Business development resources

To assist organisations to undertake further organisational development work, resources and tools across the following key areas of capability have been identified:

1. Strategic Capability
2. Governance & Leadership
3. Client and Market Focus
4. Financial Sustainability
5. Workforce Planning & Development
6. Innovation, Quality and Improvement
7. Information, Knowledge and Process Management
8. Collaboration & Partnering

These resources will assist organisations that have completed a Capability Development Plan (Tool C) to undertake further organisational development work to reduce identified gaps in capability.

1. Strategic Capability

Our Community - Where not for profits go for help

Our Community is Australia's Centre for Excellence, providing advice, tools, resources and training for the nation's 600,000 not-for-profits and schools.

The Berkana Institute

The Berkana Institute’s theory of change explores the idea that as one system culminates and starts to collapse, isolated alternatives slowly begin to arise and give way to the new. Here you will find an archive of articles, videos, past e-newsletters and information on the toolkits available.

The Community Tool Box

The Community Tool Box was developed by the University of Kansas to help people build healthier communities and bring about the changes they envision. This website provides educational modules and tools to help organisations work together to make their communities what they dream they can be. The toolbox contains tools designed to assess capabilities, take action, and sustain the effort.

Future, Risks and Opportunities Toolkit

The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (Scotland) has developed this toolkit to help organisations build strategies for the future. It provides techniques and methods for strategically identifying and analysing future risks and opportunities in the workplace. The toolkit is intended for future analysts, policy makers, strategists and anyone managing a futures process. It will encourage the use of futures thinking and analysis in order to make better decisions for practice.

Principle Business Resource - Australian Government

There are many free tools and resources available on business.gov.au that can help your business start and grow.  Finding business grants and support, Tools for starting a business, Tools for growing a business, Business plan template and guide, Marketing plan template and guide, Succession plan, template & guide, Emergency management & recovery plan template & guide.

2.  Governance and Leadership

Community Tool Box

The Community Tool Box was created by the University of Kansas to help people build healthier communities and bring about the changes they envision. This website provides educational modules and tools to help organisations work together to make their communities what they dream they can be. The toolbox contains tools designed to assess capabilities, take action, and sustain the effort.

Social Leadership Australia

Social Leadership Australia lead change and change leaders. SLA believe that leadership is not management. It is the purposeful use of collective wisdom, awareness, creativity and human skill to face difficult problems, drive change and unlock unseen potential.  Read more about this topic in the free publications available on this website.

Good Governance Principles and Guidance - Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)

The Good Governance Principles and Guidance for Not-for-Profit Organisations (Principles and Guidance) have been created by the Australian Institute of Company Directors as part of their commitment to the not-for-profit sector and its directors. The objective is to share with the not-for-profit community some key principles that are a useful starting point for not-for-profit boards when considering what constitutes good governance practice.

PUUYA Foundation

The Puuya Foundation aims to build partnerships, programs and activities that enable Indigenous Australians to access the same life opportunities as other Australians. The foundation is an independent, non-profit and secular organisation established to strengthen “puuya”, meaning “life force” in local Kuuku Ya’u language.

Australian Catholic University

EDUCATION COURSE - Graduate Certificate in Management of Not-for-Profit Organisations . With philanthropic budgets decreasing and ongoing government reform, an increasing number of not-for-profit organisations are realising that having a worthy cause is no longer enough to ensure their future existence.  This course is for managers who want to develop their management and leadership skills further for use in non-profit organisations.

3.  Client and Market Focus

Pro Bono Australia: EVENTS

The Pro Bono Events website helps you easily find local workshops, state conferences or professional breakfasts in your area. Pro Bono Australia supports, promotes and partners events for the not-for-profit sector to help people find out about upcoming events and related news.

OurCommunity - Where not for profits go for help

Our Community is Australia's Centre for Excellence for the nation's 600,000 not-for-profits & schools, providing advice, tools, resources and training.

Stanford Social Innovation Review

Stanford Social Innovation Review is an award-winning magazine and website that covers cross-sector solutions to global problems. It is written for and by social change leaders in the not-for-profit, business and government sectors who view collaboration as key to solving environmental, social, and economic justice issues.  It covers a wide range of subjects such as how not-for-profit organisations can view and gain human capital, and collaborative leadership.

StudioQ

Home of QCOSS and Community Door’s online media resources. 

4. Financial Sustainability

Foresters – Community Asset Building Resource Guide

This resource guide is designed to assist not-for-profit community organisations to plan for and build long-term sustainable futures by exploring the steps to achieving property ownership. By engaging in the Community Asses Building process, not-for-profit community organisations can remove the uncertainty around access to suitable premises. The guide also outlines the practical steps to help not-for-profits plan toward asset ownership, including a self-assessment to begin the planning process.

Plugging the Leaks Toolkit

Plugging the Leaks was created to support people in communities to take a different approach to local economic development, one that can have a greater, more sustainable impact on their local economies than traditional regeneration initiatives. Part of this toolkit looks at developing a positive local economy in communities and effective use of resources.

Community Tool Box – Financial Sustainability

The Community Tool Box provides resources and tools to help people work together to build healthier communities.  The website includes tools for developing a plan for financial sustainability and a checklist.

StudioQ

Home of QCOSS and Community Door’s online media resources.

5. Workforce Planning and Development

Workplace Ready Program - Online Toolkit

This online toolkit is packed with practical advice for managers and supervisors who are on the front-line of hiring and retaining staff. The content has been tested with prospective employers and Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander staff in many industries and reflects their valuable input.

VCOSS Magazine INSIGHT

Contains articles and research relating to the community sector. Focused on finding ways to end poverty and disadvantage and making the clear case for change, it explores important themes and features research, ideas, analysis and commentary from leading thinkers and practitioners on social justice.

The Berkana Institute

The Berkana Institute and partners share the clarity that whatever the problem, community is the answer. The Berkana Institute’s theory of change explores the idea that as one system culminates and starts to collapse, isolated alternatives slowly begin to arise and give way to the new. Here you will find an archive of articles, videos, past e-newsletters and information on the toolkits.

Stanford Social Innovation Review

Stanford Social Innovation Review is an award-winning magazine and website that covers cross-sector solutions to global problems. It is written for and by social change leaders in the not-for-profit, business and government sectors who view collaboration as key to solving environmental, social, and economic justice issues.  It covers a wide range of subjects such as how not-for-profit organisations can view and gain human capital, and collaborative leadership.

StudioQ

Home of QCOSS and Community Door’s online media resources.

6. Innovation, Quality and Improvement

VCOSS Magazine INSIGHT

Contains articles and research relating to the community sector. Focused on finding ways to end poverty and disadvantage and making the clear case for change, it explores important themes and features research, ideas, analysis and commentary from leading thinkers and practitioners on social justice.

OurCommunity - Where not for profits go for help

Our Community is Australia's Centre for Excellence for the nation's 600,000 not-for-profits & schools, providing advice, tools, resources and training.

The Berkana Institute

The Berkana Institute and partners share the clarity that whatever the problem, community is the answer. The Berkana Institute’s theory of change explores the idea that as one system culminates and starts to collapse, isolated alternatives slowly begin to arise and give way to the new. Here you will find an archive of articles, videos, past e-newsletters and information on the toolkits.

Community Tool Box

The Community Tool Box was created by the University of Kansas to help people build healthier communities and bring about the changes they envision. This website provides educational modules and tools to help organisations work together to make their communities what they dream they can be. The toolbox contains tools designed to assess capabilities, take action, and sustain the effort.

StudioQ

Home of QCOSS and Community Door’s online media resources.

7. Information, Knowledge and Process Management

VCOSS Magazine INSIGHT

Contains articles and research relating to the community sector. Focused on finding ways to end poverty and disadvantage and making the clear case for change, it explores important themes and features research, ideas, analysis and commentary from leading thinkers and practitioners on social justice.

Confidence through Evidence Toolkit

The Confidence through Evidence toolkit developed by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (Scotland) provides guidance on the process of finding and using evidence for service innovation and improvement. It has four steps designed to help users acquire, assess, adapt and apply evidence in practice, and involves a number of learning activities to help improve skills and confidence in these areas.

Knowledge and innovation – how do they relate?

A good definition of Knowledge Management - includes numerous links to other relevant sites.

StudioQ

Home of QCOSS and Community Door’s online media resources.

8. Collaboration and Partnering

StudioQ

Home of QCOSS and Community Door’s online media resources.

Pro Bono Australia: SOURCE NFP Goods and Services Directory

The source of goods and services for the not-for-profit and charity community.  Source is a national goods and services guide that is specifically published for the sector.  Every business listed understands the sector and is a quality goods or service provider.

The Partnering Initiative

The site provides a range of resources including a Partnering Toolkit, resources and informative newsletter.

The Partnership Brokers Association

This site provides free access to tools, case studies, training and newsletters. Some resources are for members only, but others are available to the general public.

Dixon Partnering Solutions

This website includes a white paper, blog and newsletter that are freely available and focus on creating, developing and sustaining effective partnerships.

Partnership Analysis Tool and Checklist - VicHealth

This resource is for organisations entering into or working in a partnership to assess, monitor and maximise its ongoing effectiveness. It is designed to help organisations develop a clearer understanding of the range of purposes of collaborations, reflect on partnerships and focus on ways to strengthen partnerships by engaging in discussion.