Now you are on the board of a Community Foundation and exploring the investment policy mandate and direction. This session explores: Understanding the differences between “types” of investment managers and how to select them; Set it and forget it: the crucial role of an investment policy in surviving turbulent markets; When and ways to evaluate and monitor your investment manager; What is a reserve fund and why is it important?
If you have recently been appointed Treasurer, or are responsible for the day-to-day financial management of your community foundation, join us for this 3 workshop series. From budgeting, accounting and investment practices, audits and risk management, there is a broad range of skills for foundation staff and board members to understand. This session focuses on strengthening your financial understanding by reviewing the various components of audited financial statements, key financial health metrics and internal financial reporting — budgets, board reports and responsibilities of the bookkeeper, treasurer and CFO.
As coronavirus spreads, registered charities and non-profit organizations (“NPOs”) that help the needy and vulnerable are likely to face unprecedented demands. Thus, it is critical that operations continue to the extent possible. This article discusses some key governance considerations that should be top of mind for management and boards of directors in the coming weeks, if not months.
As a community foundation grows, it gets pulled in multiple, competing directions. Those competing directions can harm its financial sustainability and the clarity of its value proposition to the community and donors. A clearer path to growth comes when the foundation is aligned toward a primary operating model. Building on their presentation at the 2019 CFC Conference, this is the first of two webinars by Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates’ on the Four Quadrants operating model framework, the reasons why foundations choose each model, and trends in philanthropy and the community foundation field challenging each model. Presenters: Tony Macklin and Steve Alley, Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates
We have a wealth of philanthropic experience and knowledge about community foundations and their work. We’re here to help you with guidance and expertise. From strategic planning to “who’s doing this?” questions, we’re here to track down resources, and connect you with the right information — and the right people — to put your vision into action.
With the increasing complexity of regulations, demand for accountability, and sophistication of donors and gifting vehicles, community foundations must not only be professional in their approaches to all of their work but also ready and able to handle any situations that arise. In fact, many people would agree that the Board’s most important responsibility is establishing policy. A policy can be a governing principle; a guideline for carrying out work; and a way for the Board to delegate authority. Policies let individuals make sound decisions while relieving the Board of Directors and the Executive Director of involvement in routine decision making. Policies ensure that operations within your community foundation are administered consistently, within regulations and that donors and members of the public are treated fairly and uniformly.
This manual is designed to be a starting point for your community foundation to put in place policies that represent best practices. Use these policy examples as a starting point to create your own. A more in-depth examination of the considerations required for each policy is available in the Policy Guidelines and Template Manual. It provides each community foundation Board of Directors with key questions to be considered in developing policy that is consistent with their model of governance as a community foundation.
The key to a highly effective and engaged board is one that has clarity around roles, responsibilities and aligns their work and performance with organizational values and vision. This webinar focuses on board members’ key responsibilities, how to move boards out of operations and into the “big picture”, provide increased clarity on the roles of board members vs. the roles of paid staff and operational volunteers and how to create efficient board meetings.
If you are a new board member, coming into your role as a board chair or looking to up your governance learning, this webinar is for you! Participants will discover the principles of good governance, how strong governance creates strong organizations and the importance of communication.
Join Community Foundations of Canada for an online fireside chat with CFC board member Victoria Grant. Designed for Board members of community foundations, this screencast will explore leadership topics that are essential to building strong organizational governance. This fireside chat will also focus on meaningful Board and stakeholder communications.