100 Online Tools for Non-Profits

Wild Apricot has provided a great list of applications to help you out with a variety of tasks from project tracking and collaboration to donor and membership management, and from building your non-profit website to tracking its effectiveness. Some fall into more than one category of purpose, but most are web-based software-as-a-service tools, so you won’t have the hassle of troubleshooting, maintaining and updating software and servers.

It is well worth a look through the list to find a tool to suit your organisation and budget to improve the life of the volunteer committee.

Well done guys. Check it out at Wild Apricot.

Canberra Business Twitters US$1000 for Breast Cancer

When two businesses provide a funding boost to a volunteer organisation it is worth spruiking about. Well done Kayako for running the competition.

Canberra-based software company Admin Bandit has won US$1,000 on Twitter for Bosom Buddies, a local volunteer group that supports women living with breast cancer.

Director Nerida Gill secured the donation on the popular social networking site by entering a competition run by Kayako, an international provider of online help desk software, which invited entrants to nominate a charity to receive a funding boost.

“A number of friends and family have suffered from breast cancer, so this cause is close to my heart,” Gill says. “Bosom Buddies provides vital aftercare for women who have undergone painful treatment for a disease that is frightening and often makes them question who they are as women.”

As a provider of volunteer treasurer software in community groups and a user of Kayako, Gill is also pleased to have won funding for an organisation staffed by volunteers. “Everyone at Bosom Buddies gives their time and energy simply because they care,” she says. “This kind of selfless giving is the backbone of our communities.”

Bosom Buddies is delighted with the unexpected windfall: “Nerida’s donation is like a rainbow delivering a pot of gold,” says Marilyn Brookes, chair of the organisation’s breast awareness education subcommittee. “We raise all our own funds, which is time-consuming and hard work.”

Brookes says the gift will be used to provide a range of support for those experiencing breast cancer, as well as their families and supporters, including: education materials, 24-hour telephone support, a one-on-one buddy system, hospital visits, and practical surgery aftercare in the form of soft prostheses and cotton shoulder bags to hold post-surgery tubes.

Kayako Chief Operating Officer Ryan M Lederman is also pleased to assist such a strong initiative. “We’re glad Admin Bandit chose to donate their US$1,000 to Bosom Buddies,” he says. “Breast cancer is a very important problem facing the world today.”

Lederman adds that Twitter was the perfect forum for hosting the competition. “Social networking is hot right now,” he says. “We believe in building relationships that last a lifetime and we want people to know they’re our highest priority. Twitter is one of the best ways we know to do that.”

Have you got critics?

Sadly, I was reminded again this week that many times volunteer treasurers can be so poorly treated by their committees that they swear they'll never volunteer again. Usually this happens when the treasurer is attempting to bring an improved level of accountability to an organisation and those around them don't take too kindly to it. So their tactics are to intimidate and undermine the treasurer with criticism. Zoe Routh from Inner Compass has a helpful perspective on dealing with the situation. Here is her advice below.

"It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I once got an email that accused me of undermining the professionalism of the team I was working with at the time...

What the...?

Moi? Unprofessional? A liability? How could this be?

I cherish my professionalism and integrity! And this, out of the blue, after a behind-my-back discussion about events on the project.

I was sorely wounded.

And like any wounded animal I was surly, cranky, and out for blood.

How dare he! How could she? Why did they? Why me?

I wanted to bring out the ice pick and plunge it in to their backstabbing miserable little necks!

But decorum prevailed and I took a deep breath and picked up the phone instead.

The conversation that followed did not reveal much about my alleged behaviour except that it had been completely misinterpreted. Where I had asked to contribute to a discussion this had been seen as 'interfering'; where I had forwarded an email, it had been read as me 'taking over'. Ridiculous.

It was all petty, misconstrued, and out of line.

So what do you do when you've got critics?
Here's the process I went through in dealing with this scenario:

1. Rant, vent, and rage - carefully - in the presence of supportive of friends. You don't want to blast someone or tear up the office. But you'll likely feel some upset by someone being mean to you. It's ok - feel hurt, pout, cry if you need to, and then get on with it.

2. Find out the story from their perspective. This part sucks and is hard to do because you'll just want to interrupt with 'but...' and justify your behaviour. Just suck it up - they're entitled to their opinion - let them get it out. They'll feel better, even if you feel like you've got to prise an axe from your spine.

If you're not feeling like throttling them (good for you!), then you can address the issues then and there.

If you do feel like shouting at them until their eardrums pop, it's best to defer to a meeting you arrange for a day or so later. This will give you a chance to process their comments and blow off some steam.

3. Arrange a meeting - maybe with a witness or mediator. If you are still feeling attacked and vulnerable, then you might invite an independent person to witness the discussion. Or if it has gone pear-shaped, ask for a mediator to guide the discussion.

4. In the meeting, don't dwell on what has happened. Present options for solutions and future strategies.

5. It's about them, not you. If you're truly being criticised unfairly, then it's likely the other person has got some background issues that are feeding their maniacal nastiness. Pity them. Life is too short to get wound up by someone else's drama.
May you have many days free of critics, backstabbers, gossips, and other yuckiness! If not, stuff 'em! You're better than all that."

Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Author Zoe Routh assists women in business with practical mindset secrets and success strategies for effective leadership. Free Magnetic Leadership Assessment at http://www.innercompass.com.au/.

Treasurer Software named as nations best in the community sector

Congratulations to Admin Bandit Online volunteer treasurer software for their national win a the iAwards. It was named the nation’s number one software product for the community sector after its national win at the iAwards, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) ICT industry awards. The award, seen as one the IT industry’s highest accolades, was a great scoop for the local Canberra business, when it won last Wednesday, 27th of May at the awards ceremony in Melbourne.
Taking out the top prize in the e-Inclusions and e-Community category, Admin Bandit, a software product for volunteer treasurers in community organisations, has been recognised as an industry leading product beating all other Australian state and territory entrants.
How fantastic that it was volunteer treasurer software that received the top gong for the category. Good financial management is crucial to sustainability of community organisations and making the job easier is a good key to achieving that goal. Well done Admin Bandit Online volunteer treasurer software.

IGA Unsung Hero Awards - Win $5000 for your organisation

The treasurer role is often the most difficult to fill and the most thankless. The IGA Community Chest Unsung Hero Awards is a chance to let your treasurer know how much you value their contribution to your organisation. The state prize is a $5,000 donation for your organisation. For more information and to nominate look at the IGA Community Chest Unsung Hero Awards site.

Fraud Tip - Understanding the Role of the Auditor

The role of the external auditor has often been misunderstood. This “expectation gap” has long been explained as being the gap between what the actual requirements and standards required of the auditor and audit process as compared to the expectations of the public as to what an auditor does in the audit process.

It has often been thought that the audit provides certainty as to the accuracy of the financial statements by the auditor undertaking a 100% check of the organisation’s accounts. It has also been thought that auditors should be able to provide early warning if there are solvency problems with the organisation and lastly, it is thought that a primary role of the auditor is to detect fraud.

An example of this can be seen in the BDO Not-for-Profit Fraud Survey 2008. 61% of respondents to the survey gave a reason they did not perceive fraud to be a problem for their organisation was that fraud had not been discovered by the external audit process.

It is important that not-for-profit organisations understand the role of the audit and not to relying solely on the external audit process as a way of detecting fraud. It is also important to consider that auditors, while conducing an audit as per the auditing standards, they are also conducting the audit on a fee paying basis. To undertake an appropriate audit, an appropriate fee is required to be paid.

Auditing standards provide us with guidance as to the auditors’ responsibilities regarding fraud. For example:

· “The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and management. It is important that management, with the oversight of those charged with governance, place a strong emphasis on fraud prevention, which may reduce opportunities for fraud to take place, and fraud deterrence, which could persuade individuals not to commit fraud because of the likelihood of detection and punishment. This involves a commitment to creating a culture of honesty and ethical behaviour which can be reinforced by an active oversight by those charged with governance.” Paragraph 4 of ASA240 (Australian Auditing Standard – The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of a Financial Report)

· “The auditor has a responsibility to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud. Because of the nature of audit evidence and the characteristics of fraud, the auditor is able to obtain reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that material misstatements are detected. The auditor has no responsibility to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance that misstatements, whether caused by errors or fraud, that are not material to the financial statements are detected.“ – SAS99 (US Auditing Standard – Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit)

Article provided by Lisa Bundesen Forensic Accounting Expert. www.lisabundesen.com

Leadership for the Not for Profit Sector

A one week course is being run by the University of Queensland in July. It has been designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of senior professionals in the not-for-profit sector. Here's the information:-

Course Overview
The Not For Profit sector makes important contributions to the Australian society and economy – impacts of which are often overlooked and neglected. This five day course is designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of senior professionals in the Not for Profit sector.

Participants will explore how strong leaders build culture and align it with strategy to effectively transform organisations. They will learn how to enhance partnerships and build networks across the Not for Profit and Profit sectors. This engaging course will equip participants with the necessary skills to be able to sucessfully respond to the leadership challenges faced in this hugely competitive sector.

Key benefits
Through attending this course, participants will be able to:
=>Build and sustain effective partnerships in the Not for Profit and Profit sectors
=>Successfully manage stakeholder relationships to the long term benefit of their organisation;
=>Respond to the national need to develop as leaders inareas such as strategic and organisational leadership,team leadership and change leadership across the Not for Profit sector;
=>Explore as leaders how they can transform and align the development of individuals in their organisation to the needs of the business culture;
=>Formulate practical ideas, models and tools of leadership and strategy applicable to the Not for Profit sector.

Who should attend
All current and potential leaders in the Not for Profit sector and partners of these organisations.

Where and when
Central Plaza1, Level 19, 345 Queen Street, Brisbane, 6th July – 10th July 2009.

Investment
$2,200* Fee includes tuition, course materials, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea each day and a formal dinner on Thursday evening. * Please note, this fee is heavily discounted, no further discounts apply. Also, GST does not apply to Corporate Education courses.

As part of our commitment to the sector, we are subsidizing the cost of this course for all non-profit organizations by 50%. Unmatched in Australia, this annual week-long executive level program is now $2,200 and is regularly $4,400 As space is strictly limited book now to avoid disappointment.

Further information
Register online or download the Registration Form from the UQBS Corporate Education website: www.business.uq.edu.au/corporate-education

For further information contact UQBS Corporate Education, telephone (07) 3346 7111 or email corped@business.uq.edu.au