“Working with ACFID has given us the opportunity to develop a strong reputation within the Australian INGO sector that has allowed us to emulate the success we’ve had in other markets. The ACFID organisation is professional, organised and above all, central to this space. I could not speak more highly of their work on bringing together the community and adding value to their members through partnerships such as ours” – Michael Stachowiak, Head of Business Development Australia & New Zealand ([email protected]) 

Read more about our partnership with StoneX here.

Who are OSKY?

OSKY, Canberra’s premier independent web development agency, has spent over a decade pioneering innovative, future-focused solutions tailored to meet the needs of non-profits and other mission-driven organisations. Their dedication to affordability and impact has made them a valued partner, particularly for organisations operating on tight budgets. 

Key services include: 

• Design: Seamlessly balancing user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). 
• Analysis: Aligning projects with strategic goals for optimal outcomes. 
• Development: Custom-built solutions using cutting-edge open-source technologies. 
• Support & Maintenance: Comprehensive, hands-on assistance ensuring long-term success. 
• Testing: Rigorous protocols for robust and secure digital products. 

The Need 

While OSKY has been a steadfast supporter of the non-profit community, their ambition to expand their reach was constrained by sponsorship budgets. This limitation prevented them from fully capitalising on sponsorship opportunities to amplify their brand visibility and value proposition. 

The Solution 

Building on over seven years of collaboration with ACFID, a creative in-kind sponsorship arrangement was developed. OSKY committed to designing a targeted giveaway campaign for the 2024 ACFID National Conference, offering prizes worth $20,000 in digital services tailored to non-profit needs. 

ACFID facilitated a consultation process with its members to identify pressing digital challenges, ensuring the prizes were both relevant and impactful. These prizes included UX reviews, security audits, SEO analyses, and hours of dedicated design and development work. A complementary marketing campaign further enhanced OSKY’s exposure across ACFID’s extensive network. 

The Outcomes

• Expanded Reach: Access to a diverse audience of professionals spanning non-profits, government, academia, and the private sector, including domestically focused organisations such as Red Cross and Burnett Institute. 
• Sector-Specific Connections: Strengthened relationships within international aid and development, alongside broader domestic-focused partnerships. 
• New Opportunities: All but one prize were awarded, leading to ongoing projects and new collaborations. 
• Extended Visibility: OSKY’s conference profile remains accessible to attendees for 12 months, ensuring prolonged brand exposure. 

OSKY Testimonial

Our partnership with ACFID, ongoing since 2017, has been a cornerstone of OSKY’s mission to empower non-profits through innovative and tailored digital solutions. Collaborating with ACFID has enabled us to support organisations driving meaningful change by addressing critical challenges through services such as web and app development, user experience reviews, security audits, CRM integrations, and SEO strategies. Over the years, this partnership has evolved significantly, culminating in impactful initiatives like the 2024 National Conference sponsorship, which further amplified our shared vision of delivering transformative digital services to the sector. The trust and collaboration fostered through this partnership have not only expanded our reach but also deepened our understanding of how to effectively support mission-driven organisations. We are proud of the milestones achieved together and look forward to continuing our journey of driving digital transformation and innovation in the non-profit community – Ken Ong, Founder & Owner, OSKY Interactive

The Future 

The success of this initiative underscores the value of Osky’s ongoing sponsorship of the ACFID National Conference. Their strong alignment with the sector’s needs and ACFID’s expansive network positions this partnership for continued growth and collaboration. 

Conclusion 

The partnership between OSKY and ACFID exemplifies how strategic sponsorships can unlock new opportunities while delivering value to the broader community. By addressing key sector challenges through innovative solutions and leveraging ACFID’s network, OSKY has solidified its position as a trusted digital partner for the non-profit sector.

What ACFID’s Members say about OSKY

“We are so glad we chose Osky to create our new website! We are a small non-profit with limited resources, so we’ve made very slow progress – yet Osky have been patient, professional, and prompt in answering our questions throughout the whole process. They’re very skilled and knowledgeable, but also able to communicate very clearly with a couple of non-IT specialists! They find solutions for everything we want to do. We have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone considering a new website – thanks so much to you all, Team Osky!” – Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) 

 “We are not sure what we did without Osky! The team at Osky Interactive are proactive, helpful and efficient, always prompt and clear communicators, and we are absolutely over the moon to be working with them and look forward to our communications with their team. We are impressed by their know-how and attention to detail. Osky is phenomenal.” – Mary MacKillop Today 

“Engaged OSKY to perform an audit and subsequent upgrade/refresh to our website. Job well done! Professional, patient, timely and great to work with !! Thanks to Bruce and the team. 😊“ – Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC) 

“OSKY partnered with the organisation where I work – Good Return – to do a UX review of our website home page. They immediately understood the core of our work and provided many great ideas to drive more supporters to our site and encourage them to join us. Bruce is so easy to work with and a great communicator – I definitely recommend the OSKY team.” –  Good Return 

“The team at OSKY is passionate, professional and friendly, with the technical expertise and experience to take on new projects or build upon existing projects. From the get go, they have been willing to listen to our needs and come up with innovative solutions in a timely and proactive manner. Their honesty, attitude and amazing results have made it a real pleasure to work with them. Thank you OSKY!” – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) 

“The service that Osky Interactive provided to Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA was highly professional: their staff were always very fast to respond to queries and to progress through the development phases. Their advice, skills, and support helped us build a fantastic new campaign web-page that we are wholly satisfied with: it’s a clean, impacting, and accessible site that will help us increase the engagement of our supporters. Five stars!” –  Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA 

“OSKY have done an incredible job developing Oxfam Aotearoa’s new website, and have been there every step of the way to offer help as we have launched the site. A huge thank you to the whole team at OSKY for all of your work on this project!” – Oxfam 

Introduction/Overview

The Nossal Institute for Global Health advances equity and sustainability in global health through systems thinking. By engaging in applied research, policy development, and partnerships, Nossal addresses key areas such as health governance, inclusion, and resilience to improve outcomes for diverse populations.

The Need

Nossal sought to engage philanthropists and industry influencers at ACFID’s National Conference. However, the sponsorship package did not align with their needs, prompting exploration of alternative pathways.

The Solution

ACFID proposed the Global Development Leadership Dialogue, a curated, invite-only event targeting philanthropists, decision-makers, and impact investors. This alternative offered meaningful engagement opportunities at a more accessible investment level while meeting Nossal’s strategic goals.

The Outcome

Nossal sponsored the Dialogue and informally delivered closing remarks before breaking for networking drinks; a benefit delivered in addition to the standard sponsorship inclusions. They successfully built relationships with key stakeholders, gained exclusive insights on leveraging private wealth for global development, and positioned themselves as a leader in systems-based health solutions.

Nossal Institute’s Testimonial

“ACFID took the time to understand our objectives and were able to identify bespoke opportunities for us to connect with key influencers and philanthropists. We appreciated the opportunity ACFID gave us to be an active participant.” Matt Ralston, Nossal Institute

Conclusion

The success of this partnership underscores the value of customised sponsorship opportunities that cater to organisational goals. Through flexible, strategic engagement, ACFID offers sponsors unparalleled access to key audiences, ensuring lasting impact and alignment with their mission. Join us to amplify your influence in the development sector.

Connect with Nossal Institute

Want to learn more about Nossal Institute? Reach out to Angela Mudford [email protected]

Who are Home in Place?

Home in Place is one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit affordable housing providers, delivering over 9,000 homes to over 25,000 people across Australia and New Zealand; while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With 40 years of experience, they champion the right to adequate housing globally and have expanded their reach in the US and in the Pacific region through advocacy, partnerships, and strategic development initiatives. Home in Place are members of the Pacific Urban Partnership with a cross section of agencies.

The Need

As an ACFID member, Home in Place sought to raise awareness of their growing international and Pacific-focused initiatives, to the global development community. They understood the benefit of creating a stronger presence at ACFIDs National Conference to foster collaboration and increase support opportunities.

They understood as an ACFID Member, they are entitled to submit an EOI to run a concurrent session as part of the conference programme, but they wanted a more integrated strategy, with a guarantee of exposure and presence.

The Solution

Through bronze sponsorship at ACFID’s Conference, Home in Place significantly enhanced its visibility with branding exposure to both in-person and virtual international attendees (many of whom are based in the Pacific). This was complemented by an exhibition booth in a high-traffic area. As ACFID members, they submitted and secured approval for a concurrent session, strategically and seamlessly integrating membership benefits with their sponsorship.

The Outcomes

Home in Place leveraged their exhibition booth, which was strategically positioned near the coffee cart, to engage attendees during breaks, forging new connections and significantly increasing awareness of their Pacific work.

They used their concurrent session by providing a focused overview of their work and highlighting their partnerships with Pacific organisations to attendees. They directed attendees to their booth for more information, ensuring strong engagement throughout the event and enabling more meaningful collaborations and opportunities for conversations.

By combining their established brand recognition, strategic sponsorship, and concurrent session participation, Home in Place effectively raised awareness of their Pacific-focused initiatives and strengthened their presence within the international development community.

Home in Place Testimonial

“Partnering with ACFID for their conference was an excellent opportunity to combine the benefits of sponsorship with the advantages of membership. By integrating our concurrent session, with the high visibility of the brand at all keynote sessions and the dinner event.

Coupled with the exhibition opportunities, we achieved significant visibility and engagement. The dual approach allowed us to connect with key international development stakeholders, raise awareness of our Pacific initiatives, and foster meaningful collaborations. ACFID’s flexibility and support made it easy to align the conference experience with our strategic goals.” – Dr Bernadette Pinnell (Global Business Director)

Conclusion

Home in Place’s sponsorship strategy at ACFID’s Conference highlights the value of combining sponsorship and membership benefits. Through a mix of exhibition space and conference sessions, they successfully expanded their network, showcased their initiatives, and strengthened their position within the international development community.

Connect with Home in Place

Want to learn more about Home in Place and their international work? Reach out to Bernadette Pinnell, Global Business Director, at [email protected].