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These charity governance tools aim to help charities self-assess compliance with their governance obligations.

Completing the tools also allows charities to reflect on their current governance practices, and identify issues that may prevent good governance.

How to complete the charity governance tools

  • Gather relevant documents (such as policies or procedures) before you start
  • Make notes of action items and topics for further discussion within the tool if any issues are identified
  • Click ‘Print or download my answers’ to save a copy of your completed responses for your charity’s records (please do not send a copy to the ACNC)
  • Take a copy of your responses to your next board or committee meeting for discussion
  • Create an action plan to document any next steps

You can complete the charity governance tools again later to ensure your charity continues to meet its obligations over time.

You can provide feedback on these charity governance tools by emailing websitefeedback@acnc.gov.au.

Conflicts of interest

A conflict of interest is when a person's personal interests conflict with their responsibility to act in the best interests of the charity. A conflict of interest may be actual, potential or perceived, and may be financial or non-financial.

Charities need to take steps to manage conflicts of interest.

Related party transactions

A related party transaction is a transfer of resources, services, or obligations between related parties. It does not have to include financial payment.

Charities must report on their related party transactions through the Annual Information Statement.

Record-keeping

Registered charities are required to maintain written financial and operational records. Records should be kept for seven years, in any format that is easy to find, including electronic forms.

You don't need to provide these records to the ACNC unless requested.

If operating overseas, you must also keep records of those activities.

Maintaining entitlement to charity registration

Our charity registration self-assessment tool can be used by charities that are already registered and want to check they are continuing to meet the eligibility criteria.

It can also be used by organisations considering charity registration.

The registration tool is longer than the other governance tools on this page, but can be saved and resumed later.