-profit News: January 2025

What’s in the January 2025 Update?

Free launch webinar: Disaster Legal Toolkit for not-for-profits

Law and policy updates: New overview for not-for-profit organisations released by the ATO

Resources:

Updated resources: Understanding intellectual property laws, and social media
Help us reinstate our funding in NSW

Upcoming webinars:

Board Inductions for Not-for-profits, 6 February, 12:45 – 2pm
Understanding your Not-for-profit's Constitution, 27 February, 12:45 - 2pm
Member Disputes and Conflict on the Committee, 13 March, 12:45 - 2pm

Training: Get on top of governance - start 2025 on the right foot

News in our sector: Not-for-Profit Financial Reporting Framework, Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering in Queensland, upcoming deadline for lodging your Annual Information Statement, and ACNC publishes outcome of investigation into Hillsong Church charities

Free launch webinar: Disaster Legal Toolkit for not-for-profits

We have launched our Disaster Legal Toolkit, containing guidance to help not-for-profit organisations navigate disaster-related legal questions and issues.

During the disaster lifecycle, existing legal problems can worsen, and new legal questions emerge. Our resources are here to help your organisation: identify legal issues, understand the information and legislation you need to know to manage these issues, and take action to prevent or resolve them.

Join us for a free webinar to celebrate the launch of the resources where we’ll cover:

insights from the development of the resources
examples of common legal issues that can arise
how your organisation can improve governance and disaster risk management practices, and ensure a safe workplace that protects your employees and volunteers

This webinar is free of charge and proudly hosted by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation.

Register now

Law and policy updates

New overview for not-for-profit organisations released by the ATO

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released a new overview of the self-review return process for not-for-profit organisations. It steps organisations through updating Australian Business Number (ABN) registration details and setting up access to online services to lodge their NFP self-review return.

Non-charitable not-for-profits with an active ABN are required to lodge an annual NFP self-review return to confirm their eligibility to income tax exemption. The first return is for the 2023-24 income year and is due by 31 March 2025.

Resources

Updated resources

Understanding intellectual property laws

Fact sheet on defamation laws

Social media

Fact sheet on social media and your organisation

Update on Not-for-profit Law's funding in NSW

Since the NSW Government stopped funding our work, we had no choice but to cut off our NSW advice services and remove our tailored legal resources for NSW-based community organisations from our website. Since then, tens of thousands of organisations that rely on us have had to go without critical legal and governance support.

We’re grateful to have secured short-term support from another funder which means we can get our NSW-specific resources back on our website for the time being. However, this support is time limited, and it’s not enough to reopen our advice service in NSW. Email a letter now to the NSW Minister for Families and Communities in support of reinstating our funding.

Each month in this email, we’ll let you know which resources we’ve put back on our website.

Upcoming webinars

Board Inductions for Not-for-profits

📅 Tuesday, 11 February
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEDT)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

Induction is an important step in ensuring your board members understand their role and responsibilities.

In our popular Board Inductions webinar, we'll help answer common questions and give you tips on how to improve your induction process. You will take with you a checklist of what to include in an induction to set your Board up for success.

After attending our webinar, you'll be better placed to understand:

Why is board induction important, and who is responsible for it?
What should happen before the appointment of a new board member?
What should be covered in a board induction?
Checklists for what to think about at each step

Register now

Understanding your Not-for-profit's Constitution

📅 Tuesday, 27 February
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEDT)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

Your not-for-profit’s constitution (or rules) is the key guiding document to ensure good governance. It’s also a legal requirement that an organisation and its members follow these rules.

In this webinar, we’ll guide you through the importance of your governing document and your legal obligations relating to it.

After attending our webinar, you'll be better placed to understand:

What is the legal status of the constitution
What are the key topics addressed in a not-for-profit’s constitution
Practical tips for understanding and changing your constitution
Where to find more resources to help in the future

Register now

Member Disputes and Conflict on the Committee

📅 Tuesday, 13 March
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEDT)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

In this FREE webinar, you’ll gain an understanding of the legal framework that governs the management of member disputes and conflict on the committee, as well as strategies to help prevent conflicts arising in the first place.

After attending our webinar, you'll be better placed to understand:

Common disputes involving members and board members
Why these disputes often are so damaging
Processes available to help resolve a dispute
How your organisation's rules or constitution can help
Where to go if you need more help to resolve a dispute
How you can prevent disputes arising in the first place

Register now

Customised training

Has your organisation’s board had the training they need to build skills and ensure good governance? Whether you’re a new board member or you’ve been doing it for a while, there’s always more to learn.

Our training is delivered by a lawyer and tailored to your organisation. You’ll complete our module Governing a Not-for-profit Organisation with a deeper understanding of your board’s collective responsibilities and what you can do to improve the way your not-for-profit is governed.

Here’s what participants have to say:

"Well paced, great content, engagingly presented with a high level of interactivity and participation by audience. Excellent session, great presenter."
“This training was well presented in a logical sequence with very good handouts.”
“Now I’m more aware of my board role and my duties to our organisation.” “ Improved my confidence”
“There’s nothing I would change about this training. It was excellent.”

Get in touch with our training team so we can help you find the right training for your organisation.

News in our sector

Not-for-Profit Financial Reporting Framework

The Australian Accounting Standards Board are developing simplified accounting requirements for smaller not-for-profit private sector entities. They are inviting feedback from the public on two drafts. The consultation period ends on 28 February 2025.

Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering in Queensland

The Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering aims to increase awareness and understanding of volunteering and to produce recommendations to drive up participation rates and improve opportunities for the volunteering workforce. Submissions are due 28 February 2025, and the Inquiry is due to report by 18 September 2025. Find out more.

Upcoming deadline for lodging your Annual Information Statement

If your charity has a 30 June financial year, the Annual Information statement is due to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission by 31 January 2025. Log in to the ACNC Charity Portal to start work on your charity’s 2024 Annual Information Statement.

ACNC publishes outcome of investigation into Hillsong Church charities

In March 2023, the ACNC confirmed it was investigating the Hillsong Church. The ACNC has now published details of an enforceable undertaking from Hillsong College Limited.