Charities enrich our society. They affect each one of us, reach into every Australian community and do extraordinary work that has effects beyond our shores.

They are established and run by people who want to make a difference, and it is this goal that inspires high levels of public trust and confidence - both of which underpin charitable giving and volunteering.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission is the national regulator of charities. We exist to maintain and protect this public trust and confidence, to support a sustainable sector and to promote the reduction of unnecessary regulatory obligations on charities.

A charity, like any other organisation or individual, can be a victim of crime. Fraud and financial crime are among the biggest areas of concern for charities.

There are lessons from our experience working with charities, and the experiences of others, that can help charities guard against fraud and other crime. This guide draws on those experiences and outlines practical steps that every charity can take to protect itself.

This guide is aimed at board or committee members, trustees and managers of charities. It will also be of interest to employees and volunteers. It is designed to help you protect your charity from fraud and other financial crime. It highlights some of the risks to which for charities can be vulnerable and provides some practical steps that you can take to reduce and manage these risks.