More than 50 representatives from community organisations across the Northern Rivers came together at Bangalow A&I Hall on Wednesday 12 August for NRCF’s Northern Rivers Community Sector Sustainability Summit.
The Summit shared findings from NRCF’s 2026 State of the Sector research, which captured responses from 119 organisations, and invited the sector to help shape practical approaches to strengthening organisational sustainability.
Opening the Summit, NRCF CEO Sam Henderson described grassroots and community organisations as part of the “essential social infrastructure of the Northern Rivers”, often among the first to recognise and respond when community needs change.
NRCF Community Impact Manager Kiri Dicker presented the research, which found:
- 68% said demand for their services had increased in the past 12 months
- only 19% were fully able to meet current demand
- 71% reported stretched or inadequate volunteer capacity
- 39% had less than six months of financial reserves
- more than half identified funding core operational costs as a major barrier.
Despite these pressures, 76% of organisations remain optimistic about their future.
“Our community organisations continue to respond to enormous need across the Northern Rivers, but many are doing so with stretched people and resources,” Sam said. “If we want strong and resilient communities, we need to make sure the organisations supporting them are sustainable too.”
Following the research presentation, attendees took part in a co-design workshop exploring NRCF’s emerging Organisational Sustainability Framework and the six interconnected capabilities that contribute to long-term sustainability: Create Impact, Mobilise Resources, Nurture People, Govern and Lead, Connect and Influence, and Learn and Adapt.
Participants helped test and strengthen the framework and identify indicators that could inform a future Organisational Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool.
The discussion also recognised that sustainability isn’t determined by organisational capability alone. Funding models, workforce and volunteer availability, policy settings and the way funders and institutions engage with grassroots organisations all influence their ability to remain strong over time.
NRCF will now use the research and Summit feedback to refine the framework and inform future grantmaking, capacity-building and advocacy, while strengthening conversations with donors, government and philanthropy about what long-term support for our region’s community organisations looks like.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the research and Summit. Your knowledge and experience are helping shape what comes next.
Read and download the full 2026 State of the Sector Report.
Thank you to our funding partner: Paul Ramsey Foundation
Photo credit: Value Imagery
