Computer scientist Alan Kay once observed that "the best way to predict the future is to invent it." What we can create is, in fact, instrumental in shaping our future. As John Schaar puts it, "The future is not a...
Valerie Lambert is a relative newcomer to the nonprofit world. Before joining Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver in the role of executive director two years ago, her experience was exclusively in the private sector. When making the leap, she immediately...
I have been working with organizations, and especially managers, for 14 years now, and one thing is clear: managing people is hard. Some people want to be managers and seek it out. Others have been promoted to the position, regardless...
A change of leadership is never an easy time for a nonprofit. The board has a lot on the line. Clients, staff, and funders are looking to them to find the right person to take the organization forward. The wrong...
What is governance? Most discussions about governance assume that everyone involved has the same notion of just what "governance" means. In fact, there may be substantial differences in understanding of what it does mean. So the best starting point in...
Last month, a group of committed folk came together for the second annual Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) forum. Representing the diverse interests, concerns, and hopes of the Ontario nonprofit sector, it was apparent the 100-or-so attendees were ready to get...
Credit crunch and economic downturn - these terms have been bandied about so often lately that they've become commonplace in our vernacular. We've been warned of their impact and cautioned to brace ourselves in their wake. But how exactly do...
According to a January 2009 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), the need for food banks in Canada has risen dramatically since the food bank system was put in place in 1981, with the opening of the...
1. The convener invites people to the table who are not able to participate fully or successfully. Often we don't think very much about who we need at a collaborative table. Conveners often use a stakeholder model and draw a...
I was sitting around with a few friends the other night and we were all talking about the economic recession that is having a dramatic and unprecedented impact on every nation’s financial well-being. The conversation became quite animated with all...
