Nonprofit organizations are often encouraged to include a lawyer on their board of directors. Afterall, what group couldn't benefit from some free legal advice now and then. But it's not quite as simple as that. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with...
Founders of organizations are typically charismatic and driven individuals who inspire others to get involved. As a result of their commitment, a fledgling idea turns into a full-fledged reality. Then the day comes when the founder announces it’s time for...
You agreed on the date of the board meeting at the last meeting and you sent an Outlook Meeting Invitation to ensure each board member had the next meeting date in his or her calendar. You sent out the board...
I just returned from a job interview for the position of CEO of a nonprofit organization. In their strategic plan, they indicated that they were going to hire a full-time fund development manager to handle all development areas, and that...
Last month, we spoke about the different types of people that can cause conflicts on the board. This month, we are going to talk about the ten things you need to keep in mind when you encounter one of these...
This checklist may be of use to those considering joining a board of a charity. As well, it may be useful to staff and the board of charities who are interested in improving their legal compliance and improving their risk...
Most nonprofit board members will tell you that at one point they had the misfortune of sitting on the board with a difficult person, someone who dominates discussions, intimidates other board members, is argumentative, shows up late, makes promises that...
The directors who serve on a nonprofit board do so voluntarily. But there are instances when directors are financially compensated for their time and effort. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the Ottawa-based law firm Drache LLP, explains when this may...
John’s board experiences in the nonprofit sector have run the gamut from exhilarating to frustrating. He has served on several boards, some of the traditional, management variety, others with a governance model. One of his current boards is a poster...
Discussion of not-for-profit organization governance has risen to common conversation for those engaged in associations; this includes members/donors, staff, volunteer leaders, government and more. Governance refers to the processes that govern the organization. This article reviews what they are and...
