The ACNC is collating resources to help charities navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19, ACNC Commissioner Gary Johns writes.
“We are continuing to update our COVID-19 webpage as information becomes available,” he said. “I recommend charities keep an eye on our COVID page and use it as the first place to find information regarding charity operations and COVID-19 implications.
“The Australian Government passed legislation to introduce JobKeeper payments to a range of businesses, including registered charities, that meet certain criteria,” Dr Johns continued.
“We have received enquiries from people wanting to know how they can support charities during this difficult time, when some are severely affected either due to a sudden increase in demand or have had to close parts of their operations due to the current restrictions in place. I would like to draw your attention to a couple of options.
“For people with financial resources to support charities, the Australian Communities Foundation and Philanthropy Australia have partnered to provide a national funding platform to coordinate the philanthropic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this site charities can register their COVID-19-related funding needs so that individual donors and philanthropic funders can understand the granting opportunities available and respond to the critical needs of the sector.
“If you are someone who is interested in volunteering your time, check for opportunities with your state or territory volunteering peak body, or ask your local charity how you can help. Remember some charities may not be able to support volunteering due to current restrictions, so always check with them how you can best support their work.
“Our tips and considerations include making sure your charity’s rules allow you to hold remote meetings, considering the costs involved and understanding the need to providing notice to attendees.
“I encourage anyone involved in running a charity that is considering holding a meeting remotely to read our tips and considerations in full,” Dr Johns concluded.
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