Goodstart: steering a social enterprise for impact
How does Goodstart, as a social enterprise, balance its commercial and social goals; and what role does influencing the system play in meeting its purpose? +Podcast
Read More Medium Read
Sharing insights from SVA’s work and across the social sector to prompt learning and discussion about effective practice.
Explore articles
Strategy: to consult, inform or simply wing it?
Be intentional about who to engage in your strategy development process. Find out how to do it and when.
Read More Short Read
Growing effectiveness – one year on
This month marks a year since SVA launched the SVA Fundamentals for Impact. Over that time we have learnt a lot about how to use and adapt the framework.
Read More Short Read
Competition: it’s all about the consumer
Robert Fitzgerald AM from the Productivity Commission talks about competition, contestability and consumer choice in the social sector. +Podcast
Read More Medium Read
How disability service providers can become more customer-centric
A practical guide for providers looking to be more effective and efficient in supporting customers. +Podcast
Read More Long Read
How to go about a non-profit merger
A how-to guide for non-profit organisations exploring whether a merger is right for them and, if so, how to go about it. +Podcast
Read More Long Read SVA Fundamentals for Impact: are you doing good?
The SVA Fundamentals for Impact enable organisations to assess whether they are being effective and how they can do better. Why and how was the framework developed? +Audio
Read More Long Read
Founding SVA Consulting
Four of the key players behind Australia’s first dedicated non-profit consultancy for the social sector tell the story of setting up and shepherding SVA Consulting through its initial years. +Podcast
Read More Long Read
Scaling SVA Consulting: an insider’s perspective
SVA Consulting Executive Director, Olivia Hilton reflects on what brought her to the business and the principles that have shaped and guided its growth. +Podcast
Read More Long Read
How to be more effective in reducing disadvantage?
After 10 years in the sector, SVA Consulting reflects on the strategies and interventions that it has seen deliver the greatest impact. +Audio
Read More Long Read
Sector trends: stories from the frontline part 2
In part 2, leaders reflect on how their organisations are responding to trends in evidence-based practice, innovation capabilities, place-based service design and collaboration. +Audio
Read More Medium Read Sector trends: stories from the frontline part 1
Leaders in the social sector reflect on current trends and how their organisations are responding to be the most effective funders and service providers. Part 1 of 2. + Podcast
Read More Medium Read
Summer treats: staff picks 2016
SVA staff share a collection of articles, podcasts, books, videos and films touching on sector topics that have inspired them as they go about their work to address disadvantage.
Read More Medium Read
Process efficiencies help non-profits achieve more impact
Case studies show social purpose organisations are reaping the benefits of improved process efficiencies. Find out how. + Podcast
Read More Medium Read
Kickstarting an innovation strategy
Four organisations in the disability sector share how and why they responded to sector changes by launching an innovation strategy. + Podcast
Read More Long Read
Arriving at a career on purpose
New directors in SVA’s consulting team, Susie King and Malcolm Garrow give fresh perspectives on the social sector and share what’s brought them to a career in this sector.
Read More Long Read
The importance of defining your endgame
A case study of South Port UnitingCare’s BOLT program shows why organisations should be asking what their endgame is, rather than how to scale.
Read More Short Read
Managing to outcomes: what, why and how?
What does ‘managing to outcomes’ mean and why are small and large organisations alike embarking on this journey?
Read More Short Read
Find your philanthropic true north
To affect positive social change, philanthropic organisations need clarity and alignment on four key elements as demonstrated by the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
Read More Long Read
How culture grows effective outcomes
Te Whānau O Waipareira is working with SVA Consulting to build an outcomes management culture and strategy to measure what really matters for Māori families. +Audio
Read More Medium Read
Giving that packs a punch: best practice in philanthropy today
A review of philanthropic activity commissioned by the AMP Foundation has revealed Australian funders could do more to adopt best practice approaches.
Read More Medium Read
The journey of creating shared value
Explore the roles of non-profit organisations and government in optimising the impact of shared value.
Read More Medium Read
Lining up community and business goals
Adam Check, Head of Community at the NRL, talks about the NRL’s community engagement strategy, practicing what you preach, and how this can contribute to the Game’s bottom line.
Read More Medium Read
Thinking clearly about challenging problems
Deconstructing a complex problem using issue trees can infuse a new sense of clarity and lead to efficient solutions.
Read More Short Read
Vision, mission or just wishin’
Graham Long, CEO of The Wayside Chapel, talks about how he puts Wayside’s mission into practice and what he has learnt along the way.
Read More Long Read
A framework for making difficult decisions
A prioritisation matrix can help you look at options in different ways – even with limited information.
Read More Medium Read
Making your mission matter
We talk a lot about ‘mission’ in the for-purpose sector. But what is a mission, and how do organisations think about and use their mission? Three CEOs share their experience.
Read More Long Read
A pathway to strategic change
Community services provider JewishCare demonstrates the power of strategic planning to respond to both internal and external catalysts for change.
Read More Medium Read
Embedding continuous improvement
The framework that drives sustainable social change in social purpose organisations (and their funders) supporting them to get better at what they do.
Read More Short Read
Due diligence: making philanthropy work for you
Applying a due diligence framework ensures choosing a fund recipient which best fits the funder’s strategy as well as having the capacity and capability to fulfil its aims.
Read More Medium Read
Brave leaders hold and measure clear goals
New Philanthropy Capital’s Tris Lumley would die happy if every non-profit organisation set clear goals, measured them, held to them and stopped making excuses.
Read More Medium Read
Stop proving; start improving!
A challenging case for refocusing measurement and evaluation around simple measures that drive improvement rather than time-consuming academic studies that provide ‘proof’.
Read More Medium Read
If focus is so good for non-profits, why do so few do it
Is your organisation focused? And if not, what’s getting in the way? Discover the three common obstacles to focus – and how to overcome them.
Read More Long Read
Avoiding strategy ping pong: the board’s role in strategy development
Avoid strategy development feeling like a game of table tennis between board and management by getting clear on roles upfront and know when and how they might need to change.
Read More Long Read
Seeing eye to eye with stakeholders
Find out how CERA involved key partners and stakeholders in developing its strategy resulting in stronger relationships, clarity on roles and a better plan.
Read More Long Read
Shared planning: letting staff determine your direction
Having no fixed idea on the future direction of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW (now Dementia Australia), the CEO engaged stakeholders to develop a strategy that reflected their combined views.
Read More Medium Read
You get what you give: The art of funding strategically
What are the challenges and how do you overcome them when your philanthropy becomes less about ‘giving money away’ and more about the social impacts you can achieve?
Read More Long Read
Finding the golden thread: A new approach to articulating program logic
The Golden Thread methodology is an effective way to articulate program logic statements – the indispensable tools for describing how our activities lead to the impact we seek.
Read More Long Read
Focusing ambition: The Wyatt Benevolent Institution
How did the 124 year-old Wyatt Benevolent Institution become more strategic in achieving sustainable social impacts?
Read More Medium Read
Moving towards engaged philanthropy: The Trust Company
How The Trust Company evolved its funding philosophy from small, ad hoc grants to ‘engaged philanthropy’ and the impact on grantees.
Read More Medium Read
To consult or to insult?
Are you consulting with staff for the right reasons and in the best way? Find out why, and at which stages, it is important to consult as you develop your strategic plan.
Read More Short Read