About us

Our mission is to build the capacity and sustainability of our fellow not for profits.

Supporting the not for profit sector is in our DNA. It’s where we came from, and it’s written into our constitution. Community Business Bureau (CBB) was established in 1995 as one of three entities arising from the restructure of the Spastic Centres of South Australia, alongside scosa and Cara.

Over the last 25 years, CBB has evolved into a unique organisation with a clear mission to build the capacity and sustainability of our sector through our salary packaging and business consulting services. This purpose is firmly embedded within our business model, making us a social enterprise. Our mission and impact are demonstrated through our Community Development Program, where we reinvest our surplus to fund grants, scholarships, and projects for the sector.

Nowadays, we support over 600 not for profit organisations Australia-wide to do better business. Each and every member of the CBB team is committed to providing cost-effective, responsive, and personalised service to the people and organisations that work hard to make a difference in our communities.

As a not for profit ourselves, we understand the opportunities and challenges facing our sector. We care about the sustainability of our fellow not for profits and the positive impact they create for the communities they serve. That is why, above all else, our focus is on providing quality services that make it easier for them to do business.

By choosing us as your salary packaging or business consulting provider, you are supporting your fellow not for profits in creating better outcomes for our communities.

Our vision

A thriving not for profit sector that is achieving its social objectives.

Our mission

To enhance social impact by building the capacity and sustainability of the not for profit sector through championing better business practices.

Our values

Our service delivery reflects our commitment to the following values:

Respect | Integrity | Service | Empowerment

Supporting the sector through pro bono consulting and free resources

At CBB, we champion better business practices to foster greater social outcomes. We provide one session of pro bono Business Consulting to new clients, helping them to establish the next steps in overcoming challenges or harnessing opportunities.

For us, it’s about providing not for profits with accessible specialist consultancy services – it’s not about the bottom line. You can book a time to chat with us here.

Our Business Consultants also provide a wealth of free advice and tips via our articles, and a range of free development resources. By providing individuals with opportunities to increase their knowledge and practical skills, we are equipping sector staff with expertise that can be shared and utilised long into the future, creating better outcomes for the community.

Group of men and women of different ages holding a sign that says Commmunity

How our Community Development Program delivers on our mission

CBB’s Community Development Program embodies our commitment to enhancing the impact of the sector by sponsoring and supporting not for profits and their staff.

We reinvest our surplus profits into this program, which is then used to deliver targeted projects, Community Business Grants, scholarships, events, and much more for our sector.

Across 2019/20, our Community Development Program contributed $242,175 to the sector

Supporting projects for the sector

Where possible, we enjoy supporting our client organisations beyond the provision of salary packaging and business consulting services. We have contributed funds to some incredible philanthropic initiatives, and also to smaller projects that support the people working in our sector:

Eldercare Staff Emergency Relief Fund

As one of the largest aged care providers in South Australia, Eldercare boasts a large workforce. To ensure members of their team can access financial support in times of need, Eldercare management created an emergency relief fund for staff. Given the connection between staff wellbeing and social impact, CBB sponsored this fund to facilitate better outcomes for Eldercare staff facing personal crises and challenges.

PQSA Work Health
and Safety

With a large amount of PQSA staff and HomeCare+ Support Workers on the road visiting clients across urban, regional, and even remote areas, PQSA identified a need for accessible health and safety measures. To support the work health and safety of PQSA and HomeCare+ staff, CBB sponsored the purchase of first aid kits for their vehicle fleet. Now, these dedicated staff and Support Workers have access to essential medical supplies regardless of their location.

Helping Hand Dementia Scholarship

The Helping Hand Dementia Scholarship was established to provide learning opportunities for staff to pursue their passion for learning and helping people living with dementia. CBB supported the scholarship fund, which reflects Helping Hand’s commitment to a legacy of learning and creating positive change. The scholarship empowers awardees to learn best practice, supporting better dementia care standards across the sector.

Orana Staff Awards

To acknowledge their employees’ dedication to enriching the lives of people with disability, Orana launched a staff awards program and CBB agreed to be a major sponsor. Orana Staff Awards recipients are recognised for supporting clients to live more independently, for delivering impactful initiatives and for contributing innovative ideas that solve a problem. The awards also emphasise the importance of forward-thinking when supporting people with disability, creating greater diversity and inclusion within the community.

Can:Do Group
Staff Facilities

Can:Do Group strive to build inclusive communities and support clients to live life without limits. CBB purchased a new coffee machine for the staff room at their new therapy centre, Can:Do South, as our way of showing gratitude for the important outcomes they deliver. It was a small gesture, but a coffee machine is a great way to foster productivity and satisfaction in the workplace – both of which improve the level of service provided to clients. Plus, staff no longer have to go and buy coffee!

Scholarships for sector staff

The Community Development Program provides not for profit professionals with training opportunities, contributing to a stronger workforce that achieves even greater social outcomes.

Since 2004, CBB has been proud to offer the Keith Fulton Memorial Scholarship, a paid scholarship to community sector employees in South Australia. Recipients participate in the Governor’s Leadership Foundation (GLF) Program offered by the Leaders Institute of South Australia. The GLF Program is a progressive and unique initiative that takes leadership development to a new level, as well as educating future leaders on complex issues facing the state.

Named in memory of CBB foundation Board Member Keith Fulton and his commitment to leadership development and lifelong learning, the scholarship supports staff from organisations who are unable to afford such a premium program.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 scholarship, Samantha Sturm and Lena Gasparyan:

Lena Gasparyan

Samantha Sturm

Community Business Grants

We are proud to offer not for profit organisations across Australia the opportunity to apply for one of our Community Business Grants. These grants fulfil a key purpose of our Community Development Program. Working with over 600 not for profit organisations across Australia, we see various trends and needs within the sector and the communities it serves. Each of our grant rounds offer targeted solutions to support these common sector themes.

View and apply for our current grant round

Past grant rounds have included:

Risk Management grant program
Resilient Mind program
Financial budget development
Financial health check and analysis
Finance for non-financial managers (online course)

The word Grants in bold lettering on a page attached to a clipboard

Community ExecNets

Networking events for the not for profit sector

For many years, the not for profit sector experienced a lack of networking opportunities. Our Community Development Program fulfils this need through our Community ExecNet events. This long-running series of breakfast events attracts around 60 not for profit board members, CEOs, and executives each time, providing fantastic networking opportunities for attendees.

We bring together leaders from different fields to share ideas, explore collaborative opportunities, and learn from guest speakers with compelling stories to share. In addition, a portion from every ticket sale is donated to charity.

Special thanks to our ExecNet partners StreetFleet.

BoardMatch

BoardMatch is a service which supports not for profit organisations to find suitable candidates for their board vacancies. Vacancies are listed on CBB’s website and advertised in our Foreword newsletter, for free. Our Community Development Program funds this service, leveraging our extensive network of professionals and providing not for profits with an additional promotional platform to attract passionate new board members.

Organisations seeking board members need to complete our BoardMatch application form. After a short approval process, we will then create a listing for you on our BoardMatch page. Applicants can then contact you directly to apply for your Board position.

Individuals can view board positions and applications can be made to the organisation directly with the contact details provided.

View vacancies

Sponsoring events for not for profits

The Community Development Program also supports the delivery of other events for the sector. CBB often supports and engages in professional development events for the sector by exhibiting or sponsoring. If you are holding an event, get in touch to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Contact [email protected] or call 1300 763 505.

Our people support our purpose

Our staff are passionate about the not for profit sector and demonstrate this in a variety of ways:

Volunteering

CBB is proud to support its staff to volunteer, allowing them to do so during work hours if necessary. Activities include packing Christmas hampers, fundraisers, blood donors, school volunteers, sports coaches, mentors, working as board members on not for profit boards, and much more. In 2019/20 our employees gave over 408 hours of their time!

Charity Champions
fundraising program

Charity Champions is CBB’s staff-led fundraising program. Each quarter a different CBB team organises an activity with the view to raising money for a chosen charity. Funds raised are then matched by CBB’s Community Development Program.

Staff casual days

On the last Friday of each month, CBB holds a casual day, with staff donating a gold coin (or two) to wear casual clothes. Funds raised by our staff are then matched by CBB’s Community Development Program and donated to a staff-nominated organisation.

Want more? You can read all about our support of the not for profit sector in our latest Annual Report.

Download our 2019/20 Annual Report

Would you like to know how working with our Business Consultants can strengthen and grow your organisation?

Find out more

CBB's vision, mission and values

Resources

Projects

Scholarships

Community Business Grants

Community ExecNets

BoardMatch

Sponsorships

How our team supports our purpose