Resources designed to help community housing providers build great governance practices.
Learn the fundamentals of good governance with our newest set of resources
Tailored specifically to non-profit and housing legislation in Ontario, these resources will guide you through governance best practices so that your current and future boards are set up for success.
All resources are 15% off regular price for ONPHA core members and FREE for upgraded members. We've also bundled some of the resources together to help you save even more!
Governance & corporate practices handbook Learn the key elements of great governance with this foundational resource packed with how-to’s and sample documents that covers everything from board responsibilities through AGMs, audits, record-keeping and policy development to succession planning and committee work. Reference the handbook in training for new and existing board members, strategic planning work, and compliance with applicable legislation. Includes: sample policies, procedures and guidelines inventory, sample table of contents for board manual, sample board evaluation, a sample board meeting evaluation form, guides to compliance with the Corporations Act, Housing Services Act, Residential Tenancies Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Freedom of Information Privacy Act, Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act , National Housing Act, requirements for charities and more. Price: Free for upgraded members, $169 for core members, $199 regular price.
Running and supporting effective meetings handbook Learn how to hold effective and efficient board meetings with these best practices and tools for meeting procedures and team building. Includes: sample documents for standard board activities (agendas for an AGM or typical board meeting minutes), self-assessments to build meeting participation competencies, and more. Price: Free for upgraded members, $127 for core members, $149 regular price.
Recruitment, orientation, training, and succession handbook Make sure new and future board members are set up for success with these practical and hands-on tools to support good governance practices. Use the handbook as a reference for your board renewal activities, including: recruiting, orienting and training new board members; refreshing board member competencies; and developing a succession planning program for the board. Includes: Sample terms of reference for board committees, sample code of conduct for boards, sample procedures (board nominations, elections, and orientation), samples and tools for board renewal, and more. Price: Free for upgraded members, $169 for core members, $199 regular price.
Board orientation handbook A comprehensive and fully customizable template for a non-profit housing corporation of any size to use as a guide for recently elected or potential board members. The document can be adapted for organizations’ unique circumstances (e.g. funding arrangements) and legal requirements. Includes: Customizable management policies (e.g. conflicts of interest, confidentiality, liability and duty of care, etc), procedural guidance on board meetings, sample board calendar, glossary of key terms and acronyms, and more. Price: Free for upgraded members, $127 for core members, $149 regular price.
Succession planning toolkit An instruction manual stacked with tips and templates to help you create and implement a board succession program. This hands-on resource include the tools to get any board (large or small) started with the succession and renewal of the board or its elected officers. Includes: board succession plan checklist, sample mission and vision statements, sample roles and responsibilities, board calendar, sample meeting agenda, template workplan, and more. Price: Free for upgraded members, $127 for core members, $149 regular price.
Tenants on the board handbook Looking to deepen your engagement with tenant communities and renew your board? Learn how to get started, the legal and ethical considerations of adding tenants to your board of directors, and tips for boards on successfully engaging tenants in governance work. Includes: an overview of conflicts of interest, confidentiality and liability issues, examples of tenant-inclusive boards and advice to set your board up for success. Price: Free for upgraded members, $84 for core members, $99 regular price.
Strategic planning toolkit An instruction manual with the guidance and tools you need to design and facilitate your strategic planning process. The toolkit is critical resource to help board and staff members better understand why and how to do strategic planning, guide the planning team through the process and build the capacity of the board. Includes: Through easy-to-use steps and checklists to create your own strategic plan, with topics ranging from planning the process to reviewing and assessing the needs of the organization, engaging tenants and staff, developing mission and values, collective visioning and risk management and developing a business plan. Price: Free for upgraded members, $127 for core members, $149 regular price.
Governance essentials resource suite
ONPHA's Governance Essentials Resource Suite is a comprehensive package designed to strengthen the foundations of governance for housing providers and their boards. Grounded in the legislative context and realities of community housing in Ontario, these resources provide guidance, practical advice, samples and customizable templates to help board members and leadership teams:
This set of comprehensive and customizable documents will help board members amend bylaws based on the requirements of the Ontario Corporations Act (OCA) and the Housing Services Act (HSA) and to prepare for changes for the sector with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA). What’s included?
The new Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 (ONCA) was proclaimed on October 19, 2021. Non-profits now have three years to update their bylaws and letters patent to comply withthe new regulations. On February 3, 2022 we hosted a webinar with Benjamin Miller, staff lawyer at Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), who walked us through what is new in the ONCA, steps non-profits need to take to transition, and what resources are available to help. ONPHA members can access the recording on demand in our ONPHA Events platform. If you don’t have an account on the platform yet, please register by reaching out to us at events@onpha.org.
This collection of guides and sample tools will help you develop and implement a succession plan for the renewal and sustainability of your board. What’s included?
This practical kit will help you develop and implement strategic planning activities that will ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the organization in the future. What’s included?