Charities: Managing Governance, Insurance, Financial and Reputational Risk – 4 program on demand webinar series

Icebergs Ahead: The Focus for NFP and Charity Boards in Challenging Times

During times of change and pressure, organisations look to their Board for guidance and leadership. This session will examine what a prudent Board should be doing to steer its organisation through stormy waters resulting from the pandemic, royal commission findings, increasing regulation and the economic downturn, including:

• Is the Board comprised of the right people to make the right decisions?
• Board duties and responsibilities under the microscope: Australian Security Investment Commission v Mitchell (No 2) [2020] FCA 1098
• Purpose as the guiding light: ensuring alignment between organisational objectives and operations
• Does the board know what it needs to know? Financial and other reporting obligations
• Conducting self -assessment and reviews of structure, activities and performance
• Bringing in the experts
• Putting risk management on the front footing, including new industrial manslaughter laws
• Essential items for every Board meeting agenda

How Secure is Your Safety Net? Risk and Insurance in a NFP and Charity Environment

NFPs and charities are increasingly operating in non-traditional and commercial environments with associated exposure to new types of risk. Whether running sporting events, fundraising events, café’s, education and training or camps, the process for assessing risks and developing associated strategies is similar. This session provides a practical guide to effective risk management planning and implementation, including:

• The role of Board and management in embedding a risk aware culture
• Steps for risk framework development - assessment, risk register and risk policies
• How to determine roles and responsibility for risk management within the organisation
• Incorporating risk as a key performance indicator in position descriptions
• Identifying vulnerability and implementing effective controls for risk minimisation
• Make your broker your best friend: determining insurance needs, cost evaluation and regular reviews
• Disaster management and business recovery plans: are you prepared?
• Practical case studies

Keeping Afloat in Challenging Economic Circumstances: A Financial Guide for NFPs and Charities

Even before the pandemic, the economy was going through a difficult period. Not for Profits and charities relying on government funding, grants and donations face a challenging period to maintain and manage their financial position. This session will examine a number of financial issues that organisations need to keep in mind during difficult economic times, including:

• ACNC governance standards for financial management - are you compliant?
• How to protect and maintain financial sustainability through:
  • financial record keeping and reporting
  • regular financial position reviews
  • financial delegations
  • fraud controls
• Board leadership and involvement including:
  • regular reporting and financial scrutiny
  • financial sub-committee
  • financial literacy training and skills
• Options for improving financial position while maintaining charitable status
• What does insolvency look like? Immediate first steps to take
• Making the decision to bring the organisation to end:
  • winding up options
  • asset management
  • member engagement

Safeguarding the Keys to the Kingdom: Protecting Reputation and Brand on Social Media

The viability and value of charities and NFPs lies very much in their public standing and good reputation, and in the face of increasing competition for both government and private support, organisations need to effectively manage the promotion and protection of their standing in the community. Moving to an on-line presence has added significant risk to brand management, and this session will explore the steps your organisation should be taking to manage the common risks of social media presence, including:

• The decision to use social media - what the Board and senior management need to know and plan for

• Controlling your social media presence - delegating authority and management within the organisation
• Signing up - what to look for in contracts and arrangements with social media providers:
  • control over your page
  • ability to monitor and block unwanted activity and comments
  • prohibited conduct and other restrictive terms and conditions
• What should be in your social media policy?
  • managing “fake news” or customer posts and other reputational harms - what actions are available?
• Protecting intellectual property - trademarks and copyright basics explained
• Managing privacy and confidentiality online

Ready for the Knock on the Door? Guidance for Responding to Regulator Investigations

The ACNC has received significant funding from the Government to undertake increased field-based compliance and enforcement activity. This session will explore the expected focus of the ACNC and what NFPs and Charities can do to prepare for a knock on the door from the regulator:

• ACNC focus and target areas of compliance
• What powers does the ACNC have to request information or investigate?
• Advice for responding to a regulator’s enquiries:
  • Board involvement
  • timelines and deadlines
  • who should manage the response?
• Key steps in preparing for an examination or investigation
• What information and documentation should be provided to the regulator?
• When to call in the lawyers
• Possible outcomes of the investigation
• Implications of entering into a compliance agreement
• Next steps if facing de-registration
• Negotiating with the regulator
• Anticipating a call: focussing on governance and record keeping