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)

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 

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

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: http://volunteer.ca/vdemo/ResearchAndResources_DOCS/Volunteer_Canada_Canadian_Code_for_Volunteer_Involvement_2017.pdf 

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.

A sample guide to train community ambassadors developed by Canadian National Institute for the Blind on January 2017. Shared with Permission.

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.

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 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.

"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

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

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 

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.

Click on the link below to access the Peel Data Centre. 

The PDC gives you access to a wide variety of quantitative data on Peel.

Peel Data Centre: https://www.peelregion.ca/planning/pdc

Peel Police Data

The Peel Police crime mapping data can be used to evaluate the significance of programs and services to the at-risk population.

Access the Website: https://www.peelpolice.ca/en/in-the-community/crime-statistics-and-maps.aspx

Volunteer MBC's Executive Director, Carine Strong shares the 10 most important tips to help improve the performance of your team. Click here to read the article.

"The HUB is a one-stop site to access free resources and stay up to date on police and criminal records information in Ontario. These free and evidence-based resources are helpful for individuals with records, employers, the volunteer sector, legal and HR professionals (Source: John Howard Society)."

Visit The HUB by clicking on the link: http://policerecordhub.ca

Police Record Checks in Ontario

In Ontario, the Police Record Checks Reform Act, governs the types of record checks that can be conducted for screening (for example, non-law enforcement) purposes. The act authorizes three different types of police record checks:

• criminal record check includes applicable criminal convictions and findings of guilt under the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act
• criminal record and judicial matters check includes applicable criminal convictions, findings of guilt under the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act, absolute and conditional discharges, outstanding charges, arrest warrants, and certain judicial orders
• vulnerable sector check includes the same type of information that is disclosed in a criminal record and judicial matters check as well as applicable findings of not criminally responsible due to mental disorder, record suspensions (pardons) related to sexually-based offences, and in certain circumstances, non-conviction charge related information; when a strict test is met.

Please click on the reference link for more information.

Reference: Queen's Printer for Ontario. (n.d.). Police Record Checks in Ontario. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/police_serv/PoliceRecordsChecks/PS_records_checks.html

Police Records Checks Reform Act (Bill-113) comes into effect as of November 1, 2018. This act standardizes which Record Check to be done and what will be included in them. The types of records checks will now be; Criminal Records Check (Level 1), Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (Level 2), and the Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3) across Ontario.

Click the link to learn more about the Act: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-41/session-1/bill-113

This is a document answers some of the frequently asked questions regarding the Police Vulnerable Sector Check. It is a document put together by the RCMP. While Volunteer MBC Learning Centre goes to great lengths to maintain the most updated resources, please note that the information in this document may have changed from the date of upload.

Random Defenition: A position of trust or authority is created when an individual's relationship with someone else has any of the following characteristics:

• Decision-making power
• Unsupervised access
• Closeness inherent in the relationship
• Personal nature of the activity itself

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police, retrieved on September 17, 2018

On the Record: An Information Guide on Police Record Checks in Ontario for Employers, Human Resources Professionals and Volunteer Managers. Click on the link below to download the publication.

"This document was produced by the John Howard Society of Ontario and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in October 2014. The publication of this document was supported by a grant from the Law Foundation of Ontario. Please note that this is legal information, not legal advice. If you need advice about your individual circumstances, please consult with a lawyer (John Howard Society of Ontario & Canadian Civil Liberties Association, 2014)."

Source: John Howard Society of Ontario & Canadian Civil Liberties Association. (2014). On the Record. Toronto, ON: John Howard Society of Ontario & Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Retrieved June 27, 2018, from http://www.johnhoward.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/On-the-Record-2-FINAL.pdf

The following link will take you directly to the Record Checks and Suspensions (Pardons) webpage of Peel Regional Police.

Webpage Link: https://www.peelpolice.ca/en/services/record-checks-and-suspensions-pardons.aspx

The Volunteer Management Blueprint is published by John Howard Society of Ontario. The main goal of this resource manual is to contribute to the development of

volunteer programs by:

• Building organizational capacity by bringing together resources and best practices for those organizations interested in developing robust and inclusive volunteer programs, and
  
• Providing new tools and ideas that can assist organizations in the management, creation and enhancement of inclusive volunteer programs.

It can be downloaded from http://johnhoward.on.ca/download/volunteer-management-blueprint

Effective November 1, 2018, in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), youth records will only be released to federal, provincial or municipal government agencies. Record checks for young persons won't be conducted for any other purpose. 

Due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, an individual sentenced for an offence as a Young Person does not have to apply for a record suspension since all records are destroyed or archived once all applicable time periods have elapsed.

For more details contact: Peel Regional Police, Records Services, 905-453-2121 Ext. 4343

Source: Recent Changes to Police Records Checks [Webinar], presented by Peel Regional Police, hosted by Volunteer MBC, on October 2017.

Link to more information: https://www.peelpolice.ca/en/services/record-checks-and-suspensions-pardons.aspx#

Preventing fraud in Not For Profit organizations

"There are a number of ways to minimize the potential for fraud and its effects on your organization. Understanding different types of fraudulent activity and educating yourself and your associates about how it occurs and how to identify it is a good place to start. From there, you can incorporate procedures using a system of checks and balances to help prevent fraudulent activity from occurring in the first place (Royal Bank of Canada, n.d.)."

Reference: Royal Bank of Canada (n.d.). Fraud in the not-for-profit environment. Retrieved November 23, 2018, from https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/members-area/profession-news/2016/january/not-for-profit-fraud

Questioning Volunteer Management

A paper by Jennifer Woodill

Extract: "Very quickly after I became a “Volunteer Coordinator”, I had a sinking feeling that I was in the wrong job. As someone new to the field of “volunteer management” (I had worked with volunteers for years before but not in a formal ‘management’ role), I wanted to learn everything to do my job well. I jumped head first into my new world of volunteer management, reading voraciously about volunteer management practices, joining my local AVA (Association for Volunteer Administrators) and connecting with other volunteer managers. I learned about the different topics of interest to volunteer managers: recruiting, screening, risk management, interviewing, evaluation, etc. My big picture questions, about how volunteerism connects to community development, civic engagement and social inclusion were never mentioned, in the books or meetings or discussions with other volunteer managers. I felt like I had been dropped into a completely different profession, perhaps as a Human Resources Manager, an Administrator, or maybe a Factory Manager, churning out well-oiled volunteers as efficiently as possible. I started wondering, what was going on? (Woodill, 2007, p. 2).

To download the paper:

1. Click the Reference: Woodill, J. (2007). Questioning Volunteer Management(Master's thesis, 2007). Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from http://atwork.settlement.org/downloads/atwork/Questioning_Volunteer_Management_Discussion_Paper_Nov07.pdf

2. Or, click on the icon below.

Raising the Bar on Financial Governance: Best Practices for Not-for-Profit Board Directors in Ontario

"More than ever before, board members are held to a higher degree of accountability. Anyone who joins the board of a not-for-profit or charitable organization should be prepared to govern with a clear understanding of their responsibilities and a strong focus on best practices. These Acts establish higher standards of oversight in a number of areas — including financial accountability. For example, the duties, powers, liabilities, protections and standards of care for directors are clarified. Not-for-profit corporations must now make their financial statements available to members (BDO Canada, 2015)."

Click the Reference to read the article: BDO Canada. (2015, April 23). Best practices for Not-for-Profit boards of directors in Ontario. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from https://www.bdo.ca/en-ca/insights/industries/not-for-profit-education/best-practices-for-not-for-profit-boards-of-direct

"We’re the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, though we also go by ‘RAK’. We’re a small, but mighty team making huge strides towards building a kinder world. We come to work live every day working to make kindness effortless and have selfless acts be the norm (www.randomactsofkindness.org)."

Click here to visit the website: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/get-inspired

Peering into the Future

Lalande, L. (2018). Peering into the Future: Reimagining Governance in the Non-Profit Sector(Rep. No. 171). Toronto, ON: Mowat Research.

This Risk Assessment Tool gives you a template to identify what risks may exist with your volunteer role. It should be utilized during the volunteer position design stage. 

The Screening Handbook (2012 edition) is a publication prepared by "Volunteer Canada" and published by the "Public Safety Canada" based on the 10 Steps of Screening. This handbook is a valuable resource for the practical application of volunteer screening standards and procedures. 

Page 71 to 73 of the handbook highlights the legal profile of Ontario. It is a list of all volunteer involvement related regulations and legislation relevant to the Province of Ontario.

Click the link below to download "The Screening Handbook."

Tip 1: Align your evaluation criteria and questions to the key accountabilities mentioned in the position description. Any performance evaluation criteria should have variables that you can measure against and these variables (duties of the role, standards, and Key performance indicators) should have been communicated to the volunteer when they start in the role. Also, try not to use any off-the-shelf evaluation forms from the web.

Tip 2: Start your evaluation form with questions inquiring the volunteers experience in the position and with the organization. This gives them the respect that you are willing to listen and improve their experience. The key is to make sure you discuss their feedback with them and what you would do with their feedback.

 Tip 3: What would be effective; a one-time annual evaluation or periodic discussions that can be summarised into one annual report.

Tip 4: Strategize. Follow through your performance evaluation with Personal/Professional development plans. Working in an environment where human interaction is a predominant activity, there are bound to be inspiring stories as well as areas to improve. If you have identified any areas for improvement, be ready with how you can help the volunteer to improve. Provide options which they can choose from. Volunteers will appreciate the development opportunities you are giving them.

Tip 5: Measure what matters. This flows through with Tip #1. Measure the impact. You will know best whether your organization strategic priorities are focused on quantity or quality. Measure the impact against the strategic priorities. For example, if you are measuring communication skills, are you measuring the use of the English language or the effectiveness of getting the message across.

Tip 6: What is the root cause? If there are any skills or performance gaps, check to see what the actual root cause is. For example, consistent delays in producing reports could mean either the person does not know how to work with Microsoft Office or that the computer used is extremely slow. Dig deep into the problem.

Tip 7: Use the stories of best practices and high performers to inspire the rest. Bring it to the performance review discussion, but also show it to the world. Many volunteers want to know the impact they make, praise them publicly as and when it happens.

Click on the icon below to download a sample volunteer Performance Review template. This form was designed to a particular role at Volunteer MBC. Please use it as a template keeping the above tips in mind.

Statistics Canada Website

Access the Website: https://www.statcan.gc.ca

Strategic Volunteer Management: Expanding Your Organization's Brain

"A few years ago during a workshop I led in Perth, Western Australia about being strategic in engaging volunteers, a participant came up to me during the morning break. He excitedly told me, “I just got it! Volunteers can expand my organization’s brain! (Ellis, 2013)."

Click Reference to Access Article: Ellis, S. J. (2013, May). Strategic Volunteer Management: Expanding Your Organization's Brain [Web log post]. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.energizeinc.com/hot-topics/2013/may

Spearheaded by the United Nations, in 2015, global leaders rallied to established 17 goals to achieve by 2030 to push forward the development of the world. 

They are commonly referred to as Global Goals, which are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

In 2019, Volunteer Canada's theme for the National Volunteer Week is inspired by these goals.

While most not-for-profits are already engaged in tackling at last one of these goals, this initiative is an effort to put the goals into the centre stage. 

The resources that stem from the SDGs will be valuable content that can be used for program planning, grant writing, and evaluation.

Here are four resources that will inspire you to focus on these goals:

(1) The Global Goals: https://www.globalgoals.org/resources 

(2) The Government of Canada Sustainable Development Goals Data Hub: https://www144.statcan.gc.ca/sdg-odd/index-eng.htm

(3) A Look at the Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Foundation

(4) How We Can Make the World a Better Place by 2030, Michael Green on TED Talks

“Screening is a process that helps match people with volunteer positions while improving the quality and safety of the programs and services offered in communities.

It’s an ongoing 10-step process performed by an organization to ensure that the volunteers’ involvement is meeting the needs of the organizations, the populations they serve and the volunteers themselves (Source: https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=368).”

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

20 questions directors should ask about governance committees

"As a board, do we have the right directors, with the right experience, knowledge and motivation to help us deliver value to the organization? Are we able to effectively set strategic direction with management and oversee and evaluate management’s execution of strategic plans? Are we confident that we have delegated responsibilities effectively across committees? Are we effective in overseeing risk mitigation and staying on top of emerging risks? Do we receive useful feedback through regular evaluations that help us enhance the value we provide? Are we developing candidates to take leadership positions on our board? Do we have an effective and productive relationship with management? How well do we understand stakeholder expectations and is our board proactively engaging with stakeholders in a way that is both productive and mutually beneficial? 

These are just some of the challenging issues that today’s governance committees are helping their boards to address. (Anderson, 2010)."

Reference: Anderson, D. W. (2010). 20 questions directors should ask about governance committees. Toronto: Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

United Way Greater Toronto Research and Reports

Access the Website: https://www.unitedwaygt.org/research-and-reports

Universal Declaration on the Profession

of Volunteer Management

"In 2001, International Year of Volunteers, volunteer management professionals from around the globe met in Toronto for the International Conference on Volunteer Administration. Participants worked together to develop a Universal Declaration on the Profession of Leading and Managing Volunteers. The group worked together for two days to produce the following declaration. We encourage you to use the declaration to raise awareness of the powerful role played by volunteer resource managers (www.volunteer.ca)."

Read the Declaration: https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=340

The Value of Volunteering in Canada is a research report briefing presented to Volunteer Canada on April 5, 2018, by The Conference Board of Canada.

"Each day, Canadians in every region of the country contribute both their time and money to help and improve the well-being of their communities. Financial contributions from millions of people across the country benefit important causes, including the successful operation of shelters, service organizations, and food banks. Also, contributions help to ensure that universities, research institutes, and hospitals can make key advances in scientific, medical, and other research areas. But in addition to donations, volunteering provides many important services that affect the lives of Canadians—supporting Canadians in need and contributing to sports, arts, cultural, and environmental causes are just some examples (Beckman & Antunes, 2018)."

Click on the icon below to download the PDF file.

Reference: Beckman, K. & Antunes, P. (2018). The Value of Volunteering in Canada(Issue brief). The Conference Board of Canada.

Mississauga's Vital Signs

"Vital Signs is a national program led by local community foundations and coordinated by Community Foundations of Canada. It leverages local knowledge to measure the vitality of our communities and support action towards improving our quality of life (Community Foundation of Mississauga, 2018)."

Access Vital Signs: Community Foundation of Mississauga. (2018). Mississauga's Vital Signs 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from https://www.cfofm.org/mississauga-vital-signs

Volunteer Management Handbook: A Resource for Service-Providing Organizations Assisting Newcomers to Canada

This handbook provides a general overview of the volunteer management process with a focus on volunteers supporting newcomers (www.volunteer.ca).

Download the Booklet either by clicking on the URL or the download icon.

URL: https://volunteer.ca/vdemo/EngagingVolunteers_DOCS/VMH_Eng_2016_Print.pdf

In this "Volunteer Position Design Canvas" (Microsoft XL Spreadsheet), you can design a snapshot of your volunteer position by taking many factors into consideration. Such as; 

• Identifying and distinguishing between accountabilities, responsibilities, and role-related tasks.
  
• Identifying competencies and performance management strategies.
• Brainstorming the work conditions which include physical and environmental conditions, resources and equipment, and the boundaries of the role.
• Assessing risks and establishing risk management strategies.

November 13 is World Kindness Day.

Click here to plan an event or an act of kindness: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/world-kindness-day

Youth Records

"As a general rule, the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) protects the privacy of young persons who are accused or found guilty of a crime by keeping their identity and other personal information confidential. The protection of privacy is achieved by prohibiting the publication of information that would identify a young person’s involvement in the criminal justice system and by restricting access to their youth records.

This fact sheet contains general information regarding youth records under the YCJA (Department of Justice).

Access the Fact Sheet: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/yj-jj/tools-outils/sheets-feuillets/recor-dossi.html