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: Handling sensitive client information and confidentiality

Our treasurer has directed us to include client names, contact information, and reason for intervention on our weekly activity reports. These reports go to the finance department and are seen by the bookkeeper, accountant, and finance committee. She said the...

The advantages and disadvantages of strategic management

Introduction This article is designed to provide you with a realistic understanding of some of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing a strategic management system. Strategic Management vs. Strategic Planning I have deliberately used the words strategic management and NOT...

Motivating the project team

Introduction I am sure that every project manager will tell you that one of the keys to delivering a successful project is ensuring that the project team is motivated. A motivated team is a productive team. It is also a...

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...

Capital gains tax: The continuing fight

Thirty-four years ago a government worried about recessions and revenue streams saddled the Canadian public with a new tax. Charities, community organizations, and individuals have been paying ever since. The Canadian Capital Gains Tax came into existence in 1971 with...

Insurance for the nonprofit sector: Is the glass half full or half empty?

Understanding the nonprofit insurance situation is a bit like trying to decide if the glass is half full or half empty. A February 2004 CharityVillage cover story documented the issues of rising premiums and coverage limitations for many nonprofit agencies....

Risk management: Exercising your due diligence

All of life is the management of risk, not its elimination - Frederick Wilcox. For the past three months, we've offered CharityVillage visitors tips and tools for managing risks inherent in not-for-profit organizations. In the first article, we defined risk...

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...

The state of Canadian nonprofit board governance

Board governance is a hot topic. The recurring spectacular organizational collapses of the last few years (read: Enron) have prompted more stringent securities regulations and closer scrutiny of individual directors in the corporate world. As private sector companies scramble to...