Resource library · free toolkits, templates and guides
The practical library for people who build nonprofits
211 really practical toolkits, templates and guides for nonprofit and NGO leaders, and the consultants and funders who support them. A mix of the classics and newer methods.
Suggestions are welcome211 resources · 15 topics · 137 publishers · 197 free to use
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18 resources found
- Search: ai governance
- 12.3C162
Choosing Your AI Path: A Framework for Nonprofit Leaders to Make Strategic Choices
An article and framework that help nonprofit leaders decide how to use AI. It sorts choices into 3 dimensions: augment internal operations, advance mission and programmes, and advocate on AI governance and policy. Each dimension has field examples, strategy elements and low-cost no-regrets actions. A section sets out what institutional funders can do for grantees. Companion worksheets help teams apply the framework.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 3.1C030
Charity Governance Code
A voluntary governance code for UK charities of any size. It sets out 8 principles with 41 outcomes, and each principle comes with suggested behaviours, examples of policies and processes, and suggested evidence of good governance. Boards apply it on an apply or explain basis and are encouraged to publish a short statement in their annual report on how they use it. Smaller charities can use it to spot gaps as they grow.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree - 3.3C037
A question of balance
A guide for charity chairs and chief executives on building a working relationship. Based on interviews with 22 chairs and chief executives, it weighs different approaches to the chair's part in day-to-day operations, who represents the charity in public, how close the two should be and how to balance challenge and support. It finds no single formula, so it asks both people to be self-aware, invest time and adjust when the relationship is not working.
Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree - 12.3C160
Nonprofit AI Policy Builder
A free online tool that helps a nonprofit draft its own AI policy covering governance, data privacy, risk management and ethics. Users share their mission and AI use, choose a light, standard or advanced policy, and answer tailored questions. The tool uses generative AI to draft the policy, which the team then edits and publishes. A draft takes about 20 minutes and needs no sign-up.
Start hereCurrentTool or templateFree - 12.3C161
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Suitability Toolkit for Nonprofits
A toolkit that helps nonprofits judge whether an AI or machine learning solution is a good fit before they build, buy or use it. It aims to build in-house ability to assess AI options, anticipate problems and make informed decisions, with attention to transparency, data governance and traceability. It is meant for project managers, developers and system operators in nonprofit organisations.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 3.4C039
Good Governance: A Health Check
A board self-assessment tied to the Code of Good Governance (3rd edition) in Northern Ireland. It has 92 questions across 5 principles: understanding the board's role, working as a team, control and risk, integrity, and openness and accountability. Boards rate each item not met, part met or fully met, record evidence against suggested prompts and fill in an action table for each principle with actions, owners and dates.
Start hereCurrentTool or templateFree - 12.3C159
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics for Nonprofits: Toolkit
A workshop kit that helps nonprofits design, deploy and use AI responsibly. This first part focuses on the principle of fairness. It contains a facilitator guide, a master slide deck, case studies, key AI and machine learning terms, AI ethics concepts and an example Miro board. Participants learn AI ethics basics, then apply fairness to humanitarian and international development use cases.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 12.3C163
Pursuing the Promise of AI
A guide for African nonprofits on using AI in their programmes. It sets out 4 stages of AI adoption: explore and prepare, prove and learn, embed and operate, and sustain or scale, each with guiding questions. It draws on interviews and a focus group with over 40 nonprofits, social enterprises, funders, experts and intermediaries. It describes the type of funding needed at each stage, from risk-tolerant early capital to patient operating support.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 8.1C202
Fundraising for Success
A short guide from INTRAC's Common Ground Initiative for small and diaspora NGOs that have little time, staff or fundraising experience. It explains why fundraising needs a strategy, and how a small organisation can plan where its money will come from, who will raise it and how. It is part of a series of guides for small NGOs that includes one on governance.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 10.1C131
Net Gains
A handbook by Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor for people who build and run networks for social change. It covers how such networks form, grow and are managed, and it shares lessons on using networks to reach large-scale impact. Network coordinators, members and funders use it to plan a network's design, growth and coordination, and to compare their own experience with others.
Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree - 3.1C034
Guide de gouvernance pour les organismes à but non lucratif du milieu du sport et du loisir au Québec
A French-language governance guide for nonprofits in sport and recreation in Québec, many of them run by volunteers. Part 1 covers roles and responsibilities and the legal setting. Part 2 covers board structure and composition, board duties, how the board works and transparency. Nine annexes provide tools, including a board self-evaluation questionnaire, a board work plan, a skills grid, an executive director evaluation grid and a management dashboard.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 3.4C040
Purpose-Driven Board Leadership
A discussion guide that helps a board apply BoardSource's 4 principles of purpose-driven board leadership: purpose before organisation, respect for the ecosystem, an equity mindset, and authorised voice and power. It offers 3 exercises: discussing a case from the Museum of Us, reviewing the board's most recent major decision against each principle, and working through an upcoming decision together. Boards use it in meetings and retreats.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 11.3C154
Risk Appetite Statements: A guide for NGOs
A guide that explains what a risk appetite statement is, why it is useful and how an NGO can develop one. It focuses on security risk and shows how security risk management fits into organisation-wide enterprise risk management. Chapters cover the strategic value of a statement, its role in governance and accountability, and practical steps for putting it in place. It is written for security practitioners, senior leaders and boards.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 11.3C153
Charities and risk management (CC26)
Guidance from the charity regulator for England and Wales on how trustees identify, assess and manage risks to their charity. It defines a risk as any event that could stop a charity achieving its aims or carrying out its strategies, with examples such as reputational damage, lost funding, poor investments and policy changes. Trustees use it to set up and review a risk register and to report on risk in their accounts.
Start hereCurrentKey manual or guideFree - 5.3C072
Awareness to Action
A BoardSource guide for boards and chief executives working on racial equity together. It offers 3 starting points to assess where a board stands now, each paired with action steps to move it forward. It notes that the work is nonlinear and needs sustained commitment. It also covers why the guide was written and policies and practices to avoid the glass cliff for new leaders of colour.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 8.2C107
StrongNonprofits Toolkit
A free set of financial management tools for nonprofit finance staff and leaders. It is organised by topic: budgeting, navigating uncertainty, cash flow, operations, data and analysis, audit readiness, and governance and strategy. Downloads include a financial risk self-assessment, an equity in financial management self-assessment, a financial infrastructure self-assessment and a fiscal management activities calendar in Excel. Short videos from BDO explain equity in the finance function.
ClassicTool or templateFree - 3.2C035
Board Appointment Guide for Charities
A guide for charity boards in Singapore on composing, renewing and recruiting a board. It has 5 sections: the role of the board, 10 steps to compose the board, how to nominate and appoint new members, board culture and relationships with the chair and executive head, and how to attract new members. Appendices give sample terms of reference, a term-limits example and a diversity matrix for mapping skills and gaps.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree - 1.2C008
Bridgespan Organizational Effectiveness Framework survey
An online team survey on Org360 that runs a Bridgespan-based organisational assessment for nonprofits. It has 85 questions and takes about 34 minutes. Areas include strategic clarity, governance, financial sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion, with rating questions and open reflection questions. Leaders, board members and staff respond, and Org360 produces an automatic report with strengths, gaps and a development plan. It is free to use after sign-up.
Start hereEmergingTool or templateFree with sign-upNonprofit Builder tool
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