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GPC 2025

At the Governance Guru, we want to empower you for success regardless of whether we work together personally.

Guru’s Rules

Join hundreds of boards around the world and use Guru’s Rules, a small but mighty tool to help you run more effective meetings and set a stronger board or group culture. Consider it the easiest way to make your board better!

Join hundreds of boards around the world and use Guru’s Rules, a small but mighty tool to help you run more effective meetings and set a stronger board or group culture. Consider it the easiest way to make your board better!

Check out the accompanying resource guide

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We’re happy to discuss how we can help make your board, committee or small-group meetings more efficient.

News

  • 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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  • governance cover

    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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  • A 1998 white ford taurus sedan

    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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  • An old humble chair

    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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  • A very simple budget for a board to review with pen on top

    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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  • governance cover

    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…

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