If you have a need for in-depth solutions, IntegralOrg can work directly with your nonprofit. We work alongside your organization, through customized supports that assist you on your journey as a nonprofit. Please contact us at 403-910-7279 or connect by email. Organizational development is undertaken on a fee-for-service basis.
We offer organizational development in the areas of governance, strategic planning, legal support, financial management, and risk management. If you are seeking organizational development outside of these areas, let us know and we will look at developing a custom solution with you - or we will point you to someone who can help.
Board Evaluation Survey: A survey that gathers input about the performance, and function of the board of directors of your organization in order to develop a common understanding of overall governance performance within the organization as well as areas of strength and weakness for the board of directors to consider in their development process.
Board Skills Evaluation: An evaluation that determines the current skills and experience composition of your board and provides a policy for how a Skills and Experience Matrix may be incorporated into ongoing board recruitment processes.
A review of governance in your organization that includes understanding the current legal framework and governance requirements; determining the existing governance policies that are in place; discussing practices for improved governance; and making recommendations on required updates and additions to governance policies.
A board education session focusing on topics such as board director’s fiduciary and legal responsibilities, roles and responsibilities, and the role of the board in strategy and operations. An educational session builds unity and focus among the board; educates the board and staff on principles of board governance; and helps the team work towards a common understanding of the style of governance that will be used.
In-depth coaching with the board and the executive director/CEO to clarify roles and responsibilities and build high-functioning relationships and strong governance practices.
"The future doesn't just happen, it is shaped by decisions." -- Paul Tagliabue.
IntegralOrg undertakes a comprehensive survey with your board, leadership, and staff to help your organization develop a common understanding of the current state of operations, governance, and programmatic and strategic factors within the organization. The survey surfaces areas of organizational strength; areas that require development or discussion; and areas of critical concern that require actions to move beyond the status quo.
Nonprofit sustainability encompasses both financial sustainability – the ability to generate resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the future - and programmatic sustainability – the ability to develop, mature, and cycle out of programs in a way that is responsive to community needs.
Through a sustainability analysis, your organization will create a Matrix Map, a visual representation of your organization’s business model that details how each program contributes to both the mission impact and financial viability. This process provides a framework for reflection and discussion that will inform the future course of action for the organization.
Scenario planning, we ask the question: “What might we need to do?” not “What will we do and how will we do it?” Scenario planning is about generating options and insight, not actions and plans.
Scenario planning helps your organization envision variations of what the future may hold, identify some of the critical uncertainties it faces, and think through the possible impacts and responses to them. It is a creative, shared process that helps us make sense of an uncertain future with a focus on making better decisions. When we are aware of what could happen, we are more able to deal with what does happen.
IntegralOrg customizes solutions to your needs - from an educational workshop to facilitated scenario planning sessions to determine your organization’s focal question; identify drivers of change and critical uncertainties; craft scenarios using a scenario matrix; and surface implications, ideas, and next steps.
According to David La Piana, a strategic plan is " …a coordinated set of actions designed to create and sustain a competitive advantage in achieving our mission." If you would like to create a strategic plan or re-envision your current plan in the light of post-pandemic realities, you may wish to undertake a comprehensive strategic planning process.
A comprehensive strategic planning process can entail developing an understanding of current and expected capacities; understanding external trends and dynamics that need to be considered in planning; figuring out where you want to be in the future years and deciding what is critical for success; determining strategies, priorities, actions and roles; and building evaluation and revision plans.
IntegralOrg can work with your nonprofit through all stages of the strategic planning process in a way that suits your organization and its specific needs.
Legal issues that your nonprofit might want help with range from incorporating your nonprofit or registering as a charity to issues with bylaws, policies, or mergers.
If your organization would like to solicit donations and issue tax receipts, you will want to register it as a charity. IntegralOrg can help you through the registration process, including application, filing, and working with CRA on your behalf. If your organization is a registered charity, we can assist with a review, revision, and filing of your charitable purposes and other documents.
Many nonprofits choose to incorporate because doing so limits liability, formalizes structure, and provides opportunities for funding.
There are three main legislative Acts that a nonprofit can be incorporated under when operating in Alberta: the Alberta Societies Act, the Alberta Companies Act, and the Canada Not-for-Profit Companies Act. Organizations can also be incorporate under the Cooperatives Act.
IntegralOrg can complete the incorporation process including application, preparation and submission of bylaws, and obtaining and submitting NUANS report.
If your organization is to be incorporated under the Societies Act or the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, you are required to create and file bylaws. Bylaws are the fundamental governing rules and regulations of an organization that state how the organization is governed and can include: introductory articles; details about membership; procedural rules for meetings and voting; governance structure including the board of directors, officers, and committees; management, finances, and records; and how fundamental changes to the organization or its bylaws will be handled. Bylaws and changes to bylaws need to be filed with the appropriate agency.
IntegralOrg can assist with review of existing bylaws, updating or drafting of new bylaws, and filing.
Nonprofit governance policies can include: governance style; role of the board, board members, and ED/CEO; delegation of authority; code of conduct; board orientation and training; board committees; financial governance; reporting; etc.
IntegralOrg can review and update your existing governance policies and manuals and identify gaps or help you develop a board policy manual.
IntegralOrg can guide nonprofit organizations through the process of combining or dissolving.
Nonprofit organizations may decide that they want to seek out other organizations to “get together" with to maximize impact. A combined organization may have more capacity in vital resources like knowledge, programming, staffing, volunteers, fundraising, and service ability.
In an amalgamation, two or more organizations join together by bringing their assets and liabilities and members into the new organization that they become. In a merger, one organization winds up its affairs and transfer its assets to another already existing organization. In a consolidation, all the nonprofit organizations involved transfer assets to a newly created entity. For all of these processes, legal guidance is imperative. See our blog: Getting Together: What Alberta Nonprofits Need to Know about the Legal Aspects for more detail on what is entailed.
Finally, you may wish to dissolve your nonprofit organization. Perhaps the need that the nonprofit filled has become less acute over time or other organizations have stepped in to fill the need. The process of dissolution, what happens to the assets of the organization, and other matters related to dissolution are complex and it is important to seek legal advice.
A complete review of the financial area of your organization including governance and policies, administration, systems (including review of software currently in use), controls, and procedures. This includes CRA compliance with respect to the financial reporting (T3010) and tax receipting.
Financial reporting can be complex. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires all nonprofits to submit an annual filing that includes financial information. Exactly what needs to be submitted is determined by the legislation your organization is formed under.
Specifically, a nonprofit that is not a registered charity and has assets over $200,000 or receives certain investment income over $10,000 must file Form T1044 annually. If nonprofit is incorporated but not a registered charity, it must file a T2 Corporate Tax Return annually. A nonprofit that is a registered charity must file Form T3010.
IntegralOrg can assist your organization via a review of your policies, systems, and processes related to required CRA reporting.
Some nonprofit organizations are required to submit audited financial statements. An audit is a systematic and independent examination of an organization's books and accounts to determine if financial statements are a true representation of financial position. IntegralOrg can assist your organization with a review of your processes, systems, and board and leadership roles and responsibilities of an audit.
Training can be customized in length and format to fit your preferences and tailored to your organization’s unique circumstances. Depending on your needs, the training can focus on general approaches to risk management or strategic risk, governance risk, cyber risk - or a combination of all of these. Training can be tailored for your board or for your staff/volunteer team.