Bill C-4: The Not-For-Profit Corporations Act

Bill C-4 is coming! In January, the government proposed a bill aimed at reforming the way nonprofits and associations incorporate. There are significant changes to how organizations incorporate initially and operate daily. Are you aware of Bill C-4's impact on...

Building a new not-for-profit organization: Board development

This is the fifth in a series of articles focusing on key steps in building a solid not-for-profit organization. As referenced in the first four articles, we have relied on the excellent information offered in the Government of Canada's Primer...

Turning a business idea into a charitable organization

Setting up and running a charitable organization can be a tricky business, so it's important to ensure that you're always on the right side of the law. In this podcast, Adam and Nicole discuss the question of turning a business...

Governance Q&A: Membership rights

From an ethics perspective, what rights does a member have? Membership concerns have been a very common topic recently in queries to me, web-based forums, and conversations with colleagues. If the issue were easy, there would be far fewer discussions....

Building a new not-for-profit organization: How to approach risk management

This is the fourth in a series of articles focusing on key steps in building a solid not-for-profit organization. As referenced in the first three articles, we have relied on the excellent information offered in the Government of Canada’s Primer...

Governance Q&A: Succession planning

Some of my board members went to a governance workshop and came back saying a succession plan was urgent, in case I got hit by a bus. I have a good administrator who acts for me during vacation, but frankly,...

Board governance best practices: An interview with Sande Smith

"The board provides strategic direction. In many ways, the board functions as a particular kind of eyes and ears for the organization. They bring their passion and involvement in other organizations and causes - whether as staff, volunteers, activists, members...

Getting back your GST

Now that you understand what the GST is and how it affects charities, it's important to take a look at how a charity can go about getting back the GST that they paid out during the year. This podcast discusses...

Ethics Q&A: To fee or not to fee

Can we have members without charging for membership? Our low membership fees are waived for over half of our members, and the total revenue from fees is not worth the cost and effort of collecting the money. Must people pay...

Right on the money: What board members should know about their financial responsibilities

You are accountable. In the wake of a global economic meltdown attributed to financial greed and irresponsibility, regulators worldwide are focusing on accountability as the means to cleaning up the mess, and preventing it from recurring. Board members of all...