Managing finances, having solid procedures, processes and defined responsibilities helps make these organizations more accountable to their communities and as a funder of this sector, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) seeks to support the needs of these organizations whenever possible.

The following on-line resource links are provided to inform not-for-profit and charitable organizations on a range of management topics.  Please note that these links are provided as a convenience to you and not an endorsement by OTF of their contents.

• Changes to Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profits (pdf 300 kb)
Accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations are proposed to change for annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.

•  Risk Management and Governance Collection
The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants' Risk Management and Governance Board, through its Not-for-Profit Task Force, has developed a resource to help directors of not-for-profit organizations understand their responsibility for the oversight of risk. The document, 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Risk, presents questions that directors should ask of management or themselves. The “answers" or comments that accompany the questions summarize current thinking on the issues and practices of not-for-profit governance.

•  Finance for the Arts in Canada by Heather Young
Finance in the Arts is an excellent resource, very easy to read and understand, although focused on the arts, applies to all sectors

•  Understanding your Organization's Financial Statements
Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs

• Industry Canada:
This website provides a primer for directors of not-for-profit corporations.

• The HR Council for the Voluntary & Non-profit Sector: 
The HR Council for the Voluntary & Non-profit Sector (HR Council) works with organizations, educators, labour and government to identify and address issues related to paid employment in the voluntary and not-for-profit sector. View and download an HR Toolkit from the HR Council’s home page.

Canadian Web Portals

A Web portal is a website that functions as a point of access to information on the Web. Portals present information from diverse sources in a unified way.

The four portals listed below provide access to a broad range of information on not-for-profit management, including financial management, board governance, human resources and other management related topics.

• Charity Village 
Charity Village is a primary Canadian portal for the not-for-profit sector. It comprises more than 3,000 pages of news, training, jobs, information and resources for executives, staff, donors, and volunteers. The site has a section called Resource and Library, which provides how-to articles on organizational management as well as a Quick Guides section with more comprehensive information on many not-for-profit issues. View articles on not-for-profit management. 

• Voluntary Sector Knowledge Network
The Voluntary Sector Knowledge Network is a program of The Centre for Non Profit Management in British Columbia. It provides management assistance for staff and volunteers in not-for-profit and voluntary organizations. View a range of management topics.

• Nonprofit Library Commons
The Nonprofit Library Commons is a program of Imagine Canada. This organization, among other roles, delivers tools, resources and networking opportunities to not-for-profit organizations and charities. Its website provides access to practical resources, promising practices and up-to-date intelligence on the state of Canada’s not-for-profit sector.

Specific items of interest are:

• Ethical Fundraising and Accountability Code (includes application form)
  
• Insurance and Liability Resource Centre for Nonprofits 
  
• Promising Practices - Includes a catalogue with examples of program innovation, successful collaboration and partnership, effective communication and leadership in governance, financial sustainability and more.