CNPA Blog
Welcome to the Canadian Nonprofit Academy Blog
Do Your Volunteers Have the Right Mindset?
Many nonprofits we work with complain that their boards lack passion, inspiration, and focus. Their board members don't follow through on what needs to be done to support their mission and vision and better their organization. Members are on the board for all the...
The Great Resignation: How To Come Out The Other Side Even Stronger
At The Canadian Nonprofit Academy, we've been paying close attention to what's happening with the Great Resignation. Also known as the Big Quit or the Great Reshuffle, the Great Resignation began in early 2021 and has seen millions of employees voluntarily resigning...
Good Governance: The Secret Sauce to Innovation
A common misconception of nonprofit governance is that it's not to be taken seriously. After all, it's a volunteer position that doesn't require training, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, this attitude is all too common among board members. And it's this attitude that...
The New Ontario Nonprofit Corporation Act (ONCA) – and How Your Organization Can Stay in Compliance
At long last, the day that nonprofits have been waiting for. The Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) will be proclaimed on October 19, 2021.  The ONCA legislation was passed by the Ontario Legislature in 2017 but the date in which the act would come into...
Why is Your Board Not Engaged?
Having a Board of Directors is Not Just About Putting Bums in Seats A non-profit organization’s achievement is built on the hard effort and commitment of the board members it is led by. That’s why when the board’s engagement falters, so does the board’s effectiveness...
Five Monkeys, a Banana and the Board
Do you have the feeling something is not right on your board? Do you have the sneaky pervasive feeling that you and your board’s processes do not allow your board to do its best work? Do you feel that your board culture is toxic and you don’t know how to change it? Do...
Why boards need training?
A not so innocent question The governance committee of a large agency spent months discussing and researching possible board training solutions for their board, committees, and staff. The committee, the Executive Director and the board president had all agreed that it...
The Why of Impact Versus Outputs
One of the greatest conundrums of the nonprofit world is how to measure success? Profit can be an ugly word within the nonprofit sector. Bottom lines and services sold just doesn’t feel right when talking about the difference that your nonprofit wants to make in its...
Volunteer Leadership
From Task to Vision In November 2014,  I met some remarkable volunteer leaders. It was a great experience. The occasion was a workshop that I gave at the national conference of the Canadian Society of Association Executives on Volunteer Leadership. I love talking to...