News & Information
What we really mean when we say “provide oversight and monitoring”
(Hint: Oversight doesn’t mean failure to notice something) Despite its sometimes-negative connotation, in this case oversight refers to the board’s responsibility to oversee the affairs and business of the organization. Monitoring is the process the board employs to...
The leadership partnership – understand your role
To be clear right from the start, the relationship between the board of directors and the Executive Director in an organization is defined as a “leadership partnership.” Each partner has roles and responsibilities. And when both parties work effectively and...
Understanding inclusion, equity and diversity begins at the board table
“We need more diversity on our board.” Does this sound like a statement you’ve heard – or said – at your board table? Many boards are raising this issue when discussing their board-recruiting strategies. And rightfully so. It’s important for boards to make decisions...
Board-member recruitment matrix
At the board table, align values not skills. Since there isn’t an oversupply of high-quality board members in most communities, many boards must routinely look for new board members to join and contribute to the organization they serve. In some cases, board-recruiting...
Governing Principles
How does a board decide what is acceptable for it to do and what is not? The answer is “governing principles.” But what are governing principles? Governing principles are the rules a board develops and agrees upon to guide and control how it will govern. They are...
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...