Our Community

AI might be making our work faster and more efficient … but when do we need to slow down?    Our CEO Hang Vo raised critical points about the ethical use of AI in the not-for-profit sector, at a recent Infoxchange conference.     "Our superpower is our ability to see and understand people as people – in all their dimensions, fully and completely – and to act from that understanding with care, attention, and accountability," she said. "Our responsibility is to use that superpower intentionally with technology: not simply to adopt it, but to shape it."    This article from Matthew Schulz neatly summarises Hang's insights on the human consequences of poorly-considered technology and makes a strong case for the sector to lead the way in digital inclusion.  https://lnkd.in/gbcBnNdQ

Pulling together the latest tech-themed Community Directors Intelligence for Institute of Community Directors Australia made me realise that there is no end to news about AI, amid the need for good governance, and for tech with heart. Read the latest edition: https://lnkd.in/gshxys5B Highlights include: 💡 Adele Stowe-Lindner's on rolling out AI on a shoestring budget 🧠 Nina Laitala ("Governance Guru") on governing AI ♥️ Hang Vo of Sacred Heart Mission and ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service on ensuring NFPs don't reduce people to data points 📱 Jonalyn 'Jowe' Esguerra of Uniting on the new 'Buddy' AI app helping frontline care workers 🤖 Cinzia Marrocco of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation tells us how their friendly chatbot Dib (pictured) is transforming health info 🤝 David Spriggs of Infoxchange with a video summary of the Technology for Social Justice conference 📃 David Renwick of BoardPro on new research into how NFP directors are really using AI 🚲 Sabine Bird, PhD / Dip. Gov - FICDA, who is making a big difference with an outback cycling program helping First Nations kids 🧭 McKinsey & Company's strategy guide helping NFPs roll out AI ⚖️ Lee Hickin of the National AI Centre on the risk vs reward ratio for AI ✅ Champions of Change Coalition and Women's Leadership Institute Australia's new inclusive AI pledge If that seems a lot, you'll find even more AI and tech help in the edition, including big discounts for members (it's free to join us).

A week after the federal Budget, not-for-profit leaders across Australia are looking hard at the numbers, as they consider how it affects their funding priorities, costs, and coping with uncertainty. That’s the focus of the latest edition of Community Directors Intelligence, which I've published today for the Institute of Community Directors Australia. Highlights include: 📘 A new 98-page guide for not-for-profit treasurers 📊 Governance Guru Nina Laitala on budgeting for an uncertain future 🎨 Adele Stowe-Lindner on designing a budget for your organisation’s personality 🎥 Dr Wesa Chau in conversation about the Budget's sector impact 💰 Funding leads linked to Budget priorities from the Funding Centre 🌏 Reaction from ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service, Community Council for Australia and other sector leaders 🧾 The latest on the Australian Accounting Standards Board new rules for NFPs, as well as new charity finance options 🧠 An inspiring leadership profile of governance enthusiast Quinney Brownfield 🎤 A preview of ImpactInstitute's upcoming Social Impact Summit Yep, we've got piggy banks in our eyes this week at Community Directors. READ NOW: https://lnkd.in/d4Vfrv4h

NPC (New Philanthropy Capital)’s new report on the UK impact economy has put a useful frame around something we’ve believed for a long time: organisations can be commercially strong and still be built around public benefit.   That’s been Our Community’s approach for 25+ years. It was a new concept when we started in Australia in 1999, and we haven’t always found it easy to explain who we are and how we work, so it’s fantastic to see this frame become mainstream.   Through our work in Australia and New Zealand, and now in the UK, we’re focusing on providing practical infrastructure that helps funders, charities, and community organisations do their work better: making it easier for communities to thrive. SmartyGrants - an enterprise of Our Community and the Institute of Grants Management; the Institute of Community Directors Australia; GiveNow; Funding Centre; Succession Media (Community Advocate); Our Community House – these are the entities and tools through which we channel our values and deliver our impact.   The NPC report says the UK’s impact economy is worth £428Bn, representing 15% of UK GDP. Charities generate nearly £50bn of this, with an additional £13bn coming from housing associations and £5bn from community interest companies (CICs). But the bulk of the impact economy’s contribution (£323bn) comes from impact-led businesses. Our Community's commitment to our people, our communities and our planet is baked into our Constitution. We’re a proud impact economy enterprise. https://lnkd.in/eszGdKdF

Want a quickfire update on the state of the not-for-profit sector? Don't miss out on the NFP Agenda, online today at 12:30pm. Join here 👉 https://buff.ly/PggTDCs

Want a quickfire update on the state of the not-for-profit sector? You'll have to join me for the Not-for-profit Agenda tomorrow (12.30pm AEDT, Thursday) It's free! Joining for a live Q&A is new federal Melbourne Labor MP Sarah Witty, and you'll also hear video reports featuring: - Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek on new community contracts - Veteran journalist Ray Martin on First Nations rights - Dr Jill Gallagher AO on Victoria's Treaty - Pollster Kosmos Samaras on the power of NFPs - Adele Stowe-Lindner on the Radical Moderate project - Jo Barraket AM on the NFP Sector Development Blueprint - Productivity Commissioner Alison Roberts on care economy reforms - Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) chief Juanita Pope on lessons from its recent summit Here's a taste of what's in store ... https://lnkd.in/gruUYQUT Register for the event: https://lnkd.in/gjsFgtca

Great to see the groundbreaking work by Our Community as the first Australian company to introduce a #fourdayweek (with no pay cut!) continues to garner attention. Thanks to Candice Wyatt at Network 10 for this snappy report on our progress since adopting the model more than two-and-a-half years ago. The latest international study backs our experience that workers are healthier, happier and higher performing too. https://lnkd.in/gaTVrV3X FourDayWork, 4 Day Week - Global