eNewsletter: Spring-Summer 2009

   In This Issue:

1. Improving Non-Profit Governance Online
2. Purposeful Planning For Non-Profit and Social Enterprises
3. Nova Scotia's Government-Voluntary Sector Collaboration Agreement
4. Study of the State of Nova Scotia Voluntary Sector
5. Improved Resource for Board Chairs
6. Looking at Non-Profit Websites

We are pleased to announce the launch of our first totally online course for executive directors and others who work with volunteer boards. Improving Non-Profit Governance provide a unique opportunity for non-profits from across Canada to learn from one another what works in strengthening board interest in managing themselves, clarifying how they work with staff and, most importantly, strengthening the organization’s relationship with members, stakeholders, and the wider community.

Starting in September and working over a period of four months, participants in this program will analyze their organization’s governance needs, compare practice ideas, and coach and be coached in working with their boards to cultivate a more reflective and intentional approach to organizational governance.

This course marries our experience in adult learning, designing and teaching online courses for practitioners, and non-profit governance. The course is the first of its kind in Canada to be tailored to the need of executive directors (or CEO’s) for in-depth understanding and practice ideas that are not bound by textbook models of governance.

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The Acadia Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship is offering a four-day comprehensive course in Purposeful Planning this fall. Facilitated by Joel Stoddard and Amie Haughn of ACSBE, this program will help create a culture of planning in one’s organization, involving both strategic and operational elements, a culture that recognizes the key role of internal and external stakeholders in shaping the future. The program will be held October 15-16 and December 10-11, 2009 at the Old Orchard Inn outside of Wolfville.

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Last December saw the official signing of a Collaboration Agreement between the Government of Nova Scotia and the Voluntary Sector. Nova Scotia is not the first provincial government to recognize the role of the sector but it remains to be seen how this agreement will affect relationships especially with the Province’s Department of Community Services which funds the delivery of services through hundreds of non-profit agencies.

The agreement is intended to "create open, transparent, consistent and collaborative ways of working together on issues policies and programs that create positive outcomes for the voluntary sector and volunteers."

The agreement was signed by the then Premier, Rodney MacDonald and a Voluntary Community Advisory Committee representing of a broad range of sector organizations and groups. The Government’s press release says the agreement is “the first step in developing a better relationship” The lead department for the Province in developing the agreement has been the Department of Health Promotion and Protection. There is scant evidence so far that other Departments are aware of the agreement let alone have taken action to consider if it has any implications for how they work with sector organizations.

With the recent election of a new NDP Government, non-profit organizations have some reason to be hopeful that relationships might improve. One would hope that in terms of funding the delivery of services that support low income families, persons with disabilities and women, government will do more to recognize the uniqueness, independence and effectiveness of sector organizations in working with government to strengthen communities across the Province.

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The Federation of Community Organizations a local coalition of over 60 organizations, in partnership with Phoenix Youth Programs, has been awarded funding by HRSDC to undertake research on the state of the non-profit sector in Nova Scotia. The study will focus on a number of labour and workforce issues in the sector including:

• The size and scope of the sector in terms of paid employment
• Educational and training experience, employment history and salary levels
• Rates of staff turnover as well as push and pull factors associated with staff turnover
• Identification of specific challenges in attracting and retaining 'talent' in Nova Scotia voluntary organizations
• Exploration of staff retention strategies with a view to future needs

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We are pleased to offer a newly revised guide for volunteer board chairpersons. Our four-page resource Chairing a Board Meeting has been completely revised to reflect increasing interest in the dynamics more than the mechanics, of good board meetings.

This resource recognizes that board meetings can be as much about developing an understanding of the big issues facing organizations as about decision-making and problems solving, and that trust and respect must be rampant in order for conversations to tap more deeply into the wisdom of volunteer directors and staff as a governance team.

We welcome your feedback on these materials.

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Most non-profit groups have now taken the plunge to develop websites that describe who they are, who they serve, what they do. Distinguishing oneself with the help of a great website is increasingly important for many.

A quick search of the web reveals increasing interest in good non-profit website design. There are some commercial design sites with good advice for no-profits and examples of winning designs. They all generally recommend that in developing or redesigning a non-profit web site one should start with being very clear about its purpose and audience. It should also draw attention to one’s issue, assist in recruiting volunteers (including board members), encourage donations, inform the public about what you do and reveal something about where your financial resources come from and go and what is the organizational structure.

There are a number non-profit organizations in Nova Scotia that have excellent websites. Some examples are:

• YMCA Halifax
• Homebridge Youth Society
• Supportive Housing for Young Mothers
• Ecology Action Centre
• Summer Street Industries
• The Flower Cart

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We would welcome the submission of short articles or information items for this newsletter relevant to voluntary sector learning, research and public policy issues >> Contact us to submit an item

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