Measuring greatness: Defining quality standards

Introduction I opened up my closet the other day and put on a pair of casual pants that I have had for three years. As I put them on, I thought about their excellent quality. They fit well. The plaid...

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver: 50 years and counting

Vanna White. Donny Osmond. Spike Lee. Fran Drescher. Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver. What do all these have in common? They all came into being in 1957, which means that in 2007, all turn 50 years old. It’s not known...

Should NPOs be at the P3 table?

Despite the oft-maligned paradigm of governments entering into contract with private firms to provide services and/or build infrastructure for the public good, public-private partnerships, or P3s, continue to gain steam in Canada. Skeptics say the fact that governments can borrow...

Governance Q&A: What to expect at annual general meetings

I think my membership organization needs change at the board, but there are no term limits so there are never any elections; people are comfortable and stay forever. At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM), I proposed a carefully worded...

Budget 2007: Legal implications for charities

The federal Conservatives presented their 2007 budget on March 19th and there was some good news for charities, namely the elimination of capital gains tax on the donation of publicly-listed securities to private foundations. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the...

Ten essentials to choosing technology for your organization

Keeping a not-for-profit organization running requires effort. Small tasks add up. Next thing you know, you're working 'til 9pm. Can you be saved by technology? It’s obvious that technology can provide solutions that save time and money, enabling you to...

Completing your charity information return

Although charities are exempt from paying taxes, the Canada Revenue Agency still requires them to fill out paperwork, namely the Registered Charity Information Return, better known as the T3010. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the Ottawa-based law firm Drache LLP,...

Executive Directors: NO is not the right answer

I was recently working with a board of directors who came together for a weekend to develop their new strategic plan (I was the facilitator). After we had mapped out a detailed strategic plan of action for both the short...

Outward Bound: Consultants bring help from the outside in

A couple of years ago, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada took a strategic step outward. Though boasting a staff rich in expertise and vast in experience, they nonetheless decided to outsource an external consultant for an upcoming sponsorship program....

Delivering a project in stages

Introduction Every project has a beginning and end. It begins with an idea, such as how to improve communications with donors, and ends with the delivery of a product or service, such as a donor database. Each project follows a...