How charities can thrive in a post-COVID-19 world

On Thursday 28 May, Committee for Melbourne welcomed 62 guests from 40 cross-sectoral organisations to understand how charities can thrive in a post-COVID-19 world.

As part of the Committee’s Road to Recovery E-ROOM series, Scott Chapman (Royal Flying Doctor Service VIC), Sarah Davies AM (Philanthropy Australia), Dr Gary Johns (ACNC) and Frank Kelloway (Deloitte) discussed the impact COVID-19 has had on the NFP and charitable sector and the stakeholders that support them, as well as measures which could be taken to build organisational resilience. Key takeaways included:

  • NFP and charitable organisations must consolidate their mission, but be flexible in their approach. Organisations that apply a business-as-usual approach will likely struggle to attract support following the crisis.
  • Charities must stick within the bounds of their charitable purpose, as registered with the ACNC. They are not able to deliver services on issues unrelated to their charitable purpose.
  • The response from Australia’s leading philanthropists to this crisis has been inspiring. They are giving more than ever and have moved quickly to support charities and the communities they serve. Giving from everyday Australians has also been very generous during this uncertain period.
  • The private sector will change the way it engages the NFP and charitable sector. Collaboration will be critical, with the number of social enterprises likely to increase.
    NFP and charitable organisations are not just in existence to fix or respond to issues; they are a critical part of our society and economy. It is vital that various stakeholders work with these organisations to build capacity.
From the panel:

From Sarah – PA grant-maker survey data.


Watch the event here

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