Governance Guru: Canada’s Nonprofit Board Governance Training & Consulting
Unlock your organization’s potential with our board-focused services, all designed to drive your success in corporate governance.
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How we can help
Trusted by 3,000+ board members across 400+ nonprofits, cooperatives, and public sector organizations coast to coast. Real-world governance experience meets proven adult education expertise—practical training and support that actually works.. No matter the size or type of organization, we can help your board function better and accomplish more.
Guru’s Rules and resources
Join hundreds of boards around the world and use Guru’s Rules to help you run a more effective nonprofit board meeting and set a stronger board culture. We’ve also harnessed our extensive experience to develop additional tools and templates that streamline your work.
News
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What Do Nonprofit Board Members Actually Do? – A Guide for New and Returning Board Members
Most nonprofit board members are never clearly told what their job is. This post breaks down the role into plain language: what boards do, what decisions they make, and where the line is between governance and operations.
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Chair Series 3 – Engagement at Meetings
Preparation is essential to a good meeting but even the best agenda fails if directors do not participate. Engagement of board members at meetings is not just about the length of debate or the number of voices speaking on each topic. Engagement looks different from group to group and can include thoughtful spoken contributions, active…
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Board Governance Training: Why It Matters and Where to Start
Good governance isn’t something boards should have to figure out as they go. Shared training pays off in clearer roles, better conversations, and stronger decisions especially when the stakes are high.
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My Claim to Fame
I had a weird afternoon once and the story about it became world famous 20 years later
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Chair Series – Running Effective Meetings
Meetings are the central venue where boards carry out their responsibilities. A well-run meeting produces clear decisions, allows for meaningful discussion, and positions the organization for future success. A poorly run meeting wastes valuable time, frustrates participants, and can erode trust in the board. This can even lead to weak or rushed decisions that have…
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The Chair of the Board
Part 1 in a 9 part series Introduction to the Chair Every non-profit board has a chair. The role is written into bylaws, ideally enshrined in policy, and more or less assumed to be necessary for the board to function. But why? What is the actual purpose of the chair, and what should the person…
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How to Join a Nonprofit Board (and Why You Should)
Volunteering is deeply woven into Canadian life. About half of all Canadians contribute time each year, and while roles vary widely. From coaching youth sports to delivering meals to offering counselling services, there are countless ways to volunteer, but there’s one volunteer job nearly every nonprofit needs: board member. Canada has more than 170,000 nonprofit…
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What Should the Board Look for When Reviewing a Budget?
Your board reviews and approves the budget but what should that look like and what questions should you ask?
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What is a Governance Review and Why Your Board Should Consider Doing One
Governance Reviews: An Introduction Good governance is an important part of any successful nonprofit organization. A well-run board, that does its work effectively, sets the tone for accountability, strategy, leadership, and ultimately, impact. But boards often fall into outdated habits, doing things the way their predecessors’ predecessors did. They often operate with unclear roles and…
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Too Much Trust, Not Enough Oversight? A Governance Wake-Up Call
News broke recently that a Sikh priest in Winnipeg has been charged with stealing likely over a millions dollars from the local place of worship he managed. According to police, this wasn’t a one-time mistake or a moment of poor judgment. The alleged theft spanned seven years—starting in 2016—and involved repeated misuse of organizational funds.It’s…
