Introduction
This module describes some accountability tools. These tools will enhance your registered charity’s accountability practices.
- For an overview of accountability, check out Accountability – The Basics
- For an overview of transparency, check out Transparency – The Basics
Accountability Tools
- Administrative calendar
- Office in a Box
- Code of Ethics
- Policies
- Keeping up to date
- RSS Feed / Mailing Lists
- Other resource materials
Administrative Calendar – Your Yearly To Do List on a Calendar (interactive PDF)
Some things to include:
- Deadlines for filing charity’s annual return (provincial or federal);
- Deadlines for filing annual charitable returns (T3010) with Canada Revenue Agency;
- Date of Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- Notice of AGM
- Reminder to review your governing documents, i.e. bylaws, mission; Administrative Calendar
- Reminder to file bylaws amendment with provincial or federal authority, and the Canada Revenue Agency;
- Preparation of annual budget;
- Reminder to review policies;
- Grant or funding agreements deadlines;
- Review of fundraising plan;
- Deadline for filing GST/HST returns and rebates;
- Deadline for submitting payroll deductions, i.e. withholding income taxes
Administrative Calendar
- Annual review of Executive Director;
- Employees’ annual performance appraisals;
- Contract commitments;
- Renewal dates for leases, insurance;
- Sample administrative calendar
- Blank administrative calendar in fillable pdf
Policy –Sample Format
- Name
- Purpose
- Definition of the issue
- Desire outcome
- Exception – who and how
- Date of approval and revisions
- Review schedule
Privacy Policy
- Relating to donors, directors, staff, volunteers;
- Different parties may have different legal requirements;
- Privacy Checklist
Keeping up to date
• For registered charity – Subscribe to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Mailing List at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/esrvc-srvce/mllst/sbscrbchrts-eng.html
• Subscribe to non-profit organization mailing lists such as that of Imagine Canada at www.imaginecanada.ca
See also a listing of resources and organizatitions to help you stay onside here: Whats New
Other Resource Materials
- Road to Accountability Handbook
List many web-based resource materials accountability topics.
- Self-Diagnostics Pack
Resource materials are listed under each question.
Notice
Information in this module is provided for general educational purposes and not as legal or accounting advice. Consult a lawyer or accountant for professional advice. Information is accurate as of September 2019. For changes after this date, consult Canada Revenue Agency.
For COVID-19 information: