When B.C. policeman Caedmon Nash took his financial planner's advice and became an art donor, he never thought the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) would come knocking. After buying pieces of native art at a low cost, he donated them two...
Both staff and elected leaders of not-for-profit organizations can be well served by basic "tools of our trade". These include: A strategic plan A communications plan Policies and procedures A volunteer handbook A succession planning strategy A risk management strategy...
Introduction In most cases, strategy is developed by a group of individuals. In some cases, that group is comprised of management, sometimes of board members, and other times both. But, regardless of the makeup, it requires that the group solve...
Our last column about international aid dealt with the views of front-line workers, NGO's and charities with regards to Canada's international aid role. Today's piece takes a look at what our government thinks about where Canada is and should be...
Agencies expend a great deal of energy and resources in creating and managing partnerships. Most nonprofit managers can provide long lists of partnerships they have been involved in. These will range from highly successful to downright embarrassing. Yet often, managers...
As treasurer, I work hard to keep the board informed of our financial status and forecast. But when I send or distribute statements, no one looks at them. When I raise the financial status at board meetings, they just say...
What should your criteria be for determining who gets to be listed on the slate of directors that stands for election at your annual general meeting? Many not-for-profits use geographical criteria as their primary guide. They want to ensure that...
Generally speaking, Canadians are proud of being a courteous and helpful people, almost to a fault. We are taught that we're a cultural mosaic, accepting of everyone in a spirit of inclusiveness. For much of our history we have taken...
The word "strategic" is used in strange ways. First, strategic planning is frequently employed to describe a one-time or isolated event. Strategic planning then becomes a noun and not a verb. Second, sometimes "strategic" is a substitute for "unpopular" or...
Introduction I was out for dinner the other evening with some friends. One was recounting a story at his workplace about a vendor who had delivered some work well behind schedule. It was also wholly inadequate to meet the needs....
