“Council President”
Author: SVDPUSA
This guide defines the role and responsibilities of a Council President. 
Available at: SVdP Online Store

“Does Your Board ‘Get’ Your Financials?”
Author: Fricke & Associates
Accurate, relevant and timely financial reports are key to making good decisions.  But, do your board members really understand the numbers?
Available for download: click here 

“Various Nationally Approved Bylaws for Councils/Boards”
Author: SVDPUSA
This webpage on www.svdpusa.org has a number of documents that were approved by the National Council for use by Diocesan and District Councils with Integrated Boards of Directors or Separate Boards of Directors.  These documents contain all of the appropriate wording required by IRS.  They are also in compliance with the Rule of the Society.
Available for download: click here

“Various Documents Related to Standards of Excellence”
Author: SVDPUSA
This webpage on www.svdpusa.org has a number of documents that were approved by the National Council. They are related to the Standards of Excellence for both Councils and Conferences.
Available for download: click here

“Resources for Nonprofit Financial Management”
Author: Wallace Foundation
Developed in partnership between The Wallace Foundation and Fiscal Management Associates, the site contains more than 64 resources for anyone involved in nonprofit financial planning, monitoring, operations or oversight. Features range from a nonprofit accounting guide, to an article on sensible growth strategies, to a podcast on how to understand the true costs of programming. The site also offers an array of helpful tools, including the “Go or No Go Decision Tool,” a questionnaire that helps an organization decide whether accepting a contract would help – or hurt – the group’s bottom line.
Available at: wallacefoundation

“Standards of Excellence: an Ethics and Accountability Code for Catholic Non-Profits"
Author: National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management
The Leadership Roundtable is dedicated to helping individual Catholic dioceses, parishes and nonprofits to implement Standards of Excellence.  These standards are intended to describe how well managed and responsibly governed Catholic nonprofits operate.
Available at: NLRCM

“Taking Responsibility in a New Leadership Role”
Author: James Manktelow
This article (from Mind Tools) focuses on new organizational leaders. Taking responsibility for the new role is a lot more than simply stepping into the job.
Available for download: click here

“Prevent Fraud by Envisioning How It Could Occur at Your Organization”
Author: Fricke and Associates, P.C.
Preventing internal fraud within a non-profit organization requires many of the same approaches that for-profit companies employ.  This article identifies eight practices to consider.
Available for download:click here

“Sucessful Delegation”
Author: James Manktelow
One of the most common ways of overcoming stress is to learn how to delegate your work to other people.  If you do this well, you can quickly build a strong and sucessfule team of people, well able to meet the demands that others place.
Available for download: click here

“Board Engagement is Key to Successful Succession Planning”
Author: Leslie Bonner
Succession planning is a leadership development strategy that identifies who can step into the administrator’s role when the current executive director steps down.  This article explores the role of the Board in this strategy.
Available for download: click here

“Make Sure Your Volunteers are Covered”
Author: Fricke & Associates, P.C.
With an increase in general litigation, non-profits need to follow the example of commercial enterprises and adopt a risk-management program, with a particular focus on employment practices liability.
Available for download: click here

“Good Leadership Planning”
Author: Dave Barringer
Wise leaders understand that the organization is bigger than themselves and their egos. A true test of any leader is how he or she builds the organization and future leaders into a lasting success well beyond their own tenure. The successor is not always named, but there is a succession plan for selecting, recruiting, appointing or electing the next leader. Available for download: click here

“Creating a Conference Resources Committee”
Author: Terry Wilson
An active Conference Resource Committee will help with many of the opportunities and solve situations, misunderstandings and problems that occur in the everyday life of a St. Vincent de Paul Conference.  It is also the bridge of understanding, representation and cooperation between a Council, its Conference and all Vincentians.

Available for download: click here

“Fill in the Blanks”
Author: Mike Syslo
Over the years, there has developed a misunderstanding of the formal structure of the Society in the United States.  The purpose of this document is to clarify what the structure is and what the naming conventions should be.
Available for download: click here

“The Healthy Servant”
Author: Mike Syslo
I remember watching a movie a few years back titled “In the Name of the Poor.”  In this movie which depicted the life of Mother Teresa, there was one particular scene in which she was so zealous in serving the poor that she ignored her own needs and became very ill.  She kept on insisting to the nurse that she must return to her work.  The nurse finally told her that, if she continued to neglect her own health, she would not be able to serve anyone.  The servant must be healthy in order to be able to serve.  This holds true for Vincentians as well.
Available for download: click here

“How to Run a Council”
Author: Terry Wilson
These following comments are the essence of what has been observed over a five year period in many Councils.  They were selected because the situations they created resulted in extra effort and expense that could have been avoided.  These situations, large and small, are all distractions to our real purposes and are offered to stimulate thought and action in your own Council where appropriate. This operational information was learned from over 100 Council and Conference visits and 15 meetings with Bishops over a period of five years.
Available for download: click here

“No “if”s, “and”s or “but”s”
Author: Mike Syslo
The RULE is the RULE is the RULE!! There are no valid “if”s, “and”s or “but”s.
Available for download: click here

“Not Just a Warm Body”
Author: Mike Syslo
What we should NOT do is elect the first warm body willing to be President.
Available for download: click here

“Prayer of Solomon”
Author: 1 Kings
… so I can govern Your people… 
Available for download: click here

“Role of Paid Staff in the Society”
Author: Mike Syslo
Any time spent reading and reflecting on the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and most all of the other materials published by the Society will reveal the fact that the Society is essentially about the member and the Conference.  Some material is provided about Councils and even less about stores and special works. Very little is written about the role of paid staff – a role that is of significant importance in the life of the Society.
Available for download:click here

“Conference and Council Bylaws – What is Required”

Author: Mike Syslo
All Councils and Conferences are expected to have a set of bylaws.  This article explores the theme of “what is really required in the way of bylaws.”
Available for download: click here

“Five Tips for Dynamic Strategic Planning”

Author: Fricke & Associates, P.C.
Is your not-for-profit the same organization it was three years ago? Are your stakeholders the same now as then? Is your community and its support of your not-for-profit the same? Here are five tips to help ignite the strategic planning process.
Available for download: click here

“A Checklist of Duties with Tax and Governance Implications”
Author: Fricke & Associates, P.C.
Documentation and accountability are always important in business, but even more so for a not-for-profit agency. It’s crucial to have tools that allow you to stay on top of the details. Here is a chart which will help you stay organized.
Available for download: click here

“Getting Fired”
Author: Michael S. Syslo
Firing someone is one of the hardest tasks people in a leadership role can be asked to do. Whether paid staff, member or volunteer, it normally boils down to the person actually terminating themselves. We have to be willing to recognize and accept this situation.
Available for download: click here