GETTING STARTED

Setting Priorities

Before you put the effort into developing an organization or program – determine if there is a need or interest in your community – broad support will help ensure sustainability and greatest end benefit of your program or organization.

• Prioritize community interests by hosting a public meeting or sending out a community questionnaire and then develop your project plan accordingly
• Set realistic and measurable goals for your initiative
• Research similar programs to determine how you can have the greatest impact in achieving your goals
• Include all resource requirements and timeframes in your project plan
• Research initiatives in your region for partnering opportunities – partnering reduces duplication of efforts and results in maximum use of resources for a common end

Useful Links

The Non-profit Genie offers information and resources including FAQ's on strategic planning .

Charity Village provides useful articles on strategic planning.

The Conservation Council of Ontario has published a guide with tips on committees, community networks, action plans and ideas for community projects.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food provides useful online fact sheets on assessing needs and strategic planning

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada provides tools for community capacity building. (HRDC)

Incorporating Your Organization

Is incorporating your organization necessary?

• incorporation creates a legal existence for your organization – allows an organization to act on behalf of the organization rather than the individual members
• individual members and volunteers will not be held liable or responsible for the organizations obligations – protects members' legal rights
• funding sources - such as foundations and government funding programs will often only provide funding for incorporated organizations
• incorporation reinforces the credibility of an organization
• incorporation allows an organization to act on its own behalf - to own property, obtain a bank loan, and to sign a contract

Useful Links

The Ministry of Attorney General provides the Not-For-Profit Incorporator's Handbook, which includes complete guideline on how to incorporate your organization in Ontario.

The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Association provides information on forming your own association and also provides bulk rates on liability insurance for its members.

Charity Village provides useful links to government web pages that deal with non-profit incorporation.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food provide an online factsheet entitled Starting an Organization that includes information on incorporation.

Registering as a Charity

What are the advantages to registering as a charity?

• charitable organizations are exempt from paying income tax on any income earned
• registering as a charity permits an organization to issue official tax receipts for gifts received – this reduces an individual donors' payable income tax and a corporate donors' taxable income and is an obvious incentive for donors
• many foundations and corporations restrict donations or grants to registered charities

What are the responsibilites of a registered charity?

A registered charity must devote its resources to charity, avoid conflicts of interest, act in the public interest, and comply with other restrictions set out by the Canadian government. Groups with charitable status are limited to using only 10% of their budget to advocate a specific cause.

Useful Links

Canada Revenue Agency provides the application for registering a charity for income tax purposes - Form t4063 and related information.

Ontario Nature offers a series of fact sheets with guidelines for non-profit organizations on incorporation and charitable status, and dealing with liability.

The Board of Directors

The responsibility of a Board of Directors is to govern the affairs of the organization on behalf of its members. A strong and effective Board of Directors will also provide leadership, direction and vision to the organization, ensuring the organization meets its goals.

Tips

• Recruit individuals who have a strong understanding of your organization and its goals
• Ensure new Board Members are willing to contribute to the goals of the organization
• Ensure your organization is covered for Directors and Officers Liability insurance

Useful Links

Volunteer Canada provides information on volunteer boards and the responsibilities of a board.

Charity Village provides useful articles on board building and other information on the role of a Board of Directors.

The Non-profit Genie has useful FAQ's regarding board development on their website.

Board Development is a website created and hosted by the United Way of Canada to assist board development training, accountability, and governance in the Canadian voluntary sector.

Volunteers

Volunteers are essential to the success of most community based groups. Often members of the local community, volunteers will directly benefit from your organization's efforts. Building strong community relationships will aid to motivating others to get involved to help turn your idea into a successful community project.

Volunteer involvement brings a variety of opinions, experience, knowledge, and expertise to your initiative, which can help commuity groups stay relevant to the needs of the community.

Tips

• Ensure that your program or organization is addressing the needs of your volunteer members and provide ample opportunity for disscussion and input
• Develop job descriptions for volunteer placements so that volunteers can choose a task based on the level of commitment they are willing to contribute
• Be sure to develop a recognition program to show your volunteers that they are appreciated

Useful Links

Volunteer Canada provides information on volunteer management, including recruitment and training. They also partnered with Ontario Volunteer Centre to develop a fact sheet entitled Involving Volunteers Effectively.

Partnership Development

Good partnerships can open many new opportunities to help both you and your partners achieve your goals. By combining your resources with a partner you can increase capacity, which will help you and your partner both achieve more by working together. Clear definition of roles and responsiblities and good communication among partners will also help to ensure a successful partnership. Partners can help you:

• reduce duplication of efforts
• develop a broader base of support
• develop a more credible image for your organization or cause - this will aid in developing public trust, as well as media "buy-in"
• achieve greater input and a better end product or service
• promote awareness of the project
• maximize available human and financial resources - funds, in-kind contributions of education and training, marketing, advice, and links to other partners

Finding partners – where to look

Ensure a strategic fit by discussing the compatibility of both your and your potential partners' goals. Depending on the scope and scale of your project or initiative, potential partners may include: other community organizations, local businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and financial institutions.

Approaching potential partners

• show potential partners how they and their work could benefit from working together with you
• ensure that other community groups see you as a potential partner by learning more about their projects and attending any public meeting, workshops, or information sessions

Useful Links

Charity Village posted an article on building online community connections and how to use technology to further your mission.

Tools of Change - a website offering specific tools, case studies and planning guides for helping people make environmentally-friendly actions - provides guidelines on developing potential partners.