When the rubber hits the road: Managing the project plan

Introduction Robert Burns insightfully noted, "The best laid schemes of mice and men oft go agley." He probably was not writing about project management in that poem, but this particular line could apply to almost any project ever conceived. The...

Governance Q&A: Personal use of nonprofit equipment

I see other staff at my nonprofit who take supplies home or make personal use of our equipment. Is this acceptable? As usual, it depends. It depends on whether: The use is minor and reasonable, such as jotting down a...

Is an alliance, coalition or partnership the right strategy for your problem?

Do you create or participate in alliances, coalitions or partnerships? Do you ever wonder if your time should be spent in such a process? Have you explored the question of the likelihood of success? More time, energy and resources are...

Running more effective meetings

Introduction Many people spend a considerable portion of their business day in meetings. This article is written to provide you with a few ideas to help you run your meetings more effectively. The benefits of meetings Meetings can have several...

Ready for liftoff: Writing the project charter

Introduction Lola was excited to begin her project to create a donors' database. Now that she had defined the why and what of the project, created a project plan, and understood the relationship among budget, schedule, and scope, she was...

Governance Q&A: Can I serve on the board of one charity while I work for another?

Can I serve on the board of one charity while I work for another? They are located in the same city, but have quite different missions. You probably can, but you have to take some care. It is quite a...

Supreme Court of Canada adopts broad view of religious freedom

Following on the heels of the Federal Court of Appeal's decision in Fuaran Foundation v. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, 2004 FCA 181 (the "Fuaran Foundation decision"), which narrowly construed the practices constituting "advancing religion" in the charitable sense, the...

The map to success: Developing a project plan

Introduction Lola met with her executive director last week to discuss the donors' database that had to be completed by the new year so that the organization could use it during a fundraising campaign. Lola was concerned that the timeline...

Governance Q&A: How do I do ethical procurement for my charity?

How do I do ethical procurement for my charity? I recently became Executive Director and have little experience with major purchasing. That's a big topic! Purchasing has become professionalized for those who specialize. I suggest you read the Purchasing Management...

The Great Balancing Act: The Scope Triangle

This article is the second in a series that will look at some of the issues related to managing projects within the not-for-profit and public sectors. It focuses on providing you with more practical tips and tools that can be...