Any well-rounded board of directors will include professionals who are experts at analyzing financial statements, savvy in boosting fundraising efforts, irreplaceable in introducing the executive director to community leaders, and relentless at evaluating and perfecting programs. But what about developing,...
Two years ago, I was involved in a three-day multi-stakeholder consultation that gathered veterinarians, slaughterhouse operators, meat processors, farm representatives, regulators, research scientists, and animal welfare activists. The goal was to develop a code for the humane handling of farm...
Should alcohol be served during board meetings, retreats, staff parties and other internal events at a nonprofit? Is this normal practice? If so, who should pay for it? This simple-sounding question raises a set of thorny questions that each organization...
I am a board member of a local charity with seven staff members. I have no idea what the Executive Director earns or how it is determined. The Chair says only the Executive Committee needs to know, and they are...
I am a program manager, delivering human service programs in my region. I have been told to do something that feels all wrong. I can't break confidentiality to tell you what it is. I went through our code of conduct...
Many academics and government experts are exhorting community developers, practitioners, and private sector managers to partner and collaborate. Although some inter-organizational systems, such as industry councils, have been around for many years, few primers exist as to how to do...
Is it ethical to pay grant writers a percentage of grants received? This question comes up all the time, as many charities would like to have a chance at new monies with no cost to them. They do not understand...
The amount I earn as a charity worker is not sufficient for a decent lifestyle for my kids. My children and I wear second-hand clothing, and one month when I had extra dental costs we ended up at a food...
You're at a party, mixing and mingling with friends, and someone happens to mention that they volunteer with the board of a charity. You've heard that this is a good way to beef up your resume, perhaps acquire some new...
I know that personal relationships at work can be career-limiting. But are there any ethical concerns? Yes, there are ethical issues because you are not the only stakeholder. You have to consider whether the other person's career is going to...
