In this learning track, you can engage in a variety of sessions to build and develop governance skills.
Check back soon for updates, we are adding new sessions regularly!
- “Practical Strategic Planning: The Basics Part 1 & 2” (Daniela Galindo – Jerry Firth – Community Development Unit)
- “Demystifying Financial Statements” (Leslie Evans – Federation of Calgary Communities)
- “Board Basics 101: Things your Board Needs to Know!” (Paul Meunier – Federation of Calgary Communities)
- “I’m the New Treasurer: Now What?” (Leslie Evans – Federation of Calgary Communities)
- “Liability & Legal Fundamentals” (Yvonne Chenier – IntegralOrg)
- “The Board & Staff Relationship: How to Work Better Together” (Shari Hanson – Community Development Unit)
- “Leadership Legacy: Maximizing Board Impact Through Succession Planning” (Rebecca Finley-Schidlowsky – Finley And Associates)
- “Govern Yourself Accordingly: Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures” (Yvonne Chenier – IntegralOrg)
“Practical Strategic Planning: The Basics Part 1 & 2”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Jerry Firth, Community Development Officer, Alberta Arts Culture & Status of Women
Description: As a nonprofit leader, you may realize that strategic planning is more important thane ever, but it is not always easy to begin the process. Through interactive exercises and resources in this session, you will experience how to develop a basic strategic plan, from the earliest planning stages all the way through to ensuring the outcomes can take root throughout your organization. You will leave this session with actionable tips, resources, and confidence to return to your organization and apply proven-by-practice methods and new insights and ideas from current strategic approaches.
This is a 2-part session. If you register from one you will be automatically registered in the other.
To learn more about the Community Development Unit, click on any of the links below.
“Demystifying Financial Statements”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Leslie Evans, Federation of Calgary Communities
Description: Learning how to read and understand financial statements is vital for any board member. Financial tracking, interpretation, and related decision making is a crucial part of non-profit management, but are we really making decisions from an informed position? Join us for an insightful conversation on how to translate non-profit financials into something clear and understandable, and help make these numbers make sense! Our workshop will help you understand financial statements, we’ll explain the elements of an audited financial statement, and then we’ll dive into the two most important statements a board should be discussing monthly.
To learn more about the Federation of Calgary Communities, click on any of the links below.
“Board Basics 101: Things your Board Needs to Know!”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Paul Meunier, Federation of Calgary Communities
Description: Board Basics 101 is a foundational workshop that covers everything you’ll need to know to get started in your new role as a board member! First, you’ll learn broad roles and responsibilities, the standard foundations of non-profit structures, and we’ll cover some important nuances, including differences between a non-profit and charity. We’ll also look at how these distinctions affect operations and compliance. We’ll discuss the importance of leadership on a board, some of the common challenges boards face, but more importantly – some of the positive reasons that keep people coming back!
To learn more about the Federation of Calgary Communities, click on any of the links below.
“I’m the New Treasurer: Now What?”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Leslie Evans, Federation of Calgary Communities
Description: Are you the Treasurer and/or Bookkeeper for your organization, but have little accounting experience? Don’t stress, we’ve got you covered! This workshop is designed to help get you started so that you can begin your new journey. Topics will include roles and responsibilities, defining basic accounting terms and systems, basic recording and how to report your financials, and the necessary timing you need to be aware of!
To learn more about the Federation of Calgary Communities, click on any of the links below.
“Liability & Legal Fundamentals”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Yvonne Chenier, IntegralOrg
Description: To understand the risks your nonprofit faces, you need to understand the legal fundamentals that shape your organization as well as the liabilities and protections that board members have when volunteering for organizations.
In this workshop, you will learn from an experienced charity lawyer about:
- What is the legal framework that surrounds your organization and how do you find out?
- What are the fundamental duties of board directors? What is the board’s role in managing risk?
- What liability protections exist for board members? What is not protected and how does that relate to insurance coverage?
- Starting points to identify risks in your organization.
To learn more IntegralOrg, click on any of the links below.
“The Board and Staff Relationship: How to Work Better Together”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Shari Hanson, Community Development Unit, Alberta Arts Culture & Status of Women
Description: Resourcing and sustaining the different types of work in organizations is exhausting and hard. It is also inspiring, gives meaning and purpose, and motivates generosity. The working relationship between the board and the executive leader is a critically important dynamic to resourcing and organizing the work. In this session, we will collect and together develop a list of recommended practices for cultivating the trust, respect and communication needed for board-staff working relationships. Organizations need everyone’s resourcefulness, creativity and commitment to their work in order to maintain strong and impactful local organizations.
To learn more about the Community Development Unit, click on any of the links below.
“Leadership Legacy: Maximizing Board Impact Through Succession Planning!”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Rebecca Finley-Schidlowsky, Finley And Associates
Description:
Join us for an engaging and insightful workshop designed to explore the critical role of succession planning (both at the Board & Executive level) in board governance. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, effective leadership transition is more vital than ever for organizations to thrive and adapt.
During this interactive session, participants will delve into the following key areas:
- Understand the Importance of Succession Planning
- How the Strategic Plan should drive Succession Planning
- Identify Leadership Needs and Talent Development
- Learn through Case Studies and Wise Practices
Format: The workshop will include a blend of presentation, group discussions, case studies, interactive exercises, and practical tools and resources.
To learn more Finley & Associates, click on any of the links below.
“Govern Yourself Accordingly: Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures”
Time: TBC
Presenter(s): Yvonne Chenier, IntegralOrg
Description: Integral to a healthy organization are its bylaws, policies, and procedures. But what is behind an organization’s bylaws, policies, and procedures? What are the differences and what are the limits of these important tools?
In this workshop you will learn from an experienced charity lawyer about:
- Differences and relationships between bylaws, policies, and procedures.
- The basics of managing, drafting, and changing bylaws.
- The limitations of bylaws, policies, and procedures and as it applies to organizations incorporated/registered under a variety of legislation
Learn about the inner workings of bylaws, policies, and procedures and try your hand at creating a new policy and pertinent bylaw clause for your organization.
To learn more IntegralOrg, click on any of the links below.