Being risk aware means acknowledging what has happened and imagining what could happen. When it comes to technology, there are tremendous upside risks to investing in the latest and greatest equipment. But with the boost that high-tech provides comes the need to maintain your nonprofit's peak performance and protect against...
Employers often use handbooks and manuals to inform employees of their employment policies and to enforce their at-will policies. Although no express employment contract exists, courts have held that handbooks and manuals can be implied contracts if the language creates an impression that employees can only be dismissed for cause....
This paper offers some simple but important Risk Management Resolutions. The resolutions can be easily adapted to reflect the circumstances and resources of your nonprofit. And best of all, they don't require the equivalent of giving up dessert or enrolling in a spinning class. No single set of risk management...
For many nonprofits, an important category of risk emerges when an agency applies for and receives restricted grant funding. The tremendous competition for grant funds increases the risk that a nonprofit will make promises the organization is unable to keep. Such promises may include overly ambitious goals for client services,...
One definition of risk management is that it is a discipline for dealing with uncertainty. Managing risk is like an elaborate chess game. Who can foresee the end game? The person who is living life is the one who approaches each situation without determining in advance whether it is good...
Do you strive for perfection? Do you spend countless hours doing and redoing just to get something just right? Are the "Benefits" of technology like word processors and networked printers driving you to make version after version of documents when a little dab of white out would do you just...
No matter how many firewalls, virus protection software programs and anti-spam devices are protecting your computers the enemy can invade. Face it; the spammers are just more driven by profit, and the virus creators wily and one step ahead of those who provide software to protect the portals. "Legitimate" spammers...
Safety is a highly regulated area. A nonprofit's legal obligations will depend on the type of workplace/ industry, as well as the particular state laws that may impose compliance with safety standard obligations. Policies on workplace injuries and illnesses should require employees to bring injuries or illnesses or unsafe conditions...
If a Risk Management Committee does not currently exist, determine whether there is an existing committee that could be re-purposed or broadened to take on risk management issues, or whether it makes more sense to create a separate committee for this purpose. The legal structure and operation of a nonprofit...
Events that change your perception of your nonprofit's tomorrow may happen unexpectedly, and usually very suddenly. They arise from risk - that is, from the possibility that the future may be surprisingly different from what you expect. These surprises may bring bad or good results, generating threats of losses or...
On both the upside and the downside, strategic risk management for a nonprofit requires many skills, much knowledge, and vast experience. For some of these, in some technical areas, you may well need to look outside, beyond yourself and your immediate colleagues. But in looking, do not ignore the most...
Re-thinking how nonprofits govern themselves is not just a phenomenon in the nation's capitol. Across the country, state associations of nonprofits are encouraging their members to voluntarily adopt "Best practice" principles. In many museums, community foundations, voluntary health organizations, land trusts and international humanitarian organizations best practice standards are being...
The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of a number of evolving human resource risks and alert you to emerging issues that may cross your desk in the months ahead. In this paper, the author has attempted to discuss several emerging concerns in the employment practices...
An employee handbook is a valuable risk management tool when it lays down the organization's expectations and spells out the consequences if employees don't live up to the expectations. There are numerous resources available to help guide you with regard to essential handbook components. This paper focuses on five common...
Most property owners and landlords appreciate fully the risks and potential liabilities that can occur when they operate campgrounds, conference centers, and other facilities open to the public on their property. These same owners and landlords, however, often fail to understand that these risks and potential liabilities still exist when...
Many buildings have their own architects who work with potential renters to design their space. You will want to make certain that the space is sufficient for your needs, and that it can be built out to accommodate the functions required. Once you agree on the floor plan, you'll want...
By leasing the nonprofit organization's space, you limit - but don't eliminate - your facilities exposures. In most instances, the landlord is responsible for complying with all building and health codes. The landlord is responsible for the electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems, and for supplying heat and hot water,...
The advent of direct mail and list marketing has helped to drive this dramatic growth and has changed the nature of fundraising by allowing marketing efforts to be much more targeted. The result is that it's easier to raise more money with fewer dollars. Names and addresses can be purchased...
This paper describes why corporations need audit committees, who should lead them and serve on them, how to make them more effective, how to initiate and maintain best practices, and how to operate effectively within legal requirements. It includes nine appendices containing - explained in the paper. This paper explicitly...
Most nonprofit managers are aware that a charity may not directly campaign for, or against, a candidate for public office. The penalty is severe - loss of tax-exempt status. However, there is often confusion about related activity, and whether it is improper - or permissible - under Internal Revenue Service...
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