ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission)

The ACNC, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, is the national regulator of charities in Australia, responsible for registration and ongoing reporting obligations. Cohiva Quorum models ACNC requirements, alongside the Corporations Act and state association acts, as data to support not-for-profit boards.

What the ACNC is

The ACNC stands for the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. It is the national regulator of charities in Australia, responsible for registering charities and overseeing their ongoing obligations, including annual reporting and keeping their details current.

For a not-for-profit board or committee, the ACNC adds a layer of governance responsibilities on top of whatever else applies to the organisation. A registered charity has reporting deadlines and record-keeping expectations to meet, and the people responsible for governance need a clear view of what is due and when. Many organisations also engage with more than one regulator: a charity may interact with the ACNC while an incorporated association operates under a state association act, and a company structure brings the Corporations Act into play.

This page describes the ACNC in general terms and is not legal advice.

The ACNC in the Cohiva platform

Cohiva Quorum is a governance operating system for Australian boards that models ACNC requirements, the Corporations Act and state association acts as data. It manages meetings, resolutions and obligations, so a not-for-profit committee can see its governance responsibilities in one place rather than tracking them across separate calendars and documents.

Quorum is designed to support your governance obligations, not to replace professional advice. To see how it works, explore Quorum.

Frequently asked questions

What does ACNC stand for?
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
What does the ACNC do?
It registers charities and oversees their ongoing obligations, including annual reporting.
Which Cohiva product relates to the ACNC?
Cohiva Quorum, which models ACNC requirements as data for not-for-profit committees and boards.
Does the ACNC apply to all not-for-profits?
It regulates registered charities; other not-for-profits may fall under state association acts instead.

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