If you're an Ontario nonprofit organization and haven't heard about Bill 168 — the amendments to the Health and Safety Act regarding workplace violence and harassment — chances are you aren't in compliance with it yet. The deadline for compliance...
People who willingly take on significant board challenges inspire me. Tanya Gulliver is one of those people. After serving as president of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) for one year, Gulliver volunteered to do it again and serve...
I report to an executive director who has exhibited very poor judgment and unprofessional behaviour in his first month on the job. I’ve told the chair and she says, "Give him more time." The other staff members feel as I...
What makes a successful fundraising committee? The simplest answer to your question is people who understand your organization’s priorities and enjoy asking for money! However, given those individuals are the exception and not the rule, let’s break it down specifically...
Is it legal and ethical to take over a dormant Canadian charity? This article considers the questions: "Is it legal and ethical to take over a dormant Canadian charity in order to avoid the long bureaucratic process of application? And...
Occasionally, while doing research on an organization, you may learn that it supports a cause or position you don’t or can’t ethically stand behind. It would therefore be your duty to decline the board position, as it is unlikely that...
What would be useful for us to know before we initiate a development audit for our organization? Don’t be intimidated by the "A" word! Auditing your development program can be an excellent way of taking a snapshot of your current...
One of the most important aspects of operating a nonprofit is to have a board which can give direction to the organization. Without being comprehensive in terms of board duties, it must set policy, manage investments, handle personnel issues, raise...
How ethical is it for a nonprofit health care agency to force employees to sign job offer letters saying they agree to let the organization terminate them for any reason and without cause, both during probation and after probation? A...
It seems that a recurring frustration for volunteers and chief staff officers in the sector is governance — specifically, how to define the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors and staff, consistently follow what has been agreed to,...
