In September this year, FRRR commissioned the Heartbeat of Rural Australia Study: How are NFP and Community groups faring?

The findings are now in, and we invite our sector peers and all those interested to join us for a webinar to launch the report, and discuss the key findings. We'll share what we've learnt and what this means for better ways of working with remote, rural and regional communities.

This study, commissioned through The Xfactor Collective Foundation and conducted independently by Survey Matters, confirms much of what we know anecdotally. Volunteers are feeling overwhelmed and community groups are finding it tough to keep going and supporting their communities. However, as ever, they are still optimistic.

The research also points to the challenges and opportunities facing remote, rural and regional NFPs and provides industry, philanthropy and government with evidence-based data, augmented by story-telling, to support new ways of working with communities and improving our practices based on what the community - especially grassroots, volunteer-led organisations - tell us they need.

To launch this seminal study, FRRR will host a webinar where Natalie Egleton, CEO will present on the findings, what community groups said about how small changes in funding arrangements could make a big difference, and what it means for being involved in rural philanthropy and grant making.

If you are a not-for-profit organisation seeking to hear about the findings and data set for your ongoing use, please register for the community focused webinar here.