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. ƒ

• 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.