Not-for-Profit Organizations

Welcome to the CICA’s online resource centre for not-for-profit organizations.

The CICA offers various resources specific to not-for-profit organizations (NPOs).  These materials may be helpful to management and boards of NPOs, as well as their professional advisors.

What’s New?  Director Alert: The New Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act - questions for directors to ask Improved Annual Reporting by Not-for-Profit Organizations Director Alert: New Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations - questions for directors to ask 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Human Resources FAQ: Accounting Standards for Government Not-for-Profit Organizations(GNFPOs) Director Alert: New Canadian Auditing Standards - questions for directors to ask Accountants on Board: A guide to becoming a director of not-for-profit organization

 

Risk Oversight and Governance

20 Questions Series

The Risk Oversight and Governance Board, through its Not-for-Profit Organizations Task Force develops guidance materials for boards of directors and senior management of NPOs.

• 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Board Recruitment, Development and Assessment
• 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Fiduciary Duty
• 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Governance
• 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Human Resources
• 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Risk
• 20 Questions Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Strategy and Planning
• Liability Indemnification and Insurance for Directors of Not-for-Profit Organizations – Supplement to 20 Questions Directors Should Ask Liability Indemnification and Insurance about Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Indemnification and Insurance

Director Alerts

These publications are succinct, informative bulletins to advise boards about developing issues.

• The New Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act - questions for directors to ask
• Increasing public scrutiny of not-for-profit organizations - questions for directors to ask
• New Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations - questions for directors to ask
• New rules for charities’ fundraising expenses and program spending - questions for directors to ask
• Pandemic Preparation and Response - questions for directors to ask

Columns and Commentaries

Articles and other written materials from the ROGB relevant to not-for-profit organizations are available here.

Contact:
For more information on Risk Oversight and Governance resources for NPOs, please contact
Rayna Shienfield
Principal, Risk Oversight and Governance
Email:  rayna.shienfield@cica.ca
Phone: (416) 204-3273

Directors Source

Directors Source is a free online service of the CICA offering resources to directors of both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Archived Webinars

Free webinars for directors of NPOs are offered regularly through Directors Source. Archived webinars can be accessed here. 

Director Matching Service

A free matching service to help Chartered Accountants and other qualified individuals find positions on the boards of directors of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Directors Source News

A free newsletter for directors. Read the current issue and subscribe here. 

Accounting Standards in Transition

The strategic direction of financial reporting for Canada’s more than 160,000 not-for-profit organizations has been decided. The Accounting Standards Board and the Public Sector Accounting Board finalized new accounting standards for private not-for-profit organizations and the inclusion of the 4400 series of standards from the CICA Handbook – Accounting into the CICA Public Sector Accounting Handbook for use by government organizations applying the standards for not-for-profit  organizations. These standards are effective January 1, 2012.   

• Accounting Standards Board
  • AcSB -Frequently Asked Questions - Private sector not-for-profit organizations

• Public Sector Accounting Board
  • PSAB - Decision Tree - Determining an Organization's Basis of GAAP

Other CICA Resources

Not-for-Profit Financial Reporting Guide
Developed by the CICA's Accounting Standards Group, The Not-for-Profit Financial Reporting Guide is designed to help users, preparers and auditors of not-for-profit financial statements understand and apply the 4400 Series of accounting standards. With straightforward examples and interpretative questions and answers, this helpful resource generally provides more detailed explanations than appear in the standards themselves.

Registered Charities Guide
The CICA’s Registered Charities Guide can help your clients recognize the areas where your expertise as a Chartered Accountant can help them:

• Make tax-effective decisions when donating to charities
• Understand the significant responsibilities of serving as a trustee or director or starting up a registered charity.

Improved Annual Reporting by Not-for-Profit Organizations

 

Links

The following sites provide further resources for Not-for-Profit Organizations:

• Alliance for Nonprofit Management, Washington, DC
• Altruvest Charitable Services
• Canada Revenue Agency Charities Directorate
• Canadian Society of Association Executives
• Charity Village
• Community Sector Council NL
• Imagine Canada
• Nonprofit Library Commons
• United Way of Canada: Board Development
• Volunteer Canada