A new report by the ASF has identified leadership development, finance and people management as key skills areas that the not-for-profit sector (NFP) must develop if it is to rise up to the challenges outlined for the sector in the 2010 Productivity Commission study, The Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector.

The recommendations were developed following a forum organised by ASF, Philanthropy Australia and the Origin Foundation, with nearly 100 senior representatives from the NFP and education sectors attending.

Speaking at the event, Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM, said that to address the major issues confronting the sector, NFP organisations would need to reassess the skills within their business.

“Over the last few years, for the first time we’ve seen mergers and acquisitions as being part of the strategy of some NFP organisations with the view to scale up activity”, said Fitzgerald. “This is going to require an entirely different set of management skills than what was previously in the sector.”

Australian Scholarships Foundation CEO Amy Lyden of the said it was becoming harder for NFP organisations to do good work without the resources to develop their capabilities.

“The sector is being challenged to run their organisations in new and different ways. Clearly there is a great need to invest in the development of its leaders. If we can help individuals to improve their skills, the service offering of their organisations will improve, leading to better outcomes for the community,” Lynden said.

The Australian Scholarships Foundation will receive support worth $100,000 per year for two years from the Origin Foundation in order to fund new scholarships that will meet these needs.

For more information visit the Australian Scholarships Foundation.