Policy Bank

Welcome to the Policy Bank, where you can find a range of free policies and procedures relevant to not-for-profit Boards and Committees and the organisations they govern.

Policies provided below are free for any not-for-profit organisation to download and use, so long as it is for a non-commercial purpose and that the organisation is not paying a consultant to carry out this work. Click here for our full copyright guidelines.

1. You can't (or shouldn't) rely on these sample policies and procedures alone. They are designed as a starting point only - you will have to do the work yourself to get them adapted to your own organisation's needs and structures.
2. Most of the sample policies provided here contain both policies and procedures (the policies provide guidance on standards for the organisation, while procedures provide instructions on how these standards are to be implemented). We recommend that policies be adopted at a board level, while procedures be developed and signed off by the organisation's head staff member (e.g. the CEO).
3. In these policies we use the term 'Board' to cover Boards, Committees of Management, and whatever name you have for the body that has final authority in your organisation. Similarly, we use the term 'CEO' for Executive Directors, CEOs, and whoever runs your administration.

Click the links below to find the information you need.

Policy Help

• How to use the Policy Bank
• What's the difference between policies and procedures?
• Tips for developing and implementing your own policies
• Sample Policy on Policymaking

Policy Categories

• Values Policies
• Governance Policies
• Financial Management Policies
• Financial Control Policies
• Communications Policies
• Volunteer Policies
• Human Resources Policies
• Other Policies

Make a deposit

• Make a deposit to the Policy Bank
• Acknowledgement of contributors

Values Policies

It's important to have your organisation's values set out clearly. They should provide guidance at all levels; "These are the things we must do, and these are the things we will not do."

• Code of Ethics
• Environmental Sustainability Policy
• Anti-discrimination Policy
• Access & Equity Policy
• Bullying Policy
• Sexual Harassment Policy
• Affirmative Action Policy

Governance Policies

These policies are designed help guide how the Board, spelling out how it is to operate in different circumstances.

• Governance Policy
• Board Office-bearer Policy & Position Statements
• Board Attendance Policy
• Board Dispute Resolution Policy
• Conduct of Meetings Policy
• Crisis Response Policy
• Board Member Recruitment Policy
• Board Member Induction Policy
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Committees Policy
• Board Confidentiality Policy
• Transparency & Accountability Policy
• Delegations
• Legislative Compliance Policy
• Risk Management Policy

Financial Management Policies

You'll need rules to regulate how you raise money and how you manage it once you have it.

• Budget Planning
• Ethical Fundraising Policy
• Board Fundraising Policy
• Investment Planning Policy
• Sponsorship Policy

Financial Control Policies

Unless you have tight rules on how staff and volunteers handle money, you won't be able to guarantee your financial stability.

• Authority to Sign Cheques
• Reimbursement of Expenses
• Credit Card / Financial Transaction Card Policy
• Fraud Risk Management Policy
• Acceptable Use of Vehicles & Equipment Policy
• Acceptable Use of Computers, Internet & Email Policy

Communications Policies

In the hyperactive media culture of today you need to specify who does what, who owns what, and who can speak for your organisation.

• Copyright Policy
• Media Relations Policy
• Email Retention & Archiving Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Social Media Policy

Volunteer Policies

These policies outline how and under what circumstances volunteers can be recruited, their place within the organisation, and the rules they have to follow.

• Volunteer Management Policy
• Acceptable Use of Vehicles & Equipment Policy
• Acceptable Use of Computers, Internet & Email Policy

See also Human Resources policies, below. Many will be of relevance to volunteers as well as paid staff.

Human Resources Policies

If you hire staff, you'll need rules to cover their conditions of employment. Be careful, though; laws change from time to time, web pages (even this one!) fall behind - you should check that these are still current before you adopt them as organisational policy.

• CEO Recruitment Policy
• Staff Recruitment Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Staff Induction Policy
• Professional Development Policy
• Performance Review Policy
• Grief and Loss Policy
• Bullying Policy
• Sexual Harassment Policy
• Affirmative Action Policy
• Staff Dispute Resolution Policy
• Time in Lieu Policy
• Family Friendly Policy
• Employment References Policy
• Acceptable Use of Vehicles & Equipment Policy
• Acceptable Use of Computers, Internet & Email Policy
• First Aid Policy
• Injury and Incident Reporting Policy

Other Policies/Templates

• Letting of Premises Policy
• Sneezing Policy*

Make a deposit

If you have some great policies that your organisation thinks would be of use to other groups, email them to kathyr@ourcommunity.com.au or post to Kathy Richardson, PO Box 354 North Melbourne, 3051.

Acknowledgements

Our Community would like to acknowledge the following organisations and individuals, who have generously provided policies for inclusion in the Policy Bank:

• 9 Months Plus Charitable Trust
• Accenture
• Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (VIC)
• Doncare Community Services (VIC)
• Eyre Peninsula Community Foundation (SA)
• Fernlea House Inc. (VIC)
• Housing Resource and Support Service (VIC)
• Kindergarten Parents Victoria (KPV)
• Kyneton Community & Learning Centre (VIC)
• Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre (VIC)
• Multicultural Aged Care (SA)
• Northcote Rental Housing Co-operative (VIC)
• Peninsula Access Support and Training (VIC)
• Shields United Port Lincoln Soccer & Sporting Club Inc (SA)
• The Hut Community Centre (SA)
• Victorian Landcare Network (VIC)
• Western Sydney Community Forum (NSW)
• Women's Health Queensland Wide (QLD)
• Marion Grace Woolley (UK)

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Our Community Pty Ltd   www.ourcommunity.com.au   ABN 24 094 608 705
National Headquarters: 51 Stanley St, West Melbourne Victoria 3003 Australia
(PO Box 354 North Melbourne 3051 Victoria)
Telephone (03) 9320 6800   Fax (03) 9326 6859   Email service@ourcommunity.com.au