Governance

15 articles

The Effective Not-for-Profit Board: A value-driving force (Deloitte)

This third edition of The Effective Not-for-Profit Board discusses NPO governance within the current regulatory and stakeholder environment. It focuses on the board of directors, since it is the board that bears the ultimate responsibility for the stewardship of an organization.

Guide to Law for Nonprofit Organizations in Atlantic Canada (LISNS)

This guide by Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia will help nonprofits increase their knowledge of the laws in Atlantic Canada that relate to running an organization. It will help nonprofits choose the right organizational structure for their group, avoid fines and avoid liability charges. It will help nonprofit groups research important legal issues from developing a constitution to properly preparing tax information.

General Assembly Kit (Associathèque)

(Only available in French) This guide was prepared by Associathèque (based in France) to help associations organize their general assembly. The kit includes information on: convocation, absentee voting, meeting schedule, meeting minutes and communications

Getting on Board: a governance resource guide for arts organisations (Creative New Zealand)

This resource guide was the result of a research project commissioned by the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand to strengthen the governance performance of arts organisations throughout New Zealand. At 82-pages, it is a comprehensive guide covering all areas of board governance from stakeholder relations, to typical governance challenges, to board processes and practices, to strategic risk management. The final section of the guide lists recommended resource books, websites and periodicals for further reading.

Toolkits on Democratic Governance (CSMO-ÉSAC)

(Only available in French) The aim of these toolkits by CSMO-ÉSAC is to offer concrete responses to the principle questions that are asked by organizations engaged with social economy and community action on democratic governance. Depending on whether you are a NPO or a cooperative, there are two toolkits available: Democratic governance – NPOs for community action and the social economy or Democratic Governance – Cooperatives. Toolkits are available as a CD-ROM ($40 each) or as a downloadable file ($35 each).

A Better Practice Guide to Board Governance for Media Arts Organizations in Ontario (MANO)

This Ontario based guide presents subjects related to governance that include board organisation, by-laws, members, directors, conflicts of interest and privacy, committees, strategic planning and more in point form format. Several draft templates are available to complement the suggestions in the guide.

How to Run an Annual General Meeting (SaskCulture)

Provincially incorporated non-profit organizations are required by law to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM). Ensuring that this statutory business takes place is part of good governance. This guide provides tools for preparing an AGM, an agenda and relevant documents, and includes a sample preparation timeline, election process and AGM script.

Corporate, insolvency and competition law policy (Government of Canada)

The Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Policy Directorate (CIC) is responsible for the legislative policy development and review of a number of Canada’s business framework laws and regulations in the corporate, insolvency, and competition policy areas. These include a number of statutes and the regulations made under them, including the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and the Canada Cooperatives Act.

Canadian Model Bylaws for Not-for-profit corporations (Government of Canada)

When incorporating under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act), you have to create by-laws. They set out the rules for governing and operating the corporation. They can be modified at a later date as the needs of the corporation change. These model Bylaws allow you to create by-laws for your corporation.

Managing the activities of the Board of Directors (SMQ)

(Only available in French) Largely inspired by the work of the Training and Professional Development Department of the Société des musées du Québec (SMQ), in 2007-2008, the Governance of Museum Institutions guide provides an updated overview of governance principles in general. This short section of the guide presents all the elements a non-profit organization needs to structure a board of directors.