The value in planning is not in creating strategy but in implementing it. The purpose of planning includes seeing the positive, tangible results accruing to the organization by instituting and achieving strategic change. Yet too many organizations see their planning...
What would we do without our nonprofit boards? Board members are often considered indispensible assets to the organization they represent. They provide guidance and direction, they keep staff on target and on mission, they open doors to their networks and,...
With the state of the current economy, saving money while growing your organization is of the utmost importance. In order to focus on the strategy and development required to take your work to the next level you need two key...
Have you ever felt pressured into accepting a deal that you were unhappy with? Or you took a deal because there seemed to be no alternative? Most of us have probably experienced this at one time or another. Just recently...
The federal government recently released their 2010 budget, which contained some big changes for Canadian charities. What will likely affect charities the most is the removal of the 80/20 disbursement quota and changes to the capital disbursement quota. In this...
This is the third in a series of six articles that discuss outcome measurement: what it is, how to do it, and most importantly, how it will help your organization. The content of these articles draws heavily on a framework...
I chair a board, and one of my board members has committed an unacceptable act. Can I ethically hold a board meeting without that director to discuss it? Yes, you can, and it is more ethical to have a formal...
In challenging times, not-for-profit organization boards and staff need to resist reactive-thinking and remember the basics of good governance and management. This starts with remembering what management-guru Peter Drucker identified as a leading quality of not-for-profits that sets the sector...
Late last year, the C.D. Howe Institute published a white paper written by Adam Aptowitzer where he argued that because the federal government does not have the necessary jurisdiction to regulate charities, it is forced to use the registration system,...
A tax receipt. It sounds simple enough. Your charity receives a valued donation, you issue a tax receipt, and the donor receives a tax credit. The ability to provide official tax receipts is an important advantage for charities seeking to...
