A conversation with Cathy Hawara – Director General of the Charities Directorate

If you run or work for a Canadian nonprofit or charity, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve come into contact with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)’s Charities Directorate in some shape or form. Whether it be reading updates from the directorate,...

Governance Q&A: Preparing for changes to bylaws

I lead a federally incorporated nonprofit. What I should be doing now to prepare for the Canadian Nonprofit Corporations Act (CNCA) coming into effect? Please note I’m not a lawyer and you’ve asked about a legal matter. Even though the...

Governance Q&A: When it’s time to blow the whistle

I’ve read about the importance of board member solidarity with board decisions, but aren’t there times a board member should blow the whistle? Absolutely there are times when a board member should blow the whistle on their organization. Most of...

Updated: ONN calls on Government of Ontario to delay proclamation of the Not-For-Profit Corporations Act

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 1:24 p.m. ET on Monday, July 30, to include a comment from the office of Minister of Consumer Services Margarett Best.   Ontario’s nonprofit community is bracing itself for what it describes as...

Ethics Q&A: Criticizing your organization

I’m a board member who has learned to live with decisions I don’t always like. What do I do when people in my community complain to me about a concern I share regarding my organization? The quick answer is that...

Why DiverseCity Counts

It should come as no surprise that the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is often classified as one of the most ethnically diverse urban centres in the world. Consisting of the central city of Toronto, along with four surrounding regional municipalities...

Fundraising Q&A: Helping your board to fundraise

Our board is very new to fundraising. What would you recommend to support their efforts? The board’s role in fundraising is one of my favourite topics, albeit an evolving one. Times are changing as the development profession matures but many...

Governance Q&A: Asking board members to give

Given how much time board members give to their charity, is it ethical to also expect them to donate? Yes, it is. Volunteers are usually the best source of funds for a charity, and it would be irresponsible not to...

Governance Q&A: Is providing member lists a breach of privacy?

Is it ethical for a member to demand a list of fellow members of a charity, or is this a breach of confidentiality? I'll have to break this question into component parts. a) Is this a breach of confidentiality? This...

Falling overboard

"That decision is up to the board." "I'll have to take this back to the board for a vote." "We'll see what the board recommends." Sound familiar? A board of directors is clearly a powerful and necessary mechanism for any...