As vaccines get rolled out and lockdowns get rolled back, there’s no doubt countless people across the globe will breathe a deep sigh of relief. While there are no guarantees that the worst of the COVID pandemic is over, steps taken over the past 12 months certainly place many in a better position to deal with whatever happens next.

For organisations that made rapid changes in response to COVID, or were harshly affected by lockdowns, the time has come to evaluate the past and prepare for the future as we tackle 2021.

Particularly for the non-profit sector, this year has presented significant challenges and opportunities with funding uncertainties, swift decision making, and large-scale transformations.

Here are five key questions NFP boards should be asking right now as we emerge from an unprecedented year.

1. Has your charity’s activities changed during COVID?

If your charity’s activities have changed, is it possible that your purpose has changed or evolved during COVID as well? This may be due to a swift pivot, or new partnerships forged to survive the downturn.

This sparks the need for investigation into the constitution and governance structure of your organisation to ensure it still aligns with what was lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Where the constitution needs updating, you should:

• seek advice to conduct a proper review of activities
• appropriately amend the constitution
• have it approved by board members
• submit it to the ACNC

2. With the lifting of insolvent trading protections, how are directors reviewing and managing their personal risk for insolvent trading?

Directors and board members have a duty to prevent insolvent trading. If their NFP is trading insolvent, directors can be held personally liable for failing to act with due diligence and care.

To mitigate this risk, directors need to conduct a critical solvency review – including assessing whether the organisation is still viable with the insolvent trading protections lifted.

If solvency is questionable, ideally seek legal and financial advice as soon as possible. Working with a qualified restructuring adviser is one of the requirements for claiming safe harbour, which affords some protection from insolvent trading claims.

For NFPs with liabilities under A$1 million, directors must consider whether the small business restructuring scheme may be a useful scheme to facilitate a restructuring of the organisation.

3. Is your non-profit or charity “merger ready”?

The challenging economic climate raises the need for charities to consider mergers as a way to stay afloat and continue providing critical services.

Being merger ready means having these discussions as a board early on. Speak with experts, and contemplate right-fit organisations that you could merge with or potentially acquire under your banner. If you are a small entity, you could also consider transferring your assets to a larger organisation which could save jobs and ensure community services continue.

You may also wish to start the due diligence process, as a successful non-profit merger can take many months to complete, but is a much better outcome for staff and stakeholders than winding up.

4. What actions are you taking to review existing employment contracts and collective bargaining arrangements to ensure they are as attractive as possible?

Engaged employees are the foundation of every organisation, and being an employer of choice means staying on top of employee trends and expectations. At Dentons, we find autonomy and flexibility is key to helping us attract and retain the best people.

In a post-COVID world, this may mean incorporating flexible workplace arrangements into employment contracts to remain attractive to skilled employees.

Regular audit of employment contracts is important for all organisations, but it’s particularly vital for NFPs where people are really prepared to go the extra mile if their working conditions support them.

5. Have you conducted an audit review of key contracts?

Another important area to review is revenue-generating contracts and expense contracts, such as lease agreements.

With contracts that generate revenue, make sure you:

• know when they are due to expire
• start a dialogue for extensions and renewals
• review terms
• ensure compliance with Australian consumer law if dealing with consumers

If you are dependent on government funding or contracts, it’s important to understand what could be at stake if these are not renewed – which is something you may wish to consider as part of your solvency evaluation.

For expense contracts, review expiry dates and critically examine whether you will need them (and under the same terms) moving forward. For example, if more staff are now working from home, you may not need such a large office space. If your organisation has moved to paperless, you may not require five large photocopiers.

Where contracts are not needed, it’s time to look at how to finish them up to reduce overheads.

Get expert help with your review

While this year has certainly had its challenges, there have also been great opportunities for agile organisations willing to operate outside the box.

These opportunities still exist for non-profits and charities that take a proactive approach to evaluating the past and preparing for the future.

For support with activity reviews, solvency reviews, merger preparations, and employment and key contract audits, please get in touch. We are here to support you.