About a year ago, I wrote about a few ways to make governance more accessible under Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) on my LinkedIn. It was prompted by questions I was being asked in ONCA related workshops I was delivering. Recently, I had the privilege to learn more about this topic from Wendy Porch, Executive […]
Nonprofits have until October 19, 2024 to comply with ONCA The Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) was proclaimed on October 19, 2021. To learn more about what you might need to change, visit Nonprofit Law Ontario. It may affect your nonprofit in many important ways, such as: ONN continues to advocate for: ONN provides legal information […]
Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) took effect on October 19, 2021. Nonprofits who are subject to ONCA have until October 18, 2024 to transition to the new rules.
The Government of Ontario has introduced motion #89 in the Legislature. This motion extends the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) by another year, until December 2021. This was necessary because legislation is automatically cancelled if it does not take effect in 10 years, and the ONCA was passed in 2010 so would be cancelled if it was not proclaimed […]
Back in 2024, I shared five ways nonprofits can make their governance practices more accessible. We have since developed a workshop on accessible governance building on these teachings. In December of 2025, I had the pleasure of delivering this workshop to member food banks of Daily Bread Food Bank. The following reflect the insights of […]
According to a recent survey conducted by the Charity Insights Canada Project, 19 per cent of registered charity respondents had been sued at least once in their organization’s life. It doesn’t happen often but when it does it can be damaging to reputation, time consuming, emotionally draining, and costly, so it helps to have a […]
An active and engaged membership is a pipeline for donors, volunteers, board members, community champions, and more. However, many nonprofits struggle to gather the minimum number of voting members required to hold an official members’ meeting, including an AGM. This minimum number is called quorum. Nonprofits incorporated under Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act or the Canada […]
This workshop is for individuals who have decided incorporation is right for their nonprofit, and are prepared to incorporate. This full-day working session is for individuals who have decided incorporation is right for their nonprofit and are prepared to incorporate. Two main documents are required for incorporation: articles of incorporation and bylaws. In this session, […]
When I first started working at ONN, the “Network Engagement” team didn’t quite exist yet. That’s right, Ontario Nonprofit Network did not in fact have a dedicated network engagement team until 2023! The role was, and continues to be, spread out amongst the team; the difference now is we have some more intentionality and stewardship […]
Regulatory environment It’s time for a regulatory environment that considers the unique work and circumstance of nonprofits The nonprofit sector is unique in its model, makeup, and impact on communities. Yet its regulatory environment does not necessarily take that into account. Regulatory frameworks steeped in dated narratives of the sector should not control and direct […]
This week ONN says goodbye to Cathy Taylor, our long-time, well-respected, and passionate executive director. As Cathy moves on to her next role as President and CEO of Lawson Foundation, I wanted to reflect on what ONN has become under Cathy’s leadership. Cathy has spent the last twelve years building ONN from a resourceful start-up […]
ONN’s early story began in 2007 when a creative and intrepid group of cross-sectoral nonprofit leaders recognized that there was a gap in Ontario’s nonprofit sector. It appeared no-one was paying attention to public policy issues affecting all nonprofits across the province – and decisions were being made that affected how the sector operated, was […]
ONN is so excited to share that Nonprofit Law Ontario is now a project of ONN. The timing couldn’t be better as ONN celebrates our tenth anniversary of incorporating as a nonprofit organization on February 11, 2024! This story begins when the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) was first introduced. We often refer to it […]
