What is ShareCraft?

ShareCraft is an online platform that connects creators of best practices in social services (Practice Authors) with organisations looking to implement these practices. Our platform facilitates the sharing of service models, tools, templates, manuals, and methodologies specifically designed to address social issues such as homelessness, mental health, family violence, and other challenges faced by vulnerable populations. We are a mission-based social enterprise working on breaking down some of the systemic barriers to social innovation and impact.

Need help? Email us at support@sharecraft.org

What is a ‘best practice’ for social impact?

A best practice is a service model or method used to address social problems and support vulnerable people. Requirements to be listed on the ShareCraft platform:

• The Practice has been developed by an individual or a social service organisation (Practice Author) that owns the IP to that practice (the Practice doesn't infringe on someone else's IP).
• The Practice Author has to have delivered the Practice to real clients (it's not just a theory)
• Evidence of the Practice effectiveness needs to be provided to buyers or licensees of the Practice (e.g by providing summaries or original external evaluation reports)

Who can author a best practice?

ShareCraft's focus is on sharing practices - that means you need to have actually delivered your practice in the real world to be included in ShareCraft. Normally you would have done this as part of a social organisation's work, but we also accept practices from individuals who developed a practice.

How does licensing a practice through ShareCraft work?

Search or browse the listed best practices, and when you find a practice you'd like to implement, simply click the "Buy License Now" button and complete the payment process through our secure Stripe integration. Once your payment is processed, you'll receive access to the practice materials and a confirmation email with your license details. By using this platform you agree to our Terms of Service.

For more complex practices (full service models or programs), you click the ‘Enquiry / Messaging’ button and send an enquiry to the licensor (Practice Author). You can then set up a discussion or meeting to learn more about the service model and contract directly with the Practice Author outside of the platform. Some service models require your organisation to go through an accreditation process before a license is issued.

What types of practices are available to license?

The intent of ShareCraft is to remove barriers to sharing of quality best practices across the sector. The most comprehensive best practices are ‘service models’ that specify the details of how a program is delivered and include training and support for the Licensee organisation. These practices can relate to any area of social impact or social service, or to any part of the service system. For example, they may include methods for case workers, managers or executives, but could also include financial tools for CFOs, HR tools, data and analysis practices and models - any method or tool that is used to achieve or improve a social mission.

How does ShareCraft ensure practices are high-quality and ethical?

While we don't guarantee the effectiveness of practices, we review submissions before listing them on our platform and may reject listings that don't meet ethical standards. We also maintain a review system where licensees can share their experiences and outcomes. Additionally, our complaints process provides an avenue to address concerns about accuracy or quality, helping maintain the integrity of our marketplace. Our plan is to set up an advisory committee drawn from experts in the social sector to periodically review and make recommendations on quality and enhancing practice sharing. The Licensor (author of the best practice) is fully responsible for the quality and accuracy of the best practice that they list on the platform (see the Terms of Service).

Can I modify a practice to better suit my organisation's needs?

Yes, typically you can make necessary modifications to implement the practice effectively in your specific context. Applying novel ideas in new contexts is key to innovation. As a result, you may be asked to share any amendments or improvements or even data back with the original Practice Author. This helps build a community of continuous improvement and learning.

How much does it cost to purchase a license to a best practice?

Each Licensor (Practice Author) sets their own fee for their best practice. The fee for a 'Buy License Now' license is visible on the website as a fixed price. There are no additional platform costs - the quoted fee is the amount you will pay including transaction costs. These licenses allow you to use the license and materials as often as you like as long as you like once you pay the license.

If there is no quoted price on the website, you message the Practice Author to set up separate meetings about the license. The Practice Author will give you details about the license requirements and any fees directly - those fees are set by the Practice Author and could be free or up to thousands of dollars for well-established high-evidence programs.

Why are fees being charged for best practices in the non-profit sector?

Social organisations often don’t have the time or resources to document, package and provide their practices to others for free (as this takes time for their skilled staff), let alone find time to train others to ensure the practice is well-delivered. By charging a fee for their IP, social organisations can recoup some of the costs of sharing and training others. Your fee could even contribute to that author organisation further developing the practice and gaining more evidence of what works.

How is the platform funded?

There are no upfront fees or advertising fees. Practice Authors set their own license fees. For Buy Now Licenses, which are automatically managed transactions using Stripe, ShareCraft charges a 11% commission to support the systems, plus 3% to pay for the financial transaction services (Stripe) . This allows people to easily transact between different countries and currencies. This is low by industry standards to allow maximum returns to the Practice Authors. This will appear on the transaction statement. For Enquiry based transactions, there are no financial transaction fees, but Practice Authors pay a 9% commission on the first year's license fee charged to the licensee once it is contracted.

As a Practice Author, what happens when someone purchases my practice?

When someone purchases a license to your practice, you'll receive a notification and payment (minus our commission) within 14 days. ShareCraft deducts a 4% for financial transaction fees and 11% platform fee) from each 'Buy Now' purchase. You can see your transactions via your inbox in your ShareCraft account, showing the full payment amount and fees deducted. You then provide the Practice materials to the buyer (or we can manage that for you).

Can I sell or transfer my purchased license to another organisation?

No, licenses purchased through ShareCraft are non-transferable - no sub-licensing, transferring, or making the practice available to third parties. Each organisation wishing to implement a practice must purchase its own license.

As a Practice Author, am I required to provide support to licensees?

As a Practise Author you set your own terms (some Practices even require buyers to go through an accreditation process). You can specify any available support in your practice listing or negotiate additional support terms separately with licensees. Many Practice Authors find that offering some level of implementation guidance enhances the value of their practice, especially for complex service models. Most practices benefit from at least providing some step-by-step guidance, notes, training or videos to support the implementation of the practice. We can help you decide what to include in your Practice offering.

Who owns the data?

ShareCraft Network owns the information on the ShareCraft.org website to enable it to facilitate promotion and facilitate transactions between Licensees and Licensors. Also see our Privacy Policy for how we manage the data you post on the platform (e.g. listing information or personal account information). Financial information is all managed via Stripe, a leading provider of financial transaction services across the world.

The content of the practice (e.g. all the documents, tools, methods, training materials, videos etc. that form part of the practice) is fully owned by the Licensor (Practice Author / content creator) which is often an organisation not an individual person, and ShareCraft does not own that IP. The Licensor continues to own the practice content and provides a license to others to use it - that license is a legal contract that allows use and application of IP, but the IP ownership remains with the original creator. For 'enquiry' or messaging transactions the Licensor can draft and develop their own licensing agreements.