Legal, HR and Governance for Nonprofits
Live Online: September 8, 15, 2025
LSO CPD: 10 Hrs Substantive, 3 Hrs Professionalism (EDI)
Live Online
Nonprofit and charitable organizations face a unique set of HR challenges, from managing diverse workforces and volunteers to ensuring legal compliance in a rapidly changing landscape. Balancing the need for inclusive workplaces with strict regulatory requirements, these organizations must navigate complex employment laws, handle sensitive board and staff dynamics, and craft policies that align with their mission while protecting both staff and the organization. The growing need for accountability, equity, and effective governance adds additional layers of complexity, making strategic HR management more crucial than ever.
This two-day program is designed to equip organizations with the practical tools they need to address these challenges. Participants will learn how to build compliant HR frameworks, foster equity within their teams, and ensure that both staff and volunteers are supported. The program also focuses on the role of governance, helping boards align HR strategies with organizational goals while addressing sensitive issues like succession planning and workplace conflict. By the end of the course, organizations will be better prepared to manage their human resources effectively and create environments where both employees and volunteers can thrive.
Who Should Attend
Benjamin Miller, Non Profit Network
Benjamin Miller has worked on the Nonprofit Law Ontario project since 2017 where he has tried to meet the legal needs of nonprofits and charities through clear, practical, and accurate education and information. In this capacity, Benjamin has developed and delivered dozens of workshops and answered thousands of nonprofit law questions. Benjamin articled with and has worked as a policy officer for the Government of Canada in the past. His first book on long-term strategic communications “The 100-Year PR Plan: A Guide for Advocates” was published in January 2021 by Civil Sector Press. His other writings on topics ranging from dark money to campus clubs have appeared in publications such as The Philanthropist, Policy Options, University Affairs, Canadian Lawyer, Slaw, and the Globe & Mail. Benjamin holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in political theory from the University of Ottawa.
Read Full Bio +
Stephanie Young, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Stephanie Young practices labour and employment and human rights law. She advises public and private sector employers on a variety of employment and labour relations matters, including employment standards, policy development and revision, contracts, health and safety, accommodations and discrimination, severance packages and terminations, collective agreements, workplace harassment investigations and discipline.
Stephanie represents employers in employment and labour-related litigation, including wrongful and constructive dismissals, employment class actions, human rights applications and grievance arbitrations.
In addition to her employment practice, Stephanie advises and represents health sector clients and other service providers in human rights cases pertaining to patient care or customer service. She is also experienced in accessibility legislation and accessibility compliance audits.
Stephanie has appeared as employer counsel before the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and labour arbitrators.
Stephanie represents employers in employment and labour-related litigation, including wrongful and constructive dismissals, employment class actions, human rights applications and grievance arbitrations.
In addition to her employment practice, Stephanie advises and represents health sector clients and other service providers in human rights cases pertaining to patient care or customer service. She is also experienced in accessibility legislation and accessibility compliance audits.
Stephanie has appeared as employer counsel before the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and labour arbitrators.
Read Full Bio +
Jeff Abraham, Senior Manager of Volunteer Engagement, Diabetes Canada
Khadeeja Ahsan, Manager, Global Business Ethics and Compliance Investigator, Apotex Inc.
Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder & Academic Director, Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy, Ted Rogers School of Management's Diversity Institute
Ron Franklin, Founder, Franklin Law
Michelle Hurtubise, CEO, Centretown Community Health Centre
Safia J. Lakhani, Iler Campbell LLP
Erin Leeann LeBlanc, MTF Consulting
Benjamin Miller, Staff Lawyer and Policy Advisor, Ontario Non Profit Network
Yamikani Msosa, Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women
Ryan Prendergast, Carters Professional Corporation
Chloe Richardson, Legal Counsel, Hospital for Sick Children
Stuart Rudner, Managing Partner, Rudner Law
Stephanie Young, Borden Ladner Gervais
Day 1: HR and the Law in Nonprofits and Charities
Day 1 focuses on understanding the legal framework that governs HR in nonprofit and charitable organizations. Participants will be trained to distinguish between employees, contractors, and volunteers, understand the fundamentals of employment law, and develop inclusive policies that support workers from equity-deserving communities. Additionally, the day will cover the legal aspects of managing volunteers, ensuring participants can protect both their organizations and their staff.
- Overview of the Law of HR in Nonprofits: Provides an understanding of the distinctions between employees, contractors, and volunteers, and the legal sources that govern them.
- Employment Law: From Hiring to Firing and Everything in Between: Covers the essential steps in the employment relationship, focusing on key contract provisions and best practices for compliance.
- Creating a Supportive Environment for Workers from Equity-Deserving Communities: Explores how human rights law impacts nonprofit workplaces and provides strategies for fostering equity and inclusion.
- Legal Aspects of Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Volunteers in Nonprofits: Addresses the legal requirements for volunteer management, focusing on creating volunteer agreements and policies that protect both parties.
- Managing Risk - Contemporary HR and Reputational Challenges: Discusses how to manage hybrid work environments, staff burnout, and social media-related issues, with practical tips for preventing disputes.
Day 2: Advanced HR Management and Board Oversight
Day 2 trains participants on advanced HR management and the crucial role of boards in governance. Attendees will learn how to align HR strategies with organizational goals, address sensitive issues like succession planning, and ensure that policies are clear, enforceable, and supportive of organizational success. The day will also include interactive exercises to help participants apply these concepts to real-world nonprofit scenarios.
- Strategic HR Management and the Board's Role: Examines the board's responsibilities in HR management and provides tools for conducting sensitive discussions around HR-driven goals.
- Blurred Boundaries: Whose Organization is it Anyway? Discusses the legal and practical challenges of managing relationships between boards and executive directors, focusing on boundary-setting and authority.
- Designing, Implementing, and Disseminating Effective HR Policies for Nonprofits: Provides best practices for drafting and enforcing HR policies that are both clear and legally compliant, with a focus on plain language.
- Interactive Q&A and Scenario-based Exercises: Offers participants the opportunity to apply learned concepts to real-world HR scenarios in nonprofits, with expert guidance and group discussions.
- Conclusion and Wrap-Up: Reviews key takeaways from the program and offers a feedback session for participants to discuss implementation strategies within their organizations.
For more information, please contact Bernard Sandler, Professional Legal Education Manager, LincolnLawPD@torontomu.ca