How staff can support their board of directors

The board of directors is elected by members and the board is accountable to the members. boards delegate the implementation of their policies and plans to staff and committees, but the board remains accountable to members for the outcomes. They...

Human Resources Q&A: Firing a new employee

We spent a lot of time and resources trying to find just the right person to fill a senior position within our organization, and now it's become clear that it's not going to work out. What do we do? Even...

Mixing it up in boardroom – Exploring the value of board diversity

Having an effective board of directors is as much a part of a nonprofit organization's success as it is for a corporate organization. Board directors help to shape organizational goals and objectives. They keep the organization accountable to its members...

Governance Q&A: The ethics of employees donating to employers

The director of development at the charity where I work wants to be able to tell foundations that 100% of the board and staff make a donation every year. I agree that the board members should donate, but can donating...

Changing of the guard

The only surprise about Philanthropy Journal's breathless October 6th headline, "Nonprofits face leadership shortage," was its expression of surprise. Warnings about an impending labour crisis have been out for years. From executive suites to mailrooms, in every industry sector, organizations...

Governance Q&A: Is it okay for family members to work or volunteer in the same organization?

Is it okay for family members to work or volunteer in the same organization? Recruiting our family members as volunteers has been part of nonprofit life from the start. They are often a wonderful source of time and expertise, willing...

Hell hath no fury like a micromanaged workforce

Are you a micromanager? "Who me? No of course not. I'm thorough. I'm competent. Okay, so I am a little methodical. That's not bad...is it?" Micromanagers, like many addicts - alcoholics, rageaholics, workaholics, etc. - are the last people on...

Leader of the pack: Nurturing job quality and satisfaction among EDs

Does it worry you to hear that a recent study, entitled Addressing the Leadership Challenge: Non-Profit Executive Directors' Views on Tenure and Transition in Alberta, revealed that 82% of executive directors expect to leave their current position within the next...

Governance Q&A: The ethics of loyalty to an organization and their cause

All the staff at my agency work on contracts, and renewals depend on confirming our core and project funding. The funding approvals usually come in at the last minute, sometimes even after we have worked a couple of weeks in...

Walking your talk: Hiring from within your client base

Many organizations exist to advocate for and support clients with disabilities, but some of these organizations take it one step further. They underscore their commitment by deliberately hiring from within their client or consumer base, and in doing so, have...