Governance Q&A: Representatives who vote against their chapter

In my organization, each chapter appoints a representative to the provincial board. But the one from my chapter has been voting against what the chapter wants. She says she votes for what's best for the province instead. How do we...

Charity fraud: Are you protected?

March: the month that normally segues winter into spring. But did you know it's also Fraud Awareness Month? The issue was brought into sharp focus this month with scammers using the March 11 earthquake in Japan to commit charity donation...

Animal welfare and the CRA

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is in the midst of attempting to clarify its guidelines on how the more than 700 Canadian animal welfare charities can legally operate and continue to maintain their charitable status. Until March 31, the agency...

Charity watchdogs: An intelligent development?

For the vast majority of Canada's 85,000+ charities, the work they do is often unheralded, workmanlike and of interest only to the stakeholders impacted by their cause. The organization keeps its head down, does the best it can on whatever...

Thinking big at Sarnia Lambton Rebound: A Program for Youth

Since 1984, Sarnia Lambton Rebound has provided more than 13,000 young people at-risk with the skills needed to promote a positive response to self, others and community. The continued success of their programs has led to them being awarded the...

Governance Q&A: Board and funder are too close for comfort

I sit on the board of an organization that is greatly intertwined with a major funder. The board members of the major funder are also the only members of my organization. Their part-time executive director also serves as our part-time...

You like me, you really like me!

In the Spring of 2002, Caroline MacGillivray was working at a temp job to pay the bills when her cell phone rang with some exciting news. As the founder of Beauty Night Society, a nonprofit that that provides makeovers, life...

Fundraising Q&A: Recruiting advisory boards

What should we know about recruiting an Advisory Board/Committee? The term "advisory board, council, committee or group" are all synonymous. Inviting influential individuals to provide expertise or to support the efficient management of an organization is a great idea but...

Measuring what matters: Why monitoring and evaluation is the root of all good

This month's Charity Village® Sustainability Series article is the fourth in a series that cover the practical aspects of embedding sustainability within your charity. You can view last month's article here. As we move from the general logic of setting...

Governance Q&A: Misrepresentation on social media

I want to have lots of people hear good things about my cause, and become supporters, and I have a brother in a similar situation with a different cause. I want to ask all our friends to "like" each other’s...