Governance Q&A: Is providing member lists a breach of privacy?

Is it ethical for a member to demand a list of fellow members of a charity, or is this a breach of confidentiality? I'll have to break this question into component parts. a) Is this a breach of confidentiality? This...

Get your Act together: Changes to the business of BC nonprofits

Readers in British Columbia may be aware of the current consultations taking place regarding Ministry of Finance staff recommendations for changes to the Society Act – the legal framework for societies in BC. Consultations took place in February in Vancouver...

Falling overboard

"That decision is up to the board." "I'll have to take this back to the board for a vote." "We'll see what the board recommends." Sound familiar? A board of directors is clearly a powerful and necessary mechanism for any...

Governance Q&A: The charismatic founder

Our founder stepped down from being chair after accomplishing our initial goal over our first three years. However, she remains on the board as past chair, and everyone defers to her opinions, opinions that are not helping us move forward....

Need a little guidance?

The Canada Revenue Agency's new guidance on fundraising is scheduled to be released in March. Preliminary details were revealed in an hour-long webinar on February 10, hosted by charity lawyer Mark Blumberg and co-sponsored by both the CRA's Charities Directorate...

State of the union

Workers of the nonprofit sector, unite! That famous Marxist quote — altered slightly here for effect — could apply to the 21% of unionized employees in Canada's nonprofit sector. And that number could have increased since that statistic was recorded...

Putting the spotlight on committees

Here are two related committee stories I've encountered over the past week. First, board members were interviewing an executive director candidate. The interview panel asked the candidate, currently employed in government, what was appealing about moving to a job in...

Making room for space: How nonprofits are optimizing their physical environments

When the Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre first opened in the city's west end nearly thirty years ago, the modest space — a former liquor store — adequately served those who came for meals. As the organization grew...

Governance Q&A: Handling a disruptive member at an AGM

If a member thoroughly disrupts an annual general meeting (AGM), can they be removed or prevented from attending in future? Usually, AGMs are open to everyone although only members, or certain classes of members, have a vote. And members are...