Planning Toolkit

Model Policies and Planning Templates

– Governance
– Operational Management and Organizational Structure
– Planning and Community Investment
– Information Technology
– Human Resources
– Finance and Budget

Governance

• Annual Evaluation of the Executive Director (PDF)
• CAA Board Assessment Survey Tool (PDF)
• CAA Board Manual (PDF)
• CAA Board Member Position Description (PDF)
• CAA Board Mentor Policy Template (PDF)
• CAA Board Risk Alerts (PDF)
• CAA Code of Ethics (PDF)
• CAPLAW CAA-Head Start Model Board Conflict of Interest Policy (PDF)
• Chalkboard Memo: CAA Board Recruitment/Selection (PDF)
• Composition)
• Conflict of Interest Policy and Agreement for Directors and Staff (PDF)
• Consent Agenda (PDF)
• Emergency Succession Plan (Center for Nonprofit Advancement) (PDF)
• Executive Compensation Article (PDF)
• Introduction to Robert's Rules of Order (PDF)
• IRS 990 Governance Guidesheet (PDF)
• New Board Member Orientation Program (PDF)
• Planning for Non-Profit Executive Transitions (PDF)
• Principles of Good Governance and Ethical Practice (PDF)
• Private Inurement Prohibition (GuideStar article) (PDF)
• Strategic Board Recruitment: A Key to Building a Dynamic Board (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Succession Planning for CAAs (PDF)
• Succession Planning and Executive Transition Management for Nonprofit Boards of Directors (The Annie E. Casey Foundation) (PDF)

Operational Management and Organizational Structure

• Handbook with Lessons Learned to Help Your Agency Prepare or Recover from Natural Disasters (PDF) (report issued by the Center for Community Futures. Funded by OCS. Also available online at http://cencomfut.com)
• Nonprofit Guide to Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (PDF)
• Risk Management Overview (PDF)
• Risk Management Template (PDF)
• ROMA Website
• ROMA links other

Planning and Community Investment

• Chalkboard Memo: Dashboard Monitoring (PDF)
• Chalkboard Memo: Reputational Assessment (PDF)
• Free Management Library Website: Marketing Section
• Free Management Library Website: Fundraising (Nonprofit) Section
• Idealist Website: See Nonprofit FAQ
• Strategic Alliance Memo (PDF)
• Strategic Planning Manual (The Center for Public Skills Training)
• From Grants to Gifts (PDF)

Information Technology

• Continuity of Operation Plan (Coop) for Nonprofit Human Services Providers (PDF)
• Guide for Disaster Planning and Recovery (TechSoup Global) (PDF)
• Information Management Planning Guide (PDF)
• Information Technology Resources Policy (PDF)
• Information Technology Security and Appropriate Use Policies (PDF)
• ITS Security Priority Actions
  • ITS Security Priority Action Steps (PDF)
  • ITS Items That Should Be Documented (PDF)
  • ITS Folder Shares and Permissions (PDF)
• Security Planning Template (PDF)
• Security Plan Template for Major Applications and General Support Systems (PDF)

Human Resources

• CAA Code of Ethics (PDF)
• CAA Political Activity Policy (PDF)
• Diversity in the Workplace: How to Create a Practical Diversity Plan (Saint Mary's Health Care) (PDF)
• Employee Handbook Template (PDF)
• Employee Performance Appraisal Template (PDF)
• Head Start Conflict of Interest Policy Model-Senior Staff (PDF)
• Information Technology Resources Policy (PDF)
• Nepotism Policy (Draft) (PDF)
• Sample Employee Policies Manual (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Sample Whistleblower Policy (PDF)

Finance and Budget

• Audit Committee Charter Matrix (PDF)
• Chalkboard Memo: Fraud Prevention (PDF)
• Document Destruction Policy (PDF)
• Financial Management Guide for Nonprofit Organizations (PDF)
• Fiscal Operations Policy Manual (PDF)
• Fraud and the Responsibilities of the Audit Committee (PDF)
• Fundamentals of Effective Program Budgeting and Reporting (PDF)
• Governance & Accountability: Financial Best Practices Tune Up (Accounting Management Solutions) (PDF)
• Head Start Fiscal Checklist (PDF)
• Internal Control: A Tool for the Audit Committee (PDF)
• NFP Audit Committee Handbook (PDF)
• Nonprofit Fiscal Management Self Assessment Tool (PDF)
• Record Retention and Destruction Policy (PDF)
• Sample Fraud Policy (PDF)
• Society for Nonprofit Organizations Website: Financial Management

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Web Links to Other Information

– Governance
– Operational Management and Organizational Structure
– Planning and Community Investment
– Information Technology
– Human Resources
– Finance and Budget
– Conflict of Interest
– General

Governance

• Building Leaderful Organizations: Succession Planning for Nonprofits (approaches to succession planning from The Annie E. Casey Foundation)
• Center for Community Futures (extensive information for CAA's, including CAA Board Members Toolkit. See "Toolkit in a Nutshell" for all resources: Disasters and CAA Handbook, Resources for Head Start, Social Enterprise, Community Development, and more)
• Center for Nonprofit Excellence (resources for all aspects of nonprofit governance, management, and operations including doing business as a nonprofit, leadership, accountability, collaboration, and links to other resources)
• Charity Channel (documents, articles, and links to assist nonprofits, covering such topics as governance, fundraising, and volunteer management)
• Foundation Center: Topical Resources List (resources and links for succession planning in nonprofit organizations)
• Free Management Library: Toolkit for Boards (includes information on roles and responsibilities of members, meetings, relationships, strategic planning, and succession planning)
• GuideStar: Articles (several articles on executive compensation and many other topics of interest)
• The Lodestar Foundation: Nonprofit Collaboration and Merger Resources (extensive list of merger and collaboration resources)
• The M Word: A Board Member's Guide to Mergers. How) (a practical guide to help board members, executives and funders think about the opportunities and challenges of a merger)
• Top Ten Lessons to Learn When Setting Executive Compensation in a Nonprofit Organization (PDF) (a client Memorandum from Gardner, Carter and Douglas. Concise summary of important lessons for nonprofit board members and executive directors)
• Transition Guides (guidance and assistance in planning for leadership succession and transition)
• Parliamentarian and Parliamentary Consultant Jim Slaughter (parliamentary charts, handouts, and articles to assist board and staff conduct meetings within accepted procedures)
• Robert’s Rules of Order (see http://www.robertsrules.com/ and http://www.rulesonline.com/)
• Tips on Updates of CAA Bylaws

Operational Management and Organizational Structure

• Nonprofit Risk Management Center (extensive documents, information on managing risk within a nonprofit organization)
• Public Entity Risk Institute (information on risk management, including a section on states and their regulations around the liability of nonprofits)

Planning and Community Investment

• Tony Poderis: Your Non-Profit Fund-Raising Resource (free materials, handouts, and templates to assist board members and staff with creating a fundraising plan)
• Center for Community Futures: Social Enterprise (focuses on assistance to CAA's)
• Charity Channel (on Home, see links to Don Griesmann’s Grant Opportunities and many other resources for fundraising)
• Society for Nonprofit Organizations (on Home, see Fundraising Guide and links for additional resources in fundraising and other topics)
• Grants.gov (Official website for federal grant announcements; comprehensive information on how to find and apply for federal grants; contains weekly news announcements about grants)

Information Technology

• TechSoup (provides information on technology and related resources for nonprofits)

Human Resources

• Developing a Whistleblower Policy (PDF) (from the Delaware Valley Grantmakers; concise description of basic issues to consider when developing policies. Links to sample policies)
• Free Management Library (on Home, see Human Resources Management, Employee Performance, and others for links to materials and websites with information about personnel policies, employee evaluations, safety, diversity, and more)

Finance and Budget

• Accounting Standard for NonProfit Mergers & Acquistions
• Independent Sector (information on accountability, principles for self-regulation; links to the IRS and additional resources)
• Society for Nonprofit Organizations (see Free Articles, covering accounting and finance, creating a budget; see also, other articles and resources listed)

Conflict of Interest

• IRS
• National Council of Nonprofit Associations (see under Resources, Human Resources)
• Audit Committee Toolkit: Not-for-Profit Organizations (see under Independence and Related Issues)
• North Carolina State Auditor (see under sample policies)
• Samples of Model Policies (provided to CAPLAW by Joel Kaleva, Esq., of Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich in Helena, Montana. 406-449-4165)

General

• Society for Nonprofit Organizations (publications, resources, links to nonprofit topics from governance to finance, fundraising, volunteers, and much more; many resources free, but membership required for access to archives, newsletters, etc.)
• Nonprofit Good Practice Guide (links to documents and websites with materials on governance, technology, human resources, finances, and more)
• CAPLAW (legal resources for Community Action Agencies)
• Results Oriented Management and Accountability
• Virtual CAP (provides useful tools and links specifically for Community Action Agencies)
• BoardSource (provides numerous services to enhance nonprofit organizations by strengthening boards of directors; in cooperation with CompassPoint, publishes Board Café)
• National Council of Nonprofit Associations (provides links and resources on a variety of topics)
• The Nonprofit FAQ (hosted by Idealist.org, this site provides information and resources on organizations, management, regulation, and development)
• Idealist website
• Nonprofit Genie (the San Francisco-based CompassPoint Nonprofit Services provides useful information on all aspects of nonprofit management in this FAQ section)
• CompassPoint Nonprofit Services (provides information on nonprofit services and hosts the Board Café)
• Independent Sector (serves as a leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs)
• GuideStar (provides information about nonprofit operations and finances; publishes IRS form 990 from thousands of organizations)
• MAP for Nonprofits (hosts of “The Free Management Library”)
• The Free Management Library (guidance on everything from starting, financing, and marketing an organization, along with information on such topics as human resources and social entrepreneurship)

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Model Policies and Planning Templates

Web Links to Other Information