Financial Reserves. Barry Baker of Grant Thornton has provided information about a new guide entitled "Your Guide to creating a Plain English NFP Reserves Policy"
"Not for Profit organisations need reserves to fund organisational change and improvements, and to provide a buffer for potential events that will adversely affect the organisation ... "
- See "Reserves Policies for Non-Profits"
End of Financial Year. Most non-profit organisations have the end of their financial year as 31 March. Registered NZ Charities are required to file their annual returns with DIA Charities within 6 months (ie by the end of September for a 31 March EoFY) in an approved format.
Simplified Annual Reports for Tier 4 Charities. DIA Charities advise that a simplified reporting template has recently been issued for those Registered Tier 4 Charities which meet certain criteria. <more details>.
Match | Te Puna Taurite (MTPT). The launch of MTPT has been delayed slightly to allow further trials and tweaking of the website. MTPT is described as being " an innovative new service to help both those seeking and distributing philanthropic funding in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The vision of Match | Te Puna Taurite is a more equitable, accessible and collaborative funding system. It aims to more easily connect those with funds to those that seek them.
MTPT is designed to address pain points across the philanthropic and charitable sector which have been recognised for many years. One key example from the JB Were Cause Report that highlights the inequality that currently exists within the philanthropic sector is that 91% of total donations and bequests go to only 9% of charities, (this leaves the remaining 91% of charities competing for the remaining 9% of philanthropic funding!). MTPT won’t fix problems like this overnight, but it will start to alleviate some of them and support meaningful change.
Fundseekers will be able to post funding requests to get in front of multiple funders with one action. There will also be additional support for sectors of the population who are currently underserved by philanthropy such as Māori, rainbow, disability, Pasifika, refugee and new migrants. Match | Te Puna Taurite will strengthen the voice of the fundseeker in the system and support ongoing systemic change."
<More details>
NZ Post Community Programme. NZPost advise that applications for the NZ Post Community Programme are now open, with applications accepted until 5pm on the 11th of April 2022.
"Through this programme, NZ Post will be giving away up to 34,000 free deliveries (worth roughly $240,000) to around ten organisations working on projects to improve connection, belonging and inclusion for New Zealanders.
The programme is best suited to impact organisations and charities that are looking to send out around 3000 – 6000 parcels over the twelve-month period (July 2022– June 2023). However, we will accept applications from those sending out a minimum of 1500 parcels in a year.
The selected organisations will be receiving the courier via the set-up of an E-ship account. For the programme to work effectively, the organisation must have access to a printer. The programme is not inclusive of packaging. "
Check out the shortlisting criteria linked to the form which outlines how NZ Post will assess the applications.
<Details and to apply>
