Meet Bin: Her 30-year NFP journey and the bold idea she believes could transform the sector

Today’s guest is Belinda Barnier, better known to friends and colleagues as Bin.

Bin is a passionate not for profit leader whose 30+ years of experience have been guided by a deep sense of compassion, contribution and innate resilience.

Currently the Senior Community Engagement Manager at Rise Above - Capital Region Cancer Relief, Bin has worked across executive, marketing, business development, fundraising and community engagement in national/regional roles. Needless to say, she knows her stuff and has been through most of the ups and downs of not for profits.

But today, we’re going beyond her resume and into her hard-won lessons, sacrifices and her vision for the sector.

In this issue:

• 🎁 How one act of kindness shaped a lifetime of service.

• 📢 The reality of not for profit work we need to talk about.

• 🔄 What needs to change for a more sustainable sector.

— Sharon Brine, Founder and Editor (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Q: Bin, you’ve worked in the not for profit sector for more than 30 years. What drew you to this work?

A: It all started when I was a little girl, more than 50 years ago now. My grandfather was a member of our local Rotary Club. The clubs are part of an international network of business, professional and community leaders who strive to make the world a better place through practical efforts.

I remember at Christmas helping my grandfather wrap gifts for donation at our dining table, now the same table in my home in Canberra. Together, we’d wrap hundreds of gifts. I remember thinking it was lovely that somebody who might have gone without would receive a gift for Christmas.

That sense of letting people know they matter has stayed with me and shaped my passion for meaningful engagement with the community.

Q: You’ve been on both sides of the not for profit experience, giving help and receiving it. What was that like?

A: About five years ago, I was seriously unwell, unable to work and COVID had just hit. This coincided with my daughter also needing assistance due to a serious car accident.

So, for the first time ever, I needed help.

Rise Above, the local charity where I now work, stepped in and offered financial assistance. They helped me with grocery vouchers, pharmacy support, and petrol vouchers so I could get to my treatments and focus on my recovery. No judgement, no prying questions, no means testing, just practical assistance.

It wasn’t a huge amount but it made the world of difference when life was truly tough. This gesture bolstered my faith in community. That kind of help says, “You matter”. And that’s the most powerful thing you can give someone when they are facing challenges.

There’s a quote that comes to mind: “There, but for the Grace of God, go I”. It reminds me to be humble and realise that these unanticipated challenges can happen to anyone at any time. And if you found yourself in a vulnerable state, you’d hope that somebody would lend a hand.

Q: What do you wish more people talked about when it comes to working in the not for profit sector?

A: This sector is purposeful and rewarding in ways that I haven’t experienced in either the public or private sectors.

But the way we’re doing it is unsustainable. We must stop romanticising the level of sacrifice that can come with not for profit work.

In one role, I was working remotely while most of the national team was based elsewhere. For three years, no one came to look at our IT systems. I was working off my phone most days and, at one point, three of the four walls in my office had no power. I’d find myself stuck in a loop of circular conversations, trying to stay positive while feeling forgotten.

I accepted years ago that I would halve my salary to work in this sector. Recently, a friend said, “I’d never work for a not for profit because I wouldn’t put up with the conditions or the pay, but I’d happily make the donation.” This was confronting at the time but I appreciated the comment after much thought.

What hit home was clear, we shouldn’t have to choose between meaningful work and decent working conditions.

We must value our staff as whole people. Not just fundraisers or frontline workers. But committed individuals with families and aspirations of their own. And that means supporting growth with a plan and with resources.

Still, despite everything, I wouldn’t trade this path, I adore it. The impact you can have, the lives you touch, it stays with you. Even when the system falls short, the work itself never loses its worth.

Q: What needs to change in how we think about not for profits, and how can we create a more sustainable sector?

A: Not for profits are businesses with key performance indicators (KPIs), governance and audits. And we do skilled, strategic and vital work. If you got the return on investment (ROI) that you get in the not for profit space in the private sector, you'd be legendary. Yet we routinely do more with less. The sector deserves more investment.

To be more sustainable we need more collaboration. Right now, there’s duplication with many of the costs incurred by not for profits running an office. Let’s create hubs where we pool resources, volunteers and skills, and share business expenses.

I dream of a space where different charities work side by side tackling our community and environmental needs with a holistic approach.

Q: What would you say to someone just starting their journey in the sector?

A: Know your local market.

Know where you can genuinely influence and work with leaders who walk the talk.

Build relationships, collaborate widely, and never stop learning. Your integrity and network will see you through the good times and the challenges.

Q: Finally, if you could go back and speak to your younger self wrapping those Christmas gifts, what would you say?

A: I’d say, this is the most rewarding career you’ll ever have. The challenges you’ll face will broaden your awareness and life experience.

The people you’ll meet and the impact you’ll be part of are extraordinary. That is the gift of this dynamic and vibrant sector.

You will leave no stone unturned to create opportunities for the organisations you contribute to and you’ll continue to learn every day.

Every changemaker has a soundtrack. Our evolving playlist features the songs powering the remarkable women in our Women for Purpose community - the music that moves, inspires, and drives them.

Listen to today’s featured track below or enjoy our collective soundtrack on Spotify 🎧🎵