According to the report, in the last six years, turnover in the NFP sector has increased by 40 per cent to over $107 billion. However, organisations have less discretionary money budgeted than ever before.

“Big issues include risk management; strategy focused on organisation purpose and mission today and in five to ten years’ time; collaboration and mergers; and the need to communicate value and diversify income streams,” said David Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer of CCA.

The CCA report is a collation of information from the national round of CEO forums held during October and November last year, and was produced in collaboration with PwC Australia, Community Sector Banking, Equity Trustees, Social Ventures Australia and the Origin Foundation.

“The forums highlighted the need for a shift in relationship with governments and bureaucracy, with great gains to be made by cutting red tape and working with the sector to streamline processes and achieve contracting arrangements that are performance oriented and work from a partnership basis,” states the report.

CCA emphasises:

• Australia’s massive not-for-profit sector is critical to the nation’s future.
• The sector has very real concerns about the kind of Australia it is building.
• Strengthening the role of NFPs will build flourishing communities.
• Governments have a role to play, but are not the only solution.