Everything Your Board Needs to Govern Well
Built from decades of experience working with boards across Canada. Take them, use them, make your board better — whether we work together or not.
Not sure where to start? Take the Board Diagnostic Free · 10 minutes · Personalized reportThe tool that changes how boards meet
Guru’s Rules is a deceptively simple one-pager that hundreds of boards across Canada have adopted to transform their meeting culture. Better meetings mean better decisions, more engaged members, and a board that actually functions as a team.
Watch the short video to see how it works — then download it and use it at your next meeting.
News
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The 65 Seconds That Rewrote My Life
Twenty years ago I survived an earthquake and volcanic eruption at the same time. I had been living in Jogjakarta, Indonesia for the past few months, studying to build fluency in Indonesian. I was looking forward to spending the next year and a half working for an amazing human rights organization, and being able to…
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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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