Non-profits, Charities & Social Enterprises

Helping organisations create lasting social impact

Organisations with a social purpose operate in a unique legal, governance and regulatory environment. Whether you're establishing a new charity, expanding your services, managing governance obligations or navigating increasingly complex regulatory requirements, you need advisors who understand both the law and the realities of the sector.

At Sparke Helmore, our dedicated Not-for-profit (NFP), Charities & Social Impact team partners with charities, NFP organisations, social enterprises, Indigenous corporations, philanthropic foundations and social impact organisations across Australia. Drawing on the expertise of our national practice groups, we provide practical, commercially focused advice to support organisations throughout every stage of their lifecycle.

From establishment and registration through to governance, fundraising, commercial growth and strategic projects, we work collaboratively with our clients to help them achieve their purpose while managing legal risk and meeting their regulatory obligations.

Our lawyers regularly advise on:

• organisational structures, constitutions and governance frameworks
• ACNC and ASIC registrations and ongoing regulatory compliance including responding to regulatory investigations
• charitable trusts and giving funds
• sector specific regulatory compliance, including advising on the Aged Care Quality Standards, national and state education standards for schools and higher education and NDIS Practice Standards
• accessing charity tax concessions and exemptions and deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement
• board governance, directors' duties and governance training
• impact investing
• fundraising, including compliance with fundraising and minor gaming regulations and grant agreements
• commercial contracts, procurement and service agreements
• employment, workplace relations and volunteer matters
• property, leasing and development
• privacy, technology and intellectual property
• mergers, collaborations, shared service arrangements and organisational restructures
• dispute resolution including advising on board and member disputes.

Our multidisciplinary team has extensive experience advising organisations operating across the health, education, medical research, disability, community services, Indigenous, arts and culture, sporting and philanthropic sectors. We understand the challenges faced by purpose-driven organisations and provide practical legal solutions that enable our clients to focus on delivering positive outcomes for the communities they serve.

Whether supporting an organisation through its establishment, governance evolution, growth strategy or day-to-day operations, we combine sector knowledge with the breadth of a full-service national law firm to deliver responsive, pragmatic advice tailored to each client's objectives.