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...
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently published a list of model objects (charitable purposes) that nonprofit organizations can consult before applying for charitable status. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the Ottawa-based law firm Drache LLP, explains what these model objects...
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...
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...
The company I approached for a grant this week asked for information to confirm that my charity operated in accordance with corporate socially responsibility. We exist for public benefit and are not a corporation in that sense, though we are...
If you feel like you are bombarded with challenges, barriers, problems, and other energy-draining negatives, you're probably in just the right head space to learn more about appreciative inquiry. David Cooperrider and his colleagues at Case Western Reserve University developed...
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...
Is it ethical to shut down a charity when there is a group of people that would like to form a new board, drawing on new contacts and strategies, to help the organization carry on its work? When should a charity...
There’s an old adage that states when you want something done right, do it yourself. Many times, that philosophy can pay dividends to those who apply it on an individual basis. But when one looks at the voluntary sector and...
