How to make the right choices for your organization, including a illustration of the decision making process
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Articles
Developing a crisis management plan for your nonprofit organization
Many not-for-profit organizations have faced crises. High-performing organizations are ready to respond, using their “Crisis Management Plan” (CMP).
VANOC – Setting the gold standard for a social enterprise games
Despite much of the rumbling heard around Canada and BC about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games preparations, one thing is clear to many who work in the charity world on the west coast: the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) is going out of its way to make these games one of the most socially sustainable events ever put together.
Career Q&A: Relocating for a new job
Before you relocate for a new job, read this article to be sure you're making the right move.
Facing today’s volunteer recruitment challenges
Three ideas to solve your volunteer recruitment challenges.
Human Resources Q&A: Employees are assets, not costs
As seen through the OD lens, employees are not costs but rather assets. The job of the organization, through its managers, is to manage the assets in such a way as to maximize the return on the investment (ROI) in the assets.
Dos and don’ts in the hiring process
Follow these tips for smooth sailing during the hiring process.
How HST will affect nonprofits
The HST will have an impact on nonprofits and charities in many different ways, including with regard to federal tax rebates and exemptions. Find out whether your organization will have to pay more in taxes, how your administration costs may drop, and how the HST might affect your clients and donors.
Governance Q&A: Ethical alternatives to ending programs
When your programs face funding shortages, consider their value and how its being presented before ending them.
Five simple steps to creating compelling e-newsletters
Below are five tips for creating compelling e-newsletters that motivate your subscribers to take action.
Proper financial controls can protect your nonprofit
This article provides a comprehensive "how to" guide to implementing financial controls at a nonprofit.
Best practice tips for securing municipal funding
Ten best practices for planning and and pitching your municipal funding proposal.
Global slump. Grantmaking challenges.
For a voluntary sector struggling to keep its head above water in the best of times, news of the economic climate continues to ripple through the nation, causing concern to charities, donors, and the much-relied-upon foundations that grant monies to those most in need.
Fundraising Q&A: Get your grant proposal past the initial screening process
This article discusses how to create a successful grant proposal. The article shows how to decide where to apply for funding and what funders like to see in submitted proposals.
For art’s sake
Results of a recent survey conducted by Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance – made up of the Canadian Dance Assembly, Opera.ca, Orchestras Canada, and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres – to evaluate the impact of the economic downturn on performing arts organizations.
Membership in an international organization
Membership in an international organization does carry with it some legal ramifications, making it vital for nonprofits to know their rights and responsibilities. In this podcast, Adam and Nicole discuss how this type of membership can affect lawsuits, taxes, and fundraising efforts.
Career Q&A: Super supervising
A reader who has been newly promoted to a supervisory position wonders how to get it right.
How to get people to read your e-newsletters
Here are four easy changes you can make to pique your readers’ interest in your e-newsletter.
Networking: A career must
There is a word out there that has many career-oriented people crawl under their desks never to be seen again. Networking – is it a necessity? And is it as stressful and as frightening as many presume it is?
Volunteer background checks: New options and programs
This article explores a new initiative to cover the costs of police information checks (PICs) for eligible volunteers in nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations.
The road to volunteer burnout: How to avoid it and how to manage it
Tips to avoid and manage volunteer burnout.
Exercise, positive relationships and fighting work stress
How to use physical activity to fight work stress.
Human Resources Q&A: Bouncing back from the recession
There are survey findings emerging that tell a cautionary tale about what may be on the horizon when the upturn in the economy takes told.
Governance Q&A: Volunteering ethically
Balancing family, business and other commitments when considering volunteer opportunities.
Canada’s new Not-for-Profit Corporations Act
Canada’s new Not-for-profit Corporations Act received royal assent this past June, and could affect upward of 100,000 organizations throughout Canada. This podcast outlines how to find out whether your organization is affected, what you need to do if you are impacted by the Act, and changes to audit rules and corporate governance regulations.
Fundraising Q&A: Creating a corporate giving strategy
This article outlines how to get businesses to work with your charity, including with donations and sponsorships.
Change-making 101
If you’re thinking about launching a social enterprise, you may want to give Tal Dehtiar a call. Having successfully launched MBAs Without Borders (MWB) in 2004 – supporting small businesses in Africa, Asia and Latin America – he recently sold that venture and started another.
In direct mail fundraising letters, don’t ask for the gift!
Stop repeating yourself in fundraising letters and find a new way to phrase the ask.
Personal Liability for Nonprofit Directors
This article outlines the law regarding personal liability for directors of nonprofit organizations.
The right treasurer can be a treasure trove for a nonprofit
Article detailing the importance of a treasurer and how to find the right person.
Municipal-nonprofit partnerships: The future is now
Contemplating entering into partnership with a government body is something that can send shivers down the spines of executive-level staff at nonprofits and charities. But sometimes appearances can be deceiving and approaching a government – municipalities for the purpose of this article – can result in pleasant surprises, if you do it right, that is.
Career Q&A: Mastering mentoring
What do you do if your workplace mentor isn't keeping your discussions confidential?
The emerging importance of social finance in today’s society
Many people believe that there are better approaches to running an organization that can benefit more than just their own pocket and the pockets of their investors.
Corporate partnerships: How we need to tap into this rich resource
This article describes how to create a corporate volunteer program.
Human Resources Q&A: How to give direction to the people you manage
This article explains when to give direction to the people you supervise and how to communicate direction clearly and effectively.
Executive coaching: Another tool in the toolbox?
Whereas coaches in the corporate world have been popular for a while now – some even calling them “status symbols” – the same could not be said for the nonprofit sector. Until recently, that is. There are a number of signs indicating a change in attitudes.
Overview of governance models and board types
An overview and explanation of different governance models and board types.
Governance Q&A: Last minute event changes
If an event is cancelled or greatly scaled back at the last minute, due to circumstances beyond our control, what do we do about our vendors and sponsors?
Mind the Gap: Creating new paths with new stories
The importance of tapping into new narratives that hold the potential to create change.
Creating new paths with new stories
What change will the stories of your future create?
Youth Philanthropy: Hope I give before I get old
Pardon the pun, but there’s an age old question asked in almost every era of marketing: how do you capture the imagination, attention and spirit of youth? And for practitioners in the third sector, the question is a burning one, considering that philanthropy is a trait that benefits from modeling examples at an early age.
The brave new world of constituent relationship management: Seven reasons to get on board
Many nonprofits struggle to achieve the coveted 360 degree view of their constituency. Why? The biggest culprit is not talent – it’s technology!
Typical accounting functions for nonprofits
This article provides a detailed overview of the accounting functions necessary for nonprofits, including financial controls, budgeting, auditing and more.
CRA fundraising changes: Why you should care
In June, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), after consultations with numerous sector organizations, including Imagine Canada, Health Charities Coalition of Canada, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, announced the release of new fundraising guidelines for the nonprofit community.
The benefits of acquiring and maintaining your CFRE designation
Governing bodies exist to ensure that professional standards are kept current and upheld from an ethical perspective. Such is the case for the nonprofit sector with the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, which must first be earned and then maintained over the span of a fundraiser's career.
The ED Network: In search of support and sustainability
Sector leaders have always turned to support systems – peer groups, professional associations, mentors, etc. – to grow and lead effectively. It’s a trend seems to be growing even stronger today.
Direct mail fundraising letters: Six ways not to decide their length
If you send out direct mail fundraising letters, be sure you’re not using these criteria to decide on the appropriate length.
Career Q&A: Job offer ethics
How to juggle multiple job offers successfully and ethically.
The community-building potential of volunteerism
This article describes how volunteerism can be seen as a community-building exercise.
Filling the gap: Recruiting new directors for your board
How to successfully recruit a new board member.
