This article will explore the connection between a strong onboarding experience and member retention, and how a custom member portal will save your association time and resources by helping to automate a quality onboarding experience.

Reference: 

Khan, F. (2021, June 14). 5 tips to increase member retention with an engaging onboarding experience. CharityVillage. https://charityvillage.com/5-tips-to-increase-member-retention-with-an-engaging-onboarding-experience.

Click on the file icon to download the file.

www.accessforward.ca website provides free training modules to meet the training requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). Developed in partnership with the Government of Ontario.

Click here to access the training: https://www.accessforward.ca 

Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (S.C. 2009, c. 23)

A set of questions that could be used at a Board Recruitment Interview which also includes a diversity lens.

A worksheet with a diversity lens free to download and customize to strengthen your not-for-profit's Board composition and to plan out Board recruitment and succession planning.

Please click here to register for a list of Board Governance Training programs offered by Volunteer MBC: https://vetch.ca/course/index.php?categoryid=2 

An assessment of the efficiency and the effectiveness of the entire Board as a team - as perceived by each individual member of the Board. This could be conducted anonymously, by identifying the evaluator or reaching consensus through a group discussion. Selecting the most appropriate approach of how it is done is within your discretion. Anonymous evaluations generally yield close to accurate results.

Encourage each individual board member to assess their effectiveness as a Board member by completing the attached checklist. This should ideally be recorded and stored as a confidential document and used only for the purpose of self-evaluation and performance management of each director. When using it as a Board Member performance management tool, it is understood that the document is confidential and will be reviewed only by those carryout out the performance discussion.

This is a template of a Working Board. Template developed by Kathleen Douglass.

“As the battle for talent continues, volunteering can be a strong leg-up on the competition for both prospective employees and employers. Companies that create a culture committed to making an impact and to tapping into their employees’ sense of purpose have the ability to attract and retain top talent.” 

Mike Preston, Chief Talent Officer, Deloitte LLP

Click on the file icon to download the report

Canada’s Charitable Sector: What to Expect in 2019

"When the federal government released its Fall Economic Statement in November, it signaled what many in Canadian philanthropic circles would regard as a sea-change in Ottawa’s thinking about a sector that employs more than two million Canadians and accounts for 8% of the country’s GDP (Lornic, 2019)."

To Read, click reference: Lorinc, J. (2019, January 08). Canada's Charitable Sector: What to Expect in 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://thephilanthropist.ca/2019/01/canadas-charitable-sector-what-to-expect-in-2019

The Candian Code for Volunteer Involvement (CCVI) published by Volunteer Canada is the most important resource to drive the policies and procedures of a not-for-profit organization that engages volunteers, whether Board of Directors or operational volunteers. 

The most recent issue is the 2017 edition published by Volunteer Canada. 

Download your copy from: https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=346

Certification, Certificate, Diploma, and Degree: What's the Difference?

Written by: Shaminda Perera, MEAE | On November 6, 2018

Certification Vs. Certificate 

Often used interchangeably in conversation and often confused, these two terms have two very different meanings. While a certification is an endorsement of competence of professional practice, a certificate is focused on recognizing the accomplishment of a learning outcome.

Diploma Vs. Degree

Based on learning outcomes, these two terms highlight an individual's academic excellence in a particular field of study.

Here are three professional development organizations related to Volunteer Management for you to explore;

1. Volunteer MBC Learning Centre (VLC): https://www.volunteermbc.org/LearningCentre
   
2. Professional Association for Volunteer Leaders in Ontario (PAVRO): https://pavro.on.ca/page-18521
   
3. Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC): https://www.vmpc.ca/certification.html
   

Whichever professional development initiative you are currently contemplating or you hold, its accomplishment is a mark of your commitment towards excellence in your professional practice.

Learn and Grow folks.

Canadian National Institute of the Blind's philosophy on volunteerism shared as a template fo r the use of not-for-profit organizations. Shared with permission.

Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement - Code Audit

Click on the link below to access the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement - Code Audit Tool. Please note that you must have a login to access this tool. Login access is given to you by Volunteer Canada once you become a member of Volunteer Canada.

Volunteer Canada Membership Details: https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=360

Code Auit Tool: http://audit.volunteer.ca

Here is a template and a step by step guide to developing a Competency Matrix for a particular role. Resource developed by Volunteer MBC.

Five Corporate Social Responsibility Trends You Should Be Watching

Article Written By: Thomas Bognanno for Forbes Nonprofit Council

Introductory Paragraph in the Article: "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has evolved dramatically over the last decade. Most companies are no longer satisfied with just writing checks to charities or sponsoring events. Now, corporate leaders are aligning social impact and employee engagement with business objectives. That means measuring results and ensuring CSR and employee engagement efforts demonstrate real value to the company."

The trends mentioned in the article: (1) Authenticity Is In, (2) Communication Is Key, (3) Diversity Has Business Impact, (4) Volunteering Can Solve Business And Social Challenges, (5) Measuring Is A Must.

Click Reference to Read the Full Article: Bognanno, T. G. (2018, September 13). Five Corporate Social Responsibility Trends You Should Be Watching [Web log post]. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2018/09/13/five-corporate-social-responsibility-trends-you-should-be-watching/#38d7252d2383

"Although business plans can vary in length and scope, all successful business plans contain common elements. Get an overview of the common parts of a business plan."

Click this link to read the article: http://www.cbo-eco.ca/en/index.cfm/planning/writing-a-business-plan/business-plan-guide

Data Collection for Program Evaluation

By Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, University of Washington

A toolkit developed by Northwest Center for Public Health Practice to assist with planning your own data collection for program evaluation.

Click the icon below to download the toolkit.

“Completed every three years since 1997, this is the most comprehensive study on giving and volunteering. The data give insights into the state of volunteering in Canada, including where Canadians volunteer, the types of activities they’re involved in, the volunteer habits of newcomers and the evolution of workplace volunteering in Canada. This research highlights differences in volunteer behaviour based on region and demographics (Volunteer Canada).”

The data is published by Statistics Canada.

Click this link to access the data: https://volunteer.ca/index.phpMenuItemID=364

A compilation of resources (training, templates and tools) to support a not-for-profit organization with the implementation of 2SLGBTQ+ volunteer inclusion. Click the button to open the FREE eLearning module and the list of resources.

A tool kit for Nonprofit Boards published by Maytree. A publication packed with tools for nonprofit and charitable organizations to assist in transitioning and maintaining a Board that reflects the communities it serves. Click the reference below to open the PDF version of the publication.

Reference: Maytree. (2011). Diversity in Governance: A Toolkit for Nonprofit Boards. Toronto, Ontario.

8 Best Practices of Non-Profit Boards

Reference: Burgoyne, A. M. (2015, October). 8 Best Practices of Non-Profit Boards. Retrieved October 25, 2018, from http://www.emersoncollective.com/articles/2015/10/8-best-practices-of-non-profit-boards

8 Steps to Building a Successful Business case

By Lauren Allen | www.zazzlemedia.co.uk 

"No matter what field of business you work in, it’s likely that you’ll have heard of the term, 'a business case'. But how many of you have actually put one together?

As I was carrying out some research to help me with the creation of a case for one of my own clients, while I was able to find useful bits and bobs of information here and there, I struggled to find the fundamental steps of a business case summarised all in one place. Ultimately, what I was searching for was a handy resource that I could refer to each and every time I needed to pull one together.

So that’s what I’m here to try and do; whether you need to pitch in new business, bring in a new process, upsell or cross-sell, or even need to keep existing business, I’m going to draw on each and every step that will guide you all the way (Allen, 2016)."

Click on the Reference to Access Article: Allen, L. (2016). The 8 Steps to Building a Successful Business case [Web log post]. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.zazzlemedia.co.uk/blog/build-a-business-case/#gref

8 Strategies for Creating a More Inclusive Volunteer Program

Reference: Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration. (n.d.). Engaging Volunteers from Diverse and Immigrant Communities. Retrieved October 26, 2018, from https://www.mavanetwork.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=286912&module_id=283483

Tapping into the Nonprofit Next Generation: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Engaging Millennials at Your Nonprofit

Introductory Paragraph: "Move over, Baby Boomers. Millennials are officially the largest generation in U.S. history. There were 83.1 million Americans born between 1982 and 2000, according to 2015 census data. In a class so large, it’s difficult to make broad generalities about work ethic and perspectives. But given that Millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce by 2025, there’s little debate that organizations that can harness the talent and skills of this generation will be better positioned for future success."

Key Concepts Mentioned in the Article: (1) Culture Counts, (2) Flexibility and Accountability Aren’t Mutually Exclusive, (3) Create Clear Goals and Roles, (4) Be Generous With Benefits, (5) Cool Tech Is Enticing, (6) Fundraising Strategies From the Inside Out.

Click Reference to Read Full Article: Gousse, E. G., & McCrosson, M. G. (2018, September 18). Tapping into the Nonprofit Next Generation: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Engaging Millennials at Your Nonprofit [Web log post]. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/tapping-into-the-nonprofit-next-generation-pitfalls-and-best-practices-for-engaging-millennials-at-your-nonprofit

Serving in a not-for-profit organization, whether it is a nonprofit organization or a charity, is a rewarding experience. A board member plays a significant role in the success of the organization and takes on a great responsibility.

Whether you are thinking of becoming one or is currently serving on a board, the following reflections will help you strengthen your role as a board member. Volunteer MBC, through our Board Governance Series, aims to guide you through these reflections.

The significance of a Board

1. What is the importance of a board to a not-for-profit organization?

Structure & Roles

2. How are not-for-profit boards structured? The types of boards, their functioning, and forming committees.

3. What are the roles and responsibilities of a board member and board driven committees?

4. How do you identify and attract a diverse group of board of directors who is a good fit for the organization?

5. What would be telltale signs of an effective not-for-profit board?

Establishing a Board

6. What are the guiding principles of a not-for-profit board? (Vision, mission, mandate, values, and strategic priorities).

7. What are the policies and legal obligations of a not-for-profit board? (Legal and regulatory considerations, by-laws, contracts, policies).

8. What part does a board play in Risk Management of a not-for-profit organization?

Providing Direction

9. How do we strategize the organizations’ way forward?

10. What questions should you ask before approving a budget?

11. How do you plan and support a diversified fund development strategy?

12. How do you make an emotional connection with the community? (storytelling, measuring the impact of programs and services).

13. How do you plan a successful Annual General Meeting? (why, how, what, and when?)

Board Dynamics

14. How do you carry out a productive board meeting? (respecting the professional life and time of board members, finalizing an agenda, planning and scheduling, running a meeting).

15. How do you build a strong team?

Shaminda Perera

Manager, Learning and Resource Development

Fraud in the Not-for-Profit Sector

"​It is difficult to swallow when a volunteer takes cash donations away from those in need for their personal use but it is appalling when an employee or Executive Director (ED) defrauds the organization they are entrusted to protect (Drolet, 2018)."

Click on the Reference to read the article or download the attached file by clicking on the icon below: Drolet, S. (2018, March 14). Fraud in the Not-for-Profit Sector. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from https://home.kpmg.com/ca/en/home/insights/2018/03/fraud-in-the-not-for-profit-sector.html

Fraud Policy Sample

This is a sample of a Fraud Policy relevant to a for-profit organization. It can be customized to reflect the needs and context of a not-for-profit organization.

To download the template click on the file icon below.

Downloaded from: https://www.acfe.com/uploadedFiles/ACFE_Website/Content/documents/Sample_Fraud_Policy.pdf

Dealing with Donor Burnout: What It Is and 3 Ways You Can Keep Your Connection Fresh

Introduction in Article: When people decide to give, they decide which causes to support, which organizations they want to align with, and how they will choose to share their resources. And they also consider one other thing: over-solicitation.

No nonprofit wants to be guilty of over-stepping, but unstable economies and demographic shifts validly evoke concern about whether funds are available to support mission achievement.

Enter “donor burnout.”

Click on Reference to Read Full Article: Heuer, K. (2018, September 18). Dealing with Donor Burnout: What It Is and 3 Ways You Can Keep Your Connection Fresh [Web log post]. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from http://imaginecanada.ca/blog/dealing-donor-burnout-what-it-and-3-ways-you-can-keep-your-connection-fresh?utm_source=NEW Imagine Matters (Membership)&utm_campaign=c2d3213151-Imagine_Matters_English_Sept_4_2018&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_88a308d2fd-c2d3213151-292618629&ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_9_4_2018)

Governance for not-for-profit organizations: questions for directors to ask

"[D]irectors that ensure their NFP is equipped with a good governance framework can ensure that the NFP is productive, accountable and delivers on its mission, ethically and sustainably. This guide sets out a process to help NFP directors create such a framework or in refining an existing one. (Taylor, 2014)"

Reference: Taylor, D. (2014). Governance for not-for-profit organizations: Questions for directors to ask. Toronto: Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.

A list of indicators and their assessment rubric adopted from the Region of Peel Organizational Effectiveness Reporting document.

Reference: Region of Peel (n.d.) Organizational Effectiveness Reporting – Community Investment Program, Retrieved January 3, 2020.

"The LEARN Guideline for Police Record Checks is intended to assist police services to understand and apply relevant legislation, policies, procedures and directives to the processing of Police Record Checks. It is also intended to promote consistency in processing methods as well as the terminology used throughout the Province of Ontario (Source: Law Enforcement & Records (Managers) Network - LEARN)."

Click on the icon below to download or visit this link: http://www.oacp.on.ca/Userfiles/Files/NewAndEvents/PublicResourceDocuments/GUIDELINES%20FOR%20POLICE%20RECORD%20CHECKS%20%20_%20June%202014_FINAL.pdf

Excerpt From  https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/training/index.php: The Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training regulation requires health and safety awareness training for every worker and supervisor under the Occupational Health and Safety Act(OHSA).

Learn more about the regulation, requirements, and our free suite of optional training resources designed to help workers and employers meet the requirements.

Click this link to access the training: https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/training/index.php

Accidents and incidents do happen at work. No not-for-profit is immune to it. Here is a template of a comprehensive incident report that you can download an re-purpose for your organization. As a risk management initiative, incident reports help mitigate some of the aftermath of an incident/accident as well as dealing with the liability issues and insurance.

Incident reports capture on document the exact details of what happened. It should ideally be completed while the details are fresh in the minds of those who witnessed the incident/accident.

Click on the icon to download the template.

International Day of Charity (September 5)

"In the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015, the United Nations recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The Agenda also calls for a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. It also acknowledges the role of the diverse private sector, ranging from micro-enterprises to cooperatives to multinationals, and that of civil society organizations and philanthropic organizations in the implementation of the new Agenda (www.un.org)."

Access the Webpage: http://www.un.org/en/events/charityday

International Volunteer Day (IVD)

"International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector (www.un.org)."

Access the IVD Webpage: http://www.un.org/en/events/volunteerday

International Volunteer Managers Day

IVMD was founded to celebrate the profession of volunteer leadership. Visit the IVMD website for more information and resources on how to celebrate the amazing work that Leaders of Volunteers do in their communities.

Visit the webpage: https://volunteermanagersday.org

It's Time to Start Counting Volunteers Seriously

"Why can't we get some data about volunteering from the both the organizations that benefit from the services of volunteers and those who organize volunteering? (Ellis, 2001)."

Click Reference to Access Article: Ellis, S. J. (2001, December). It's Time to Start Counting Volunteers Seriously [Web log post]. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.energizeinc.com/hot-topics/2001/december

Original Title: In 2019 - Join and Lead a Nonprofit Board

"A nonprofit board is a dynamic and fluid leadership element needed by nonprofit organizations. It requires fuel in the form of fired-up and committed members, plus a focus on the mission of the organization it serves. Nonprofit boards must have volunteers who are properly recruited and have proper orientation. Recruiters of board members must understand why potential members volunteer and what motivates a member to serve at a high level (Haddad, 2019)."

Read Article:

• Click reference to read on the web.

Reference: Haddad, D. (2019, January 11). In 2019—Join and Lead a Nonprofit Board [Web log post]. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://www.nonprofitpro.com/post/in-2019-join-and-lead-a-nonprofit-board/#ne=88dffbd6f5b240d1eb30781ce6c1b06f&utm_source=nonprofit-pro-today&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=2019-01-11

This template is guide to design and develop learning programs. It describes an approach to develop learning objectives using the ABCD method.  

Working remotely have risen in popularity over the last half of the past decade. It is received both with enthusiasm and skepticism. The reason for skepticism is mainly rooted in the physical distance and communication breakdowns created by scattered team members working remotely. In this article, Shaminda Perera present 4 quick tips and a list of tools to help any organization in the Social Purpose Sector to deploy a remote working team within a day.

Click on the link to read the article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/managing-physical-distance-remote-working-teams-shaminda-perera-meae

Robert's Rules of Order is a reputed toolkit to conduct democratic, constructive, fair and orderly meetings. Click on the links below to learn more about how to apply Robert's Rules in your next meeting. The following menu will re-direct you to robertsrules.org.

• Introduction to Robert's Rules
• The Rules
• How to Use Motions
• Chart of Motions
• Sample Agenda

Pew Research Centre offers great insights on various research topics. Here is a link that gives you data and information on the context of Mobile Device usage. 

You can browse reports and data by subject, form data collected in all their reports published since 1983. The research and the content audience is predominantly US based but can be generalized to North America.

Some topics include mobile device usage related to;

• advertising
• baby boomers
• community media
• education
• family and relationships
• online communities
• teens and technology

Click this link to access the reports and data: http://www.pewinternet.org/topics

Non-profit institutions and volunteering: Economic contribution, 2007 to 2017

"Economic activity in the non-profit sector totalled $169.2 billion in 2017, representing 8.5% of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP). Community non-profit institutions accounted for 16.4% of the overall sector, while business non-profit institutions accounted for 10.4%. The most significant portion of non-profit activity (73.2%) came from government non-profit institutions, such as hospitals and universities.

If included, volunteer activities—which are important for the non-profit sector but not included in standard macroeconomic measures—would have added a further $41.8 billion to the economy in 2013 (the most recent year of available data), representing 22.3% of non-profit GDP that year (Statistics Canada)."

Click this reference to access the data: Statistics Canada (2019), Non-profit institutions and volunteering: Economic contribution, 2007 to 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2019, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190305/dq190305a-eng.htm 

Federal Incorporation Guidelines: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs04970.html

Ontario Incorporation Guidelines: http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/nfpinc/Not_for_Profit_Incorporators_Handbook_EN.html

The Difference between Online Communities and Online Communities of Practice

Groman gives an overview of the difference between an Online Community and an Online Communities of Practice. While both are ignited from a common area of interest may it be pets, aeroplanes, a planet, a board game, etc., an Online Community is a group of individuals rallying around a common interest, an Online Community of Practice revolves around a particular profession, skill, or situation whether it is initiated by a professional association or an informal group.

Read the article by clicking on this link: https://healthcommcapacity.org/difference-online-communities-online-communities-practice 

Ontario's Human Rights Code, the first in Canada, was enacted in 1962. The Code prohibits actions that discriminate against people based on a protected ground in a protected social area.