Surplus for Purpose – A Workshop in Funding Resilience and Systemic Impact

Inovyse. Events, Third Sector (NFP and Social Ventures)

The Imperative for Change. The not for profit and charities sector continues to struggle with generating sufficient surpluses to sustain its activities and meet accelerating demand.

Based on our analysis of ACNC financial statements, 30% of operating NFPs (as opposed to foundations and trusts) failed to return any operating surplus. While 41% returned an operating surplus less than 5% of revenues and 52% returned a surplus less than 10% of revenues.

With declining donors, a skewed donation base, a downward trend in government funding, increasing demand, and worsening economic conditions, insufficient surplus is leaving most NFPs vulnerable to funding policy and cost disruptions.

With 38% vulnerable to cost and funding disruptions.

A Workshop in Financial Resilience and Systemic Impact. To understand and address these challenges, we completed a comprehensive statistical analysis of the approximately 60,000 financial statements lodged with the ACNC.

Based on this analysis, and our previous engagements in the NFP sector, we then developed a two-day workshop to deliver a comprehensive set of frameworks, tools, diagnostics, and financial and operational benchmarks to support funding resilience and systemic impact.  

Capabilities and Deliverables. The workshop will cover and deliver – 

  1. Big Picture and the Imperative for Change. Economic context, trends in demand and funding, sector trends and uncertainties.
  2. Drivers of Change. Introduction to the drivers of change in the NFP sector and understanding organisational DNA.
  3. Benchmarking Tables. Detailed operational and financial benchmarks, by NFP type. 
  4. Surplus and NFP Viability. Understanding the drivers of NFP surplus and viability. 
  5. Mission Growth and Scale. Defining optimal mission and developing and assessing strategies for scale and growth.
  6. Funding the Organisation. The science of giving. Pricing strategies to maximise revenues and surplus. Pricing strategies to maximise success of tenders and funding proposals. Maximising cost recovery and reframing the ‘overhead’ narrative.
  7. Scenario Mapping and Managing Strategic Risk. Creating organisational and sector scenarios for strategic planning, systemic impact, and funding resilience.
  8. Managing for Purpose. Beyond weak and undifferentiating mission/vision/purpose statements. Developing a culture of outcomes and purpose.

Download of Overviews

 Two-day immersive workshop Surplus for Purpose (Immersive) 

One-day executive briefing Surplus for Purpose (Executive Briefing).

Who will Benefit

  • Directors, CEO, CFO, COO
  • General managers, strategy, policy, operational, and regional managers
  • Programs and services managers, fundraising, research, and advocacy managers

Details and Booking

Immersive Workshop – Melbourne CBD 15-16 October 2024

Executive Briefing – Melbourne CBD 17 October 2024

Or contact us for a custom in-house workshop as part of your 2024/2025 strategy planning.