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Why does the board need to review its performance? Evaluating its own performance is a way for the board to build capacity and to demonstrate its commitment to ongoing learning and improvement. Although not a requirement for this standard, good practice suggests that time should be allocated during...
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Charities and nonprofits are community trusts and as such should not be seen as “owned” or “operated” by any individual or group of individuals other than the members / community stakeholders who are passionate about the mission of the organization. As such, volunteer board directors should...
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Why is it important to evaluate the impact and contributions of your organization’s volunteers and volunteer program? Evaluating your organization’s volunteer program allows you to measure the impact of volunteers within your organization and to determine whether you are meeting the program’s goals...
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Why must organizations honor donors’ requests to remain anonymous? Donors may have many legitimate reasons for wishing to remain anonymous, and it is essential that nonprofits respect these requests. A study conducted by The Chronicle of Philanthropy found that only 10 months after the recession...
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What is an annual budget and why does the board need to review it regularly? A budget is a financial plan that reflects an organization’s broader strategic and operational plans.1 Essentially, an organization’s budget is a tool to help it accomplish its mission. The annual budget is the board’s...
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What governing documents does my organization need to comply with? The operations of nonprofit and charitable organizations in Canada are governed by documents including:1
The statute under which the organization is incorporated
The organization’s letters patent
The organization’s bylaws
The...
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In the following hypothetical examples, the charity is called Healthy Retirement and was formed to promote the health of seniors in Canada. It has received a lot of media attention on its recently released, well-reasoned position on the hazards for seniors of using marked crosswalks. It concludes...
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Definitions:
Equity: Fairness, impartiality, even-handedness. A distinct process of recognizing differences within groups of individuals, and using this understanding to achieve substantive equality in all aspects of a person's life.1
An inclusive workplace is fair, equitable, supportive,...
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Why is it important to have written HR policies? HR policies detail your organization’s expectations of its staff and ensure that employees are treated ethically and in compliance with all applicable legislation. HR policies also help to formalize your organization’s unique work culture, implement...
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Definition: Planned Gift1A planned gift is any major gift, made in lifetime or at death, as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning.
Why must organizations encourage donors to seek independent advice before conferring a Planned Gift or a gift that could significantly affect a...
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