A Guide for the Development of Policies and Procedures

1.2 Who the Guide is For

This Guide will benefit the boards of directors in community-based literacy agencies, who have ultimate legal responsibility for the agency’s governance. Senior staff (such as executive directors) who are responsible for the agency’s management will also find this Guide useful in working with their boards to develop policy.Whether your organization has had no experience or has had considerable involvement in policy development, this Guide will serve as a reference and/or a refresher for board members and staff who set policies and procedures. CLO hopes that this support will enhance the professional work of community-based literacy agencies across Ontario.

Notes on Terminology:

The terms board members and directors are both used to refer to those who sit on the boards of directors of non-profit agencies.
The terms agencies and organizations are also used interchangeably to identify community-based literacy program providers.
The term executive director is used to identify the senior staff person, although many agencies may choose other titles for this position.
The terms learner and student is used interchangeably to indicate the clients of literacy agencies.
The term Volunteer Coordinator is used as the title for student-tutor and one-to-one coordinators although is it recognized that various titles may be used for this position.
He and she are used interchangeably throughout the text to refer to persons of both genders.
Keep in mind that, depending on your agency’s model of board governance, not all types of policy outlined in this Guide may necessarily be appropriate to your organization.