There’s an old adage that states “no man is an island”. The same can be said for nonprofits and charities. With the thousands of organizations working for the betterment of Canadian society, it would be folly to think a lone...
My nonprofit needs expert help from time to time. How do I learn which consultants serving the nonprofit sector are ethical? An excellent question! Because consultants serving the nonprofit sector usually earn less than they could earn serving the for-profit...
In the last article, we discussed developing quality benchmarks to effectively evaluate the project when it is completed. The quality benchmarks can be internal standards defined by the project team or external standards recognized more broadly in the industry or...
There’s an old saying that states “charity starts at home”. That may be so, but oftentimes, once the seed of charitable activity has been planted the branches quickly spread outward. So it is with the many people and organizations that...
For many organizations, leasing an essential piece of equipment, such as a photocopier, can often make more sense than buying one. Why? Because unless you're Kinko's, making photocopies probably isn't the core reason your organization exists. It makes more sense...
Introduction I opened up my closet the other day and put on a pair of casual pants that I have had for three years. As I put them on, I thought about their excellent quality. They fit well. The plaid...
Despite the oft-maligned paradigm of governments entering into contract with private firms to provide services and/or build infrastructure for the public good, public-private partnerships, or P3s, continue to gain steam in Canada. Skeptics say the fact that governments can borrow...
A couple of years ago, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada took a strategic step outward. Though boasting a staff rich in expertise and vast in experience, they nonetheless decided to outsource an external consultant for an upcoming sponsorship program....
Introduction Every project has a beginning and end. It begins with an idea, such as how to improve communications with donors, and ends with the delivery of a product or service, such as a donor database. Each project follows a...
I counsel clients and am required to explain a range of options. My clients are usually under considerable stress and not at their best for making sensible choices. It often seems they make the worst possible choice. I compare notes...
