News & Information
Monitoring needs to be about outcomes not activity
Stop wasting valuable time reviewing & discussing useless information Does this scenario remind you of your non-profit organization? Every month the executive director (ED) tries to carve out an hour or two of their precious time to write the ED report for the...
Reflect – then move forward
Know your not-for-profit organization’s priorities Like all of you reading this, I’ve had to adapt significantly to the new environment. Some of the adjustments have been easy and some, well, not so much. However, from a business perspective, it has been a positive...
To whom is the board accountable?
The simple answer is the persons identified in the Society’s Bylaws. However, like everything else in life nothing is that simple. So where are the complexities? First is that most non-profits in BC are incorporated under the Societies Act of British Columbia....
What is a Fiduciary?
The moment you become a board director you become a Fiduciary and take on a host of legal obligations, duties and liabilities. A fiduciary is a person who holds a legal or ethical relationship of trust with one or more other parties. The legal system recognizes a...
The Board workplan – critical to good governance!
One of the first requirements for an effective Board is to have a workplan for the coming year. The strategic plan outlines what the organization seeks to accomplish, but generally does not indicate the Board’s particular initiatives. It must determine the specifics...
Attention board members! Is there conflict of interest present in your ‘not for profit’?
In your organization, do any of the following situations apply, • Do board members also provide paid services to the organization?• Does the Executive Director have a personal relationship (marriage/common law) with staff, or board members?• Does the organization...
Especially now, ‘not for profit’ boards need to be at the top of their game.
I recently had a conversation with a staff member of a ‘not for profit’ organization here on Vancouver Island. She is in charge of fundraising for her organization and she was expressing to me the obvious challenges they’re facing trying to raise desperately needed...
Succession planning part two: Board Leadership
Succession planning means more than just ensuring a strong, healthy board membership. One important aspect of succession planning is ensuring that the leadership of the board most commonly known as the Executive or board officers, has the talent and capability...
Succession Planning: Part one – board members
Succession planning is a responsibility that receives far too little attention from most boards. Yet the future success and effectiveness of a board can be increased considerably by a well thought out succession plan. Why should we have a succession plan? The...