RICHARDWATTS
Times Colonist
Non-profit organizations need to keep their own houses in order while holding their hearts in the right place.
The Victoria Foundation, a granting organization for local charities and non-profit groups, is bringing in an Ontario-based expert in the governance, ethical management and accountability of non-profit groups and charities for a workshop.
Don McCreesh, chairman of the Standards Council, a national initiative to establish accountable standards of excellence for charities and non-profits, will host a workshop called Building a Strong Board, on Tuesday, at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. Tickets are $25.
Victoria Foundation chief executive officer Sandra Richardson said help with governance was requested by non-profit clients several years ago.
The world financial situation had gone soft and the foundation was affected, too. But when it asked local non-profits what assistance they would like, besides money, the biggest request was for assistance on governance.
“Board governance really is the bedrock,” Richardson said. “If you have the governance formula and the board structure right, then how you conduct your business usually runs much more smoothly.”
She also said the Victoria Foundation subjected itself recently to the scrutiny of an external accreditation system and found it gruelling but very helpful for the organization.
The Victoria Foundation had to check out its policies on things such as privacy and its various terms of reference for its operations.
“It was a tough process to go through,” Richardson said, “but it was a good process.”
Registration for the workshop can be done at the Delta Ocean Pointe, 45 Songhees Rd., at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday or in advance through the Victoria Foundation. Presentation and questions are from 1 to 5 p.m. with an afternoon refreshment break.
More than 100 people had registered as of Friday afternoon. Seating is restricted to two guests per organization.
