-
Module 1: Community Economic Development (1.5 hours)
Community Futures plays a significant role in community economic development. Board members will:
- Understand what community economic development is;
- Discuss the objectives, principles and strategies of community economic development;
- Explain the importance of community engagement and accountability in community economic development;
- Distinguish how community economic development differs from other approaches to economic development and community development; and
- Describe the role Community Futures plays in community economic development.
-
Module 2: Operations - Board and Staff (3 hours)
Board members fulfill five major leadership functions: decision maker, advisor, trustee, perpetuator and leader. This module examines these functions and the critical principles underlying them. Participants will:
- Distinguish between board and management authority and accountability;
- Identify the relationship between board, management and the staff; and
- Be aware of organization and structure of a board.
-
Module 3: Legal Responsibilities of Boards (3 hours)
Board members need to become familiar with the legal environment that exists for non-profit organizations. Participants will:
- Be aware of the legal framework within which they provide leadership;
- Know where to find and apply the legal guidelines governing non-profit board of directors;
- Identify the circumstances that create liability for directors; and
- Review how boards can protect themselves against liability.
-
Module 4: Financial Management of a Non-Profit (3 hours)
This module demonstrates the relationship between financial management and long-range goals that boards must establish. Boards must be able to set financial policies and evaluate their organization’s financial performance. Participants will:
- Recognize roles in financial management;
- Examine how to establish accountability for achieving the objectives set out in the board’s plans;
- Identify the financial reports that are used to measure the financial performance of the organization; and
- Review financial objectives and audits, and understand the role of the audit in maintaining accountability.
-
Module 5: Board Development and Performance (3 hours)
This module examines the role and accountability of the board of directors. Board members must demonstrate leadership through commitment, integrity and teamwork. Participants will:
- Examine the role of the board of directors;
- Discuss the importance of board performance;
- Examine on-going development for all board members; and
- Understand the importance of a formal board assessment process.
-
Module 7: Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation and Development (3 hours)
The level of board member participation in recruiting and evaluating other management staff varies by non-profit organization, but in general these roles are the responsibility of the executive director. This module will help you:
- Discuss management recruitment and selection process;
- Describe the purpose of establishing an equitable compensation package which reflects labour market information and terms of remuneration and compensation;
- Be aware of options board members should consider when they establish compensation levels for the executive director;
- Explain a board's role in performance planning, evaluation, and development of its executive director; and
- Determine how the board can use coaching and counselling to deal with performance concerns.
-
Module 8: Board Leadership (3 hours)
This module allows participants to evaluate their skills as leaders in the capacity of a non-profit board member, and enhances their abilities as a strong leader. Participants will:
- Recognize leadership as a fundamental responsibility of all board members;
- Personalize the idea of leadership in terms of what a leader does;
- Understand the three different modes of governance; and
- Understand the principles of governance as leadership.
-
Module 9: Cultural Awareness (3 hours)
This module delves into the landscape of Canada based on demographic changes resulting from immigration. Participants will be able to:
- describe the cultural diversity of our country and communities as a result of immigration;
- define methods of connecting and communicating with our whole community;
- recognize and implement communication tools;
- identify the board members’ and executive director’s role in exercising cultural awareness leadership;
- identify actions the board and staff can take to becoming a culturally-aware organization and community; and
- define a process for organizational self-evaluation.
-
Module 10: Social Economy and Social Enterprise (3 hours)
Community economic development supports the social economy through building capacity within not-for profit organizations. Participants will be able to:
- understand the concept of social economy;
- clarify the links between community economic development and the social economy;
- understand the distinguishing characteristics of social enterprises;
- explore and define the role of Community Futures in the social economy; and
- discuss how social enterprises can be financed.
-
Module 11: Role of Planning (1.5 hour webinar)
Planning is essential to the non-profit organization. Participants will:
- Describe the role of strategic and operational planning as part of the total planning cycle; and
- Explain the role of the board in the planning process for the non-profit organization and the community itself.
-
Module 12: The Role of the Chair (3 hours)
The chair plays an important role in a non-profit organization. The chair’s roles and responsibilities as they relate to the public, stakeholders, partners, funders, the corporation, board members and staff is examined. Participants will:
- Learn how to approach the role of chair with skill and confidence;
- Understand the roles and responsibilities associated with the chair’s position;
- Discuss the specific skills required to be a chair; and
- Examine how to support their chair and work together as a strong team.