David’s list of VALUABLE WEBSITE LINKS for Canadian nonprofit/charity leaders.

  1. LATEST DATA ON CANADIAN NONPROFITS & CHARITIES: : From the government of Canada (released March 20, 2024 for the 2023 year) click here.   *Note:  Make sure to scroll to see 4 tables in that link.
  2. FUNDING YOUR NONPROFIT – Government Programs, Canadian Foundations, Corporate Funding Programs (2 links):   This is unfortunately not an area we provide help.  However we do want to point you toward some resources to find this information: (a) Charity Village Directory click here to fill out form to receive their list; (b) Imagine Canada’s Grant Connect click here for their options.
  3. DEADLINE COMING FOR SOME NON-PROFITS INCORPORATED IN ONTARIO > NEW ONCA LEGISLATION (7 links here).   If you incorporated before ONCA came into effect on October 19, 2021, your bylaws or articles may not comply with the new rules.  You have until October 18, 2024, to review, update, and file your governing documents with the Ontario government. (a) without customization, here is the approved standard wording click here;  (b) See if this new legislation applies to your Ontario nonprofit or charity click here ; (c) understanding the new law click here; (d) FAST FACTS click here; (e) FEATURES described by government click here; (f) transitioning to the new legislation click here; and (g) key provisions of the Act click here. 
  4. LEADERS: THE 4 DISCIPLINES OF A HEALTHY ORGANIZATION Wealth of resources (including how to build trust and how to fight “death by meeting”) from a truly steady hand in Patrick Lencioni… Click here and scroll down.

  5. BOARD BEST PRACTICES (10 links here): A goldmine of help here from: a) Canadian resource – a list of Board Governing Policies click here and an excellent list/review of Board Committees click here; b) from the U.S. click here for free download resources; and here to purchase the terrific “nonprofit policy sampler” 3rd edition $90 – PDF download and c) from Canada for larger nonprofits/charities click here (and then in search box type “20 questions not-for-profit”  ; d) Racial Diversity on Boards is an important topic for every Board to dig into click here for a good start and here ; e) for smaller organizations without staff support click here for “Grassroots Governance” and interesting story “janitor in the boardroom” click here and e) one of my favourite topics – “founder’s syndrome” click here and here. Finally, for larger charities, this American article “Challenging Conventional Wisdom” is good [please note: American governance articles often have an emphasis on fundraising which has not been an emphasis for many Canadian nonprofit Boards but is growing] click here. 

  6. RE-THINKING “STRATEGIC PLANNING” (4 links here): Please email David (david@nonprofithelp.ca) to see our best practice Strategic Plan template.  Click here for our Strategy services.  Online resources: a) click here and scroll for several excellent articles, b) click here what role should the board play in strategic planning, c) click here if you have a board but no staff (yes you can still be strategic!), and d) click here and in search box type “20 questions not-for-profit strategy”

  7. MANAGING STAFF & VOLUNTEERS (Canadian – 7 links here):  1) Seven types of rest to fight burnout click here; 2) Canadian site just launched which provides H.R. assistance click here;   3) “20 Questions” booklet click here and in search box type “20 Questions” ; 4) Volunteer Canada here; and 4) sample volunteer documents; 5 and 6) Canadian employment law – boards need to know click here; 7) 10 Most Common Employment Standards Errors click here.

  8. NONPROFIT BOARD LIABILITY EXPLAINED (Canadian – 3 links here): One of the best written, still very useful, click here.  Another is here .  And from a law firm’s perspective click here
  9.  LEGAL RISK MANAGEMENT CHECKLISTS (Canadian): click here for separate nonprofit, charity and church checklists from this well-regarded law firm for charities.
  10. OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Canadian – 3 links here):  A valuable 20 Questions PDF click here.  Volunteer Canada/Public Safety Canada has this Best Practice Screening (10 Steps of Screening Handbook PDF). From the USA here is my favourite risk website for charities and nonprofits with a goldmine of  articles and checklists :  click here for nonprofitrisk.org
  11. INSURANCE FOR NONPROFITS (4 links here):  David’s “12 Questions to Email Your Insurance Broker in 2024” click here.  Here are two documents David wrote click here for a short list of liability policies (I suggest you talk to an insurance broker about #1, #2 and #3 if you have paid staff at the least) and click here for Explaining Liability Insurance Policies.  Finally, click here and view starting page 33 for Nonprofit specific – 20 Questions regarding Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance 
  12. RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY CREATION: Yes it’s American so keep eye on Canadian law, but it’s customizable, and the best out there.  Low one-time fee and the site keeps updating!  Multiple best practice wording choices on over 150 different policies. click here 
  13. CHARITIES & THE C.R.A. (Canadian – 2 links here): click here requirements for charities  and click here for CRA’s own checklists and resources
  14. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING: Budgeting, Records & Financial Statements and Audits, click here (thanks again to Imagine Canada) and several great links on many areas including capacity building  click here.
  15. OVERALL BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS (Canadian):  73 Standards for all Nonprofits and Charities cover board governance, staff management, volunteers, fundraising and finance click here.   Not just for large charities (Level 1 sets standards for nonprofits/charities with under 5 staff).  A who’s who of Canadian charities have adopted these.
  16. IF YOU NEED A BOOST PERSONALLY (5 links here):  A few of my favourite finds: 1) Constantly awash in a world of negative media, I have benefited from Harvard professor Steven Pinker — here is one of his YouTube links (pre-COVID), an 18 minute video called “Is the world getting better or worse?; 2) this amazing senior in his 70’s on the importance of playing click here; 3) incredible couple who have danced together for more than 60 years click here; 4) help with sleep which is such a core issue for many leaders I meet click here
  17. QUESTION FOR YOU:  Do you know of a great website you think should be up here?  Please email david@nonprofithelp.ca

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CONTACT DAVID WITH A QUESTION OR COMMENT: 

Have a great week, thank you for doing all the good that you do!

David Hartley, B.A., C.R.M. (Canadian Risk Management)