Recognising NFP Treasurers

Community treasurers are being recognised for the contribution they make to hundreds of thousands of community groups around Australia, with the chance to win $5,000 for their Not for Profit organisations.

Groups are being called on to nominate their treasurer as part of the 2016 Commonwealth Bank Not for Profit Treasurers’ Awards.

Commonwealth Bank Social Impact Banking general manager, Vanessa Nolan-Woods, said the awards were a great way of recognising the work people were doing in the community.

“Community treasurers make a positive contribution to the lives of millions and yet they receive little in return for giving up valuable time with their families and friends,” Nolan-Woods said.

“These awards are one way for us to give something back for all their hard work and sacrifice.”

The awards, which are run in conjunction with Our Community, Australia’s Centre of Excellence for the nation’s 600,000 Not for Profits, are split into two categories.

The first is a recognition program to thank community treasurers, where people can nominate their treasurer to receive an official Certificate of Appreciation.

The second is a competition for community treasurers to share ideas around recruiting and retaining treasurers, keeping treasurers up-to-date and sharing changes that were implemented to make things easier for organisations to overcome challenges.

The treasurer with the best ideas will win one of three $5,000 donations for their Not for Profit.

Last year’s winners included Rhonda Doyle, who was recognised for her 12 years of service as the treasurer of Central Coast Kids in Need, which provides assistance with accommodation expenses to families of children with prolonged illnesses, staying in Sydney or Newcastle hospitals.

Doyle, who said she spends at least two hours a day carrying out her duties as treasurer, said she was taught how to do the role by the outgoing treasurer and is helped by a “kind-hearted neighbour” who checks her books every month.

“As a volunteer treasurer I rely on my relationship with, and assistance from staff at our local Commonwealth Bank branch and from the board and committee of Central Coast Kids in Need,” Doyle said.

“Winning this prestigious award showed all of us that we were doing something right.”

More than 1,100 nominations were received for the 2015 awards.

To be eligible entrants must have served as a treasurer of an Australian Not for Profit within the past 12 months.  

Applications for the awards close at 12pm (AEST) Friday 29 July. Winners will be announced during Not for Profit Finance Week, on 19 September, at an awards ceremony in Sydney.

You can nominate someone here.

Pro Bono Australia also offers a Mentor the Treasurer program, in partnership with CPA Australia, to help small, Not for Profit organisations better manage their funds, achieve financial independence and more easily find a suitable reviewer or auditor with a minimum of fuss.

Mentors guide volunteer treasurers in the maintenance of sound financial records and the preparation of sound financial statements.