Many NPOs have difficulty relying on their board committees to function well. Too often, committees fail to accomplish their goals because they have little or no training to work together, cooperatively and effectively. Leaving unanswered questions such as: How should committees be structured? How should the committee meetings be managed? And how can committees work […]
NPO Board Governance is full of valuable resources, tools and guidance about common not-for-profit governance challenges.
At AMC, we understand that an efficient board starts with implementing an effective governance model. For this reason, we help non-profit boards navigate governance and management with the sole aim of having a constant focus on their organization’s mission.
The Complementary Model of Board Governance
Our late founder, Tom Abbott Sr., B.Comm., CGA, CAE started the company in 1987 and was the Complementary Model of Board Governance architect. He was awarded the Dalton N. Murphy, CAE Award by the BC Chapter of the Canadian Society of Association Executives.
The award was granted to him “in recognition of both outstanding and sustained contributions to the association community.”
Moreover, the Complementary Model of Board Governance is a commonly used governance model across Canada. However, many volunteers and staff have difficulty accepting a policy-based approach to governing and managing their not-for-profit association.
Some boards feel they will become disconnected from their organization because of the model’s emphasis on their role in policy development.
At the same time, volunteers are increasingly demanding more meaningful roles in their not-for-profit organization (NPO) – whether the NPO is a charity, professional, trade or commercial association.
The Complementary Model allows governors to participate in their NPO without becoming “managers.” Instead, it will enable volunteers to reconnect with their organization and remain “governors.” In other words, it allows them to participate as well as govern.
AMC NPO Solutions
AMC NPO Solutions specializes in providing governance training, by-law reviews and strategic planning services to not-for-profit organizations across Canada.
Since 1987, AMC has assisted over 450 local, provincial, national and international organizations in strategic planning and board governance training, meeting facilitation and organizational effectiveness reviews.
The challenges of nonprofit leadership require a particular skillset. For instance, imagine working in an organization where you are responsible for overall administration and performance but not setting the organization’s strategic plan and significant goals. Furthermore, imagine working in an organization where a vast majority of your workers are not paid any remuneration. Meaning that […]
That counsel was printed on the cover of the booklet that sat atop a stereo system that I recently purchased. “To obtain the best possible performance read the manual – ‘carefully and thoroughly.” Read the manual – an unfamiliar concept to most of us when we purchase new equipment – even more alien when it […]
One of the most significant differences between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations is in how they gauge organizational achievement. In for-profit organizations, success is often measured by the organization’s stakeholders simply by looking at the “profit” generated by the organization. For publicly-traded companies, success is frequently tied to the share price of the organization’s stock. It […]
Is your current code of ethics still relevant during these unprecedented times? Your nonprofit’s code of ethics is a set of principles (e.g. values statement) that affects decision making. This is similar to, but different from, your code of conduct, which governs specific actions. Together, both codes play an important role in setting the ethical […]
A policy governing conflicts of interests is one if the most important policies a nonprofit needs to have. To be the most effective, the policy should be in writing, and the board and staff should review the policy regularly. While AMC makes efforts to ensure accuracy of our articles, it is the responsibility of the […]
Nonprofit Governance Committees are a vital entity for many organizations as they focus their efforts on establishing policies and monitoring their success. For this reason, this article will cover the role that nonprofit governance committees play and their best practices. 4 Essential Roles of the Governance Committee The governance committee is mainly responsible for 4 […]
Organizations operate at their best when employees are reliable, dedicated and aligned with your goals. So you need to know how to construct a quality board full of individuals dedicated to creating an inspiring, effective environment. The diversity of boards in Canada is imperative; so when you’re setting up a new board, keep up with […]
Good governance practices are critical for the continued growth, prosperity, and management of Not-For-Profit Organizations. This is why we’ve specially curated a comprehensive guide of Nonprofit Governance Books. Regardless of whether you consider yourself a newbie or seasoned Non-Profit Professional, we’ve provided suggestions for everyone on every level. Happy reading and happy governance! Must-Read Nonprofit […]
The successful running of a nonprofit requires the work of many in the organization – both volunteers and staff. Communication is an important element in helping to ensure that everyone knows their role at the organization. The basis of communication should include a volunteer and staff organization comprised of three different types of committees and task forces […]
Comp Model
