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Chapter 6: Planning For An Organizational Home

Creating A New Organization

There is a long history in communities across Canada of people beginning with a concern or a dream, and immediately starting a new organization to carry out this dream. They do not take the time to step back and look at whether a new organization is the right approach. However, this is a viable option that needs to be considered.  But remember, it is only one of the options45.

The pro’s of this approach include:

  • A fresh new start, with new energies and visions
  • Independence, the opportunity to design the new organization to create the best fit with your new program or club
  • A unique, distinct identity for your program or club.

The potential con’s include:

  • The costs of creating a new organization (for example: becoming legally incorporated and acquiring charitable status)
  • The challenge of recruiting a new Board of Directors, and sustaining it well
  • The difficulties in acquiring charitable status, which have increased over the past few years
  • The costs of running a separate organization (for example: setting up and maintaining financial, facility, people, risk management and information systems)
  • The time, energy and expertise required to build a strong organizational infrastructure and credible image in the community
  • Potential negative reactions from funders, donors, and others in the community46.

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Footnotes
45. Appendix N provides additional information on starting a new organization.

46. There have been increasing concerns across the country about the trend to developing more and more, often smaller, nonprofit organizations. People identify issues such as: overlapping administrative costs, lack of connections across programs in separate organizations, and the unique challenges in running small nonprofit organizations where there are insufficient funds to hire management resources.

My Planning Kit
Current Chapter
Chapter 6: Planning For An Organizational Home
> Introduction
> Using An Existing Organization in the Local Community
> Creating a Satellite of an Existing Organization in Another Community
> Creating a New Organization
> Creating a Joint Venture
> Stories of Different Organizational Approaches
Wetaskiwin, AB
• Squamish, BC
• Abbotsford, Mission & Ridge Meadows, BC
• Edmonton, AB
Preface

An Outline Of The Workbook
Part 1
Thinking About New Programs

Chapter 1: Getting Started With A Dream

Chapter 2: Developing Big Brothers Big Sisters And Boys And Girls Clubs Programs

Chapter 3: Taking A Deeper Community Approach

Chapter 4: Key Considerations For Big Brothers Big Sisters Programs And Boys And Girls Clubs Working Together
Part 2
Thinking About Program Sustainability

Chapter 5: Planning For Program Sustainability

Chapter 6: Planning For An Organizational Home
Part 3
Thinking About Organizational Sustainability


Chapter 7: Organizational Sustainability
Part 4
Thinking About Partnering And Merging

Chapter 8: Working Together

Chapter 9: Deep Partnering And Merger Processes
Appendixes
This project is funded in whole by the Government of Canada