This article compares and contrasts the terminology and explains the differences between accountin in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
Differences between profit and nonprofit accounting
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Articles
Fundraising Q&A: What makes a successful fundraising committee
This article outlines how to make your fundraising committee successful, including training, evaluation, and how to find the right people for the job.
Business: The better way?
A profile of Michael Edwards, author of Small Change: Why Business Won’t Save the World. Edwards argues against allowing philanthrocapitalism to become the main approach to changing society.
How to impress the wired wealthy and capitalize on the rise in online giving
It probably comes as no surprise to many of you that online giving is growing. What may be surprising, however, is that the very wealthy are among those that prefer giving online. Generally speaking, however, they are frustrated with nonprofit websites.
Outcome Measurement: Final testing and data analysis
This is the last in a series of six articles that discuss outcome measurement. In this month’s article, we will use a pilot test to evaluate our outcome measurement system, including data analysis and reporting.
Career Q&A: Conducting a remote job search
Looking for a job in Canada but don't live here yet? This article offers advice on how to conduct a job search remotely.
Ten things to consider when writing a resume
Most well-run companies consider a variety of things when reviewing a resume, making it important for a job seeker to ponder all of these things when writing their resume.
Eight tips for recruiting and retaining volunteers in tough times
Eight tips to help you recruit and retain volunteers during difficult economic conditions.
Human Resources Q&A: Engagement versus satisfaction
Employee engagement and satisfaction are two distinct concepts. This article explains the difference.
Breaking through the newsroom clutter: How to get your news release noticed
How to write the most effective news release that will get the best coverage for your organization.
Philanthropic Trends Quarterly: What’s in store for you?
It certainly is a complex time for fundraisers but thanks to KCI’s latest edition of Philanthropic Trends Quarterly, they can gain valuable insight on the newest trends in philanthropy in pursuit of their next steps.
Ethical decision-making
How to make and stand behind ethical decisions on a board of directors.
The characteristics of executive leadership
Outstanding leaders in the not-for-profit sector have common characteristics. I have created a leadership checklist to help individuals hoping to become effective leaders in the not-for-profit sector assess their own leadership skills.
Governance Q&A: Taking over a Canadian charity
Is it legal and ethical to take over a dormant Canadian charity in order to avoid the long bureaucratic process of application? And if so, what is the best way to do this?
Monitoring the sector: Imagine Canada’s Sector Monitor report
Early in May, Imagine Canada released its inaugural Sector Monitor report, a document ostensibly produced to gauge the health of the Canadian voluntary sector in the wake of the world recession.
Six tips to keep your team motivated
Six inexpensive ways to motivate employees.
Who to consult for what decisions
This article focuses on one aspect of decision-making: involving the right people, including when and how to involve outsiders.
Fundraising Q&A: What you need to know about development audits
This article outlines what to expect from a development audit, including why to do one, who should be involved, what information you’ll need, and how much it will cost.
Eyes on the prize: The state of prize philanthropy in Canada
The pros and cons of prize philanthropy, where large sums of money are given to organizations that fulfil large-scale goals.
An introduction to grant reports
No matter what the guidelines or deadlines for your particular grant, you’ll eventually need to sit down and explain to your funder how you spent all those dollars and cents.
The powerful question
Mental metabolism, the strength-based approach and asking questions in strategic planning.
Information Interviews: Gaining perspective on your future career path
What is the best solution to finding both the career path and the job you want? The answer is by performing information interviews.
Outcome Measurement: Collecting the data
This is the fifth in a series of six articles that discuss outcome measurement. This month, we will discuss how to design and pre-test your data collection instruments and methods.
Customizing boards and committees
How to put together a board that serves an organization’s specific needs.
Career Q&A: Communication breakdown
When communications break down between you and a direct supervisor, what can you do to salvage the situation?
Demonstrating worth and value through daily recognition and rewards
How to identify and reduce toxicity in the workplace.
The key governance questions all boards must answer
Seven Essential Governance Questions to lead governing bodies and senior staff to become best- in- class organizations
Being the best (board) volunteer you can be
How to perform successfully as a board volunteer.
Governance Q&A: Termination clauses in job offer letters
Is it ethical for an organization’s job offer include clauses about termination without cause?
Four key roles your supporters can play in fundraising and marketing campaigns
How to convert supporters into marketers.
Fundraising Q&A: Creating an individual donor base: Part II
This article discusses how to find individual donors, particularly through special events, social media, direct mail, and newsletters.
Gift acceptance issues: Dealing with difficult donors and restrictions
The intense competition for donor dollars creates a difficult enough environment for fundraisers. Unfortunately, certain gift acceptance issues add innumerable obstacles to the already challenging path of finding and retaining donors.
Outcome Measurement: Outcome indicators and influencing factors
This is the fourth in a series of six articles that discuss outcome measurement. This month we will learn how to select indicators to measure outcome achievement and identify influencing factors that can affect whether or not that achievement occurs.
Bill C-470: Transparency, salary capping or knee-capping for the charitable sector?
Late last year, Liberal MP for Mississauga East-Cooksville, Albina Guarnieri, drafted a private member’s bill into parliament titled C-470. If passed, the bill would revoke the charitable status of any charity paying an employee $250,000 or more.
Career Q&A: Advancement in your nonprofit career
What do you do when you've been hired in an entry-level position with the promise of advancement, but that advancement never happens?
Looking to grow your career? Volunteer!
It is important for a nonprofit to understand the value a volunteer provides to the organization. As well, the volunteer should recognize that, from a career perspective, they too can benefit in this relationship.
Tips for training your short-term volunteers
This article explains one of the best ways to maximize the effectiveness of volunteers.
How to conduct volunteer screening
This article includes tips for effective volunteer screening.
Human Resources Q&A: Advantages and disadvantages of offering paid time off
This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of offering employees paid time off as a benefit.
The anatomy of radio advertising
From defining your key message and target demographic, to understanding the internal workings of radio advertising, if you know how to play the game, radio can be an affordable way to attract donors to your cause.
Understanding undue benefit
Charities in Canada are not allowed to bestow undue benefit, a situation where an individual, corporation, or other entity receives a tangible benefit from their involvement with a particular charity.
Making strategy happen
Factors that must be taken into account if plans are to be implemented successfully
Governance Q&A: Helping volunteers exit gracefully
Shouldn’t a good organization provide a committee chair with a graceful way to exit within a reasonable time frame?
Working Boards: Defining effective nonprofit governance
Assessing Not-for-profit Boards: Governance Structures and Practices, is enlightening and worth a read as it outlines important issues every ED and board member should be aware of before taking their seat at the boardroom table.
Virtual assistants: Increase your productivity while decreasing your office expenditures
How and why to use a virtual assistant in the workplace.
Power Tactics: Successful negotiation from a disadvantageous position
What can realistically be done in these situations where you are negotiating from a less powerful position (which has been termed an asymmetric negotiation)? Well, it turns out that the answer is a lot.
Uncertain times calls for certain measures: Charity fundraising in difficult times
A review of the Being Good at Doing Good: Safeguarding Yourself and Your Charity in a Complex World conference presented by the Charity Law Information Program (CLIP).
Fundraising Q&A: Creating an individual donor base
This article discusses how to find individual donors and how to ask them for donations, especially with fundraising letters.
Short- and long-term approaches to finding new revenue sources
A summary of new revenue sources for fundraising efforts.
The art of negotiating a raise
It is important to build your knowledge not only in your own field but also in how your organization handles human resource issues such as compensation. This way you can be fully prepared when the time comes to ask for a raise.
