Standards for accountability for nonprofits

At first glance it looks like Imagine Canada has done a good job of putting a standards program in place for charities and nonprofits.

This kind of accountability and transparency has been a long time coming it should be no surprise for those in the sector.

The standards cover

1. Board Governance
2. Financial Accountability & Transparency
3. Ethical Fundraising
4. Staff Management
5. Volunteer Involvement

They are tiered depending on size of organization with modest fees for accreditation. The standards and the process are all available on the website and from my cursory look, the standards are written in plain language for ease of understanding.

http://www.imaginecanada.ca/standards/the_standards

http://www.imaginecanada.ca/files/www/en/standards/standards_program_handbook_may_2012.pdf

To my delight, the standards are rooted in a strategic framework.

Vision: A Canada where well-run and well-respected charities and nonprofits make a positive contribution within communities across the country and around the world.

Mission: To build excellence within Canada’s charities and nonprofits through common standards of practice and to strengthen confidence in the sector.

Goals

1. Help Canadian charities and nonprofits improve their practices in five foundational areas: board governance, financial accountability, fundraising, staff management, and volunteer involvement.

2.Increase the transparency of charities and nonprofits in these foundational areas.

3.Recognize organizations that meet the standards.

4.Strengthen public confidence in individual charitable and nonprofit organizations and the sector as a whole.

They’ve been through testing on some very recognizable nonprofit organizations and with the strength of positioning of Imagine Canada, this is a movement that can not be ignored.

Good reference material for any nonproft

Beyond an accreditation program, this material is free guidance on how to structure or run a solid nonprofit. It  is a set of best practices presented in an easy-to-read 16 page PDF. So if you are running a nonprofit take advantage of this great resource. And if you’re thinking of supporting a nonprofit, these standards give you a good checklist for an evaluation.

Today I was inspired

I’ve been keeping busy with my volunteer work and will add a post for that, but today I can truly say I was inspired and my commitment to meaningful volunteerism was reignited.

I was asked to sit in on a special presentation supporting University of Toronto’s Boundless campaign. It’s a campaign that puts the stories of UofT’s great faculty, students and alumni forward to showcase their contributions and make the case that they are worthy of your support.

With the launch of Boundless: The Campaign for the University of Toronto, we are celebrating this tradition of leadership, community and generosity. boundless.utoronto.ca

Instead of an executive recounting facts and figures, we were treated to 4 of the many scholars and educators at UofT that are making a difference in the field of public health. Representing a cross section of study areas and expertise, their perspective ran from innovative business models, to frugal medical equipment in Africa, to working in our far north, and integrating student health right into UofT itself.

Many of the stories were inspiring, the photo’s either breathtaking or tragic. To see their minds in action as they passionately shared their work was a privilege.

It inspired me to think about the great partnerships of philanthropy and innovation that happen when a person passionate about their vision meets a person who is equally passionate and commits to make it happen.

So can we take the concepts of eco-tourism or volun-tourism, and create experiential journeys for potential partners (donors) where they can be a part of innovation when and where it happens? Exclusive opportunities to see the needs, travel with the experts, be a part of the conversation and invited to make their own contribution.

Talk about Boundless Opportunity!

My own foundation, my way of giving

The fastest growing way to give

I thought having a charitable foundation was the domain only of the super rich but not any more. It happens to the be the fastest growing method of giving and I suspect it’s going to skyrocket in popularity as the economy recovers, portfolios go positive and boomers once again focus on their next phase.

So yes, a totally self-directed foundation is still out of reach for many of us but individual or family foundations (sometimes called donor-advised funds) are now a packaged offering available through financial services firms. A similar offering is also available through many foundations. Start it up with $10k-$25k depending on the program.

See examples:
http://www.mackenziefinancial.com/en/pub/products/charitable/index.shtml
http://www.tcf.ca
http://www.canadagives.ca/about_canada_gives

Your name is on the foundation, you can direct where the proceeds go, you may select how the funds are invested and the perk on top of all the good feeling you get is that there’s a big tax deduction that comes with the investment.

Get the kids involved

Some families are using it as a way to involve kids in the giving process. It’s a family fund and the family decides together where proceeds go.

When you’re ready to think about this you’ll know it

When you’ve taken care of yourself, your partner, and your kids, and there will be a time when that happens, if there’s a little extra leftover then maybe it’s time to think about setting up your own foundation. It will add structure to your giving and even leave a legacy that continues to give even when you’re gone.

One skilled strategic volunteer available for free

I “retired” June 1, 2008 a little early by most folks standards but then I’ve never been one to follow the rule book. After a year as the Entrepreneur in Residence at Laurier University and with time to travel, reconnect with friend and explore concepts I found my new direction and started blogging about it in the fall of 2009.

Realigned and rewriting the rules for volunteerism

I am now fully “realigned” in my new life, balancing my role as a Strategic Volunteer and adding that work-life balance with an equal amount of time devoted to fun. It takes a lot of work to do this.

To stay fully engaged as a strategic volunteer demands constant focus on my next opportunity while I fully relish the work on my plate. Being a strategic volunteer, a role that people intuitively understand but which doesn’t really exist, means I am once again rewriting the rules and forging new ground.

My purpose is clear – find meaningful ways to use my time and skills as a social investment and to set a path so that my cohort, retiring boomers, will have an easier time doing the same.

In 2010 I achieved some great milestones but I could have done so much more:

• I helped a great foundation win its just reward, acknowledgement as the Outstanding Foundation of the Year
• I helped set a strategic framework for both a small non profit and the alumni organization within my university
• I completed a marketing study and target profiles to help a major non profit reach boomer volunteers
• I continued to mentor students and budding entrepreneurs
• I helped in small ways by stuffing envelopes, working the soup kitchen, and setting up an art show
• And I used my blog to bring attention to great organizations and ideas

One skilled, focused strategic volunteer available for free

2011 has just begun and I am crystal clear on what I want to do – maximize my social investment by working with non-profits that can leverage my skills to boost their performance AND expand volunteerism models to provide opportunities for others like me that can do way more than stuff envelopes.

Let’s talk about what I can do for you – imcindyrp [at] hotmail.com

How savvy is Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders? Very!

I agree with the Globe and Mail’s caption of “Good Idea: Warehousing good intentions.”

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (Canada) has shopping carted giving. They’ve put all the supplies they need, urgent ones highlighted, onto a shopping type website where you can make a contribution big or small. $30 will buy a cholera treatment for one patient in Haiti or spend $18,750 and buy a full kit. $60 for a 5% share of a diesel generator or spend $1,200 and buy the whole unit. $90 buys a doctor for a day, $3,780 buys a 6 week mission.

The MSF Warehouse contains real items that Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) uses in its field projects. When you purchase an item, you are making a contribution that supports MSF’s medical humanitarian aid work in general, and not just the purchase of that product. Your donation will be used where the need is greatest.

Complete with Twitter and Facebook integration, lots of pictures, stories, gift ideas this website is a great reinterpretation of giving. And just in time for the holidays.

It’s a great cause, and a brilliant use of web technology. Kudos to MSF Canada!

“Médecins Sans Frontières was established in 1971 by a small group of doctors and journalists. They were determined to find a way to respond rapidly and effectively to public health emergencies, with complete independence from political, economic and religious influences.”

2010′s Outstanding Foundation

I’m proud of these folks. They are smart, focused on their cause and for nearly 30 years have helped make Toronto a better place to live and work.

I am speaking of the Toronto Community Foundation and they are this year’s Outstanding Foundation, as honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Philanthropy Awards are a celebration of the outstanding contribution of time, leadership and financial support made by organizations and individuals, who have set excellence benchmarks in encouraging the spirit of giving.

This is an acknowledgment of the work of the Foundation not only in fundraising but in making philanthropy effective through informed and focused choices.

Community vitality has been our purpose, promise, and passion since 1981, when we started connecting donors to community needs and opportunities. Home to hundreds of endowment funds, we help people invest in Toronto, making it the best place to live, work, learn and grow. We monitor the quality of life in our city, identifying its strengths and weaknesses through our Toronto’s Vital SignsR Report. We provide the leadership and guidance to bring people together from all parts of our community. We exist for Toronto – for now and for always.

Congratulations to a team I am proud to support as a Strategic Volunteer.

Calling all UofT alumni to dinner

Another successful Dinner with 12 Strangers! More like 20-30 in my case as I like to turn dinners into parties.

The weather cooperated for our BBQ and the food, a combination of mine and contributions from the guests, made for a scrumptous buffet. I think these events really draw in the foodies.

But this program is really about the conversations and connections. These students are amazing. They are just starting their journeys and are filled with promise and FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) at the same time. While some of them are clearly confident, others just need a bit of encouragement as they get ready to really make a contribution to the world.

As an alumni, it’s one of the great things you can do – spend an evening over dinner with a great bunch of students. Their energy is palpable. I’m not sure the greater gift isn’t the recharge they give to you.

See previous post for details

Food for Change at The Stop. I highly recommend it to you.

What a marvelous, humbling and educational experience. I dragged myself home from a 9 hour shift in a professional kitchen and felt more elated than I’ve been in years.

It was hard work for sure, educational on many levels, with a built in sense of team work that I’ve rarely seen in business. And for a mere $100, you too can be rejuvenated by the experience while giving back to a good cause.

Food for Change

I’m speaking of the Food for Change program at The Stop in Toronto. The Stop in Toronto’s west end, is “community hub where neighbours participate in a broad range of programs that provide healthy food, as well as foster social connections, build food skills and promote engagement in civic issues.”

Photo: Anna Prior

Food for Change is one of their monthly fundraisers where you have two opportunities to participate.

• You can dine in a spectacular setting of their greenhouse. You experience a 5 course meal created by one of Toronto’s top chefs, paired with specially selected wines.
• Or you can do as I did and join the kitchen crew, working side by side with the chefs Chris Brown, Scott MacNeil and Alex Tso for a real hands on experience prepping, cooking and plating these top dishes.

For anyone who loves food or loves to cook this experience is rare. It’s an inexpensive journey into a world we seldom get to see. It’s real, not cooking school, it’s intense as the clock ticks down to serving time and you’re conscious that this is a non-profit venture where these top ingredients are more than precious and the kitchen and cookware are not pristine (and not entirely functional). These top chefs are making do but that’s part of the charm.

The team work is amazing to watch as Chris sets the direction then bounces between demands of his phone, the staff, the kitchen and a photographer, Anna Prior, who happened to be there that day. Scott and Alex work steady, somehow in tandem with Chris while supporting us amateurs. Their patience is remarkable and you feel their comradery and passion for good food.

Support The Stop

So if you want to give back, go the The Stop and see what they offer. There are a many programs at their location, out in community and they even cater!

• Check the program calendar then instead of defaulting to your goto restaurant, grab a few friends or just take yourself for a unique dining adventure (only $75 or $120 with wine).
• Love to cook or know someone who does? Consider this a gift and spend $100 for a priceless experience.
• Take a team, help out at The Stop and get back to basics. I can think nothing better to give you perspective and re-engage your sense of purpose.

See this good photo essay: http://goodfoodrevolution.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/the-stops-food-for-change-dinner-series-a-photo-essay/

More dinners with strangers

University of Toronto is ready for another season of its great “Dinner with 12 Strangers” program and I’m gearing up for a din of my own.

“The premise: sit down to dinner with 12 strangers; get up with 12 new friends”

The University’s alumni office offers the program. Come forward to host an evening and they provide the students and a co-host (faculty, alumni and other member of the university community).

I did 2 of these dinners last year (see previous post) and enjoyed each one of them tremendously. The students are bright, engaged, informed and a pleasure to chat with. I invited friends to help co-host and they got as much out of it as the students did.

Sign up now

They group the dates for more effective marketing so join in for:

• Round 1 from September 18 – October 25, 2010
• Round 2 November 3, 2010 and run through winter holiday (which starts Dec. 22 and ends January 2)
• Round 3 will start in February, 2011 and will end in late March

For more on the program or to sign up visit the web site or email dinnerwith12@alumni.utoronto.ca.

Strategically good causes focused on Toronto

For those in the Toronto area looking for initiatives to support, you might check out Toronto Community Foundation’s newest online resource: Community Knowledge Centre.

It’s still in beta so there are more features and content to come but even now it’s a “ virtual showcase of innovative and effective solutions to some of our city’s most pressing issues.”

This site is an extension of the Foundation’s work to identify those areas of improvement that will make Toronto a great city to live, work, learn and grow.

So if you’re looking for initiatives to support with time or money, scan through this online resource.