Woody Allen once said that: "Eighty percent of life is just showing up." The other 20% is where it gets complicated. Success demands learning, knowledge, creativity, hard work, and pragmatism...more than 'just showing up'. So it is with the demands...
Can our all-volunteer charity pay board members for time-consuming non-board duties on behalf of the organization? Should we? We are located in British Columbia, and our issue involves extensive consultation sessions with the provincial government. Normally, minimum ethical standards include...
This is the third in a series of articles offering tools to not-for-profit leaders. The first article described the strategic plan - your roadmap to lead you to your desired outcomes. Your strategic plan focuses on supporting your mission and...
Effective board governance in the voluntary sector continues to be a hot topic across the country. Many organizations and foundations struggle mightily with governance issues, decisions, and best practices. Thankfully, that struggle may soon become more manageable. On April 26th,...
Having an effective board of directors is as much a part of a nonprofit organization's success as it is for a corporate organization. Board directors help to shape organizational goals and objectives. They keep the organization accountable to its members...
Is it ethical for the chair of the board to become the executive director? If the executive director position is vacant or about to be vacant, the board of directors must try to find the best new executive director they...
Should direct beneficiaries or their families serve on our board? Many charity boards are made up almost entirely of clients or caregivers of clients. Most professional associations (as distinct from professional colleges) have boards made up solely of members; their...
Board Assessment Common sense suggests that individuals and organizations committed to self-improvement are more likely to perform at or near peak capacity and achieve their goals. But a prerequisite of such improvement is having benchmarks to gauge where you're starting...
As treasurer, I work hard to keep the board informed of our financial status and forecast. But when I send or distribute statements, no one looks at them. When I raise the financial status at board meetings, they just say...
What should your criteria be for determining who gets to be listed on the slate of directors that stands for election at your annual general meeting? Many not-for-profits use geographical criteria as their primary guide. They want to ensure that...
