1. Getting Started
Building strong foundations
Starting a community group, sporting club or not-for-profit organisation involves more than bringing people together around a great idea. Establishing the right structure, responsibilities and processes from the beginning can make your organisation easier to manage and more sustainable.
Choosing your structure
Consider which structure best suits your organisation's purpose, activities and future plans.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include operating as an informal community group, incorporated association, registered charity or another organisational structure.
Incorporation can provide an organisation with its own legal identity, but it also brings responsibilities for governance, meetings, financial records and reporting.
Constitutions and governing rules
Your constitution or governing rules set out how your organisation operates, including:
- its purpose
- membership
- committee roles and responsibilities
- meetings and voting
- financial management
- dispute resolution
- changing the rules
- winding up the organisation.
Your governing document should reflect the needs of your organisation and comply with any requirements applying to your structure.
Helpful Resources & Templates
- Not for Profit Law
- Consumer and Business Services (CBS)
- Australian Charities and not-for-profits Commission
Looking for your organisation's details?
- You can search for an organisation's ABN through ABN Lookup.
- If applicable you can search for an organisation ACNC through ACNC Charity Register
Quick tips
- Choose a structure that suits your organisation's purpose and activities.
- Keep your constitution or governing rules current.
- Make sure committee members understand their responsibilities.
- Keep important organisational records somewhere accessible to future committees.
- Review your registrations and contact details whenever office bearers change.