Date issued: 9 July 2007

CPA Australia has published a free, online manual to assist not-for-profit organisations to manage grants and satisfy accountability requirements.

The manual was developed following desktop research conducted by the CPA Australia Public Sector Centre of Excellence that identified a shortage of literature on grants management for not-for-profits.

The manual, Grants in Australia: Management and Accountability Made Easy for Not-for-Profit Organisations, is targeted towards incorporated not-for-profit organisations that have received or are intending to apply for government grants.

The manual covers key aspects of grants management, including applying for a grant, accepting a grant, financial management, reporting and acquittal, and audit and verification.

CPA Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rankin, said 'Not-for-profits often have very tight budgets and rely on the assistance of volunteers to provide services and manage the organisation, so their access to financial management information and advice is sometimes limited.

'This manual provides practical advice to help not-for-profits to improve their financial management and satisfy accountability requirements.

'Not-for-profits play an important part in the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our society. The private not-for-profit sector employs over 600,000 people and contributes 4.7 per cent to GDP. CPA Australia wants to help ensure that the sector continues to thrive.'

The authors of Grants in Australia: Management and Accountability Made Easy for Not-for-Profit Organisations, Gerard Byrne FCPA, assisted by Merridie Martin CPA conducted extensive consultation with a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including not-for-profit peak bodies, auditors-general, parliamentary public accounts committees and members of the accounting profession prior to developing the manual.

CPA Australia established the Public Sector Centre of Excellence to provide leadership in issues affecting the public and not-for-profit sectors. It is comprised of members with special expertise in these areas.

For further information, download a copy of the manual, Grants in Australia: Management and Accountability Made Easy for Not-for-Profit Organisations from the Public Sector section of the website.   

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