Policy Toolkit

Model Policies and Planning Templates

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

Governance

• CAA Board Resource Toolkit (DOC)
  includes the following:
  • CAA Board Profile Chart
  • Draft New Member Mentor Option Policy
  • Low Income Sector Organizational Nomination Certification Sample Letter
  • Public Sector Official Nomination Sample Letter
  • Sample Board Member Job Description
  • Sample Board Prospect Application Form
  • Sample Board Assessment Form
  • Sample Candidate Screening Criteria
  • Sample Content for New Member Orientation Handbook
• 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)
• CAPLAW-Tripartite Board: Tapping into the Time, Talent and Treasure of the Tripartite Board (PDF)
• Chalkboard Memo: CAA Board Recruitment/Selection (PDF)
• Composition (PDF)
• Conflict of Interest Policy and Agreement for Directors and Staff (PDF)
• Consent Agenda (PDF)
• Executive Compensation Article (PDF)
• IM #123-Reorganization of CSBG T/TA Resources (PDF)
• Introduction to Robert's Rules of Order (PDF)
• New Board Member Orientation Program (PDF)
• NIQCA Whistleblower Policy (DOC)
• Nonprofit Dissolution (PDF)
• Principles of Good Governance and Ethical Practice (PDF)
• ROMA Training PowerPoint (PPT)
• From Grants to Gifts (PDF)
• Strategic Board Recruitment: A Key to Building a Dynamic Board (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Succession Planning for CAAs (PPT)

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)
• PACE Disaster Recover Plan (DOC)
• Performance Dashboards-NIQCA (PPT)
• Risk Management Overview (PDF)
• Risk Management Template (PDF)
• ROMA Website
• ROMA links other

Planning and Community Investment

• CAPLAW-Tripartite Board: Tapping into the Time, Talent and Treasure of the Tripartite Board (PDF)
• Chalkboard Memo: Dashboard Monitoring (PDF)
• Chalkboard Memo: Reputational Assessment (PDF)
• Free Management Library Website: Marketing Section
• Free Management Library Website: Fundraising (Nonprofit) Section
• From Grants to Gifts (PDF)
• OCS IM 23-Reorganization of CSBG T/TA Resources (PDF)
• PACE Disaster Recovery Plan (DOC)
• Social Enterprise (PDF)
• Social Media PowerPoint (PDF)
• Strategic Alliance Memo (PDF)
• Strategic Planning Manual (The Center for Public Skills Training)

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)
• Social Media PowerPoint (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)
• NIQCA Succession Plan Outline(PPT)
• NIQCA Whistleblower Policy(DOC)
• Sample Nepotism Policy (PDF)
• Sample Employee Policies Manual (PDF)
• Sample Whistleblower Policy (PDF)
• Succession Planning PP (DOC)

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 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)
• 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 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/)

Operational Management and Organizational Structure

• Nonprofit Risk Management Center (extensive documents, information on managing risk within a nonprofit organization)

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)
• 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

• Tablet Computer Security
• 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
• Get the Most Value from Your Audit
• Independent Sector (information on accountability, principles for self-regulation; links to the IRS and additional resources)
• Preventing-Detecting Nonprofit Fraud (PDF)
• The Nonprofit Quarterly-"Truth or Consequences of Financial Decisions"

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)
• 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