About Our Community
What is Our Community?
Our Community is a Melbourne-based social enterprise group founded in 1999. From the about page: "Our Community is the engine room for creating and disseminating practical, affordable training, leadership and technological solutions that allow not-for-profit and grantmaking organisations to get on with the crucial work of building stronger communities."
The group operates eight enterprises: Institute of Community Directors Australia (governance training for non-profit boards), FundingCentre.com.au (Australia's smartest grants database), GiveNow (Australia's first and best giving platform), Succession Media (a news service for the not-for-profit sector), SmartyGrants (software and data science for grantmakers), SmartyFile (a red-tape-busting data-storage and sharing tool for grant applicants), Our Community House (a green and creative co-working space in Melbourne), and Our Community International (taking the Australian grantmaking revolution to the UK, Europe and beyond).
In 2020, Our Community ceased its B Corp accreditation in favour of legally mandating its social mission in its constitution: "commercial imperatives are afforded equal priority to our social mission, our commitment to employees, and our responsibility to the environment in which we work."
The target population: "the 600,000 community organisations in Australia that are the true catalysers of communities."
Where will I work?
The Australian HQ is Our Community House at 552 Victoria Street, North Melbourne, Victoria 3051. There is also a London office at 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London W1W 5PF, United Kingdom (Our Community International / SmartyGrants UK).
From the DB remote configuration: "We mostly work on-site from our Melbourne office but are increasingly open to remote working (within Australia)." Our Community House is itself a co-working space for the social sector.
What is the Our Community team like?
Around 30 staff work at Our Community House. From the staff section verbatim: "Our dynamic, committed team of good-natured social justice warriors comprises people who live and breathe community. Our staff have overwhelmingly been drawn to Our Community by the opportunity it gives them to use their networks, experiences and skills for good. Many have been with the organisation since the start, or have left and come back, or have been around for more than two decades."
Leadership: Denis Moriarty AM (Founder & Group Managing Director), Carol Schwartz AO (Founding Chair — also a Member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Board and Chair of the Climate Council), and Dr Simon Longstaff AO (Director — Executive Director of The Ethics Centre). The organisation operates with a flat structure: "We value our flat structure: we share the cleaning as well as the decision-making."
Work-Life Balance
From the about page's "How we work" section verbatim: "In November 2022, following a five-month pilot, we officially adopted a four-day work week, using the 80-20-80 rule: (80% time; 100% pay; 100% productivity). We are loving our new way of working!"
The 80-20-80 rule is the policy: 80% time, 100% pay, 100% productivity. The Manifesto pairs with the schedule: "We are dogmatic and passionate. We strive for fairness and we question authority. We accept increments, but strive for revolution. We use our balance sheet to create social change. We are tolerant of risks and failures. We celebrate success and learn from our mistakes. We believe in a work environment that allows for an authentic work-life balance."
Perks and Benefits
- 4-day work week since November 2022 — 80-20-80 rule (80% time, 100% pay, 100% productivity)
- Flat structure — share cleaning and decision-making
- Melbourne office at Our Community House (a co-working space for the social sector)
- Authentic work-life balance anchored in the company manifesto
- Social mission legally mandated in the organisation's constitution
- Ethical purchasing screen — avoid suppliers without women on boards or with gambling income