Non-Profit update: Give feedback on the name & Apply to join the team
Hi everyone, we're currently working on the non-profit applications. This post is to check in, get feedback, and get some future planning done.
Give feedback on potential names
Before the main application goes out, we need to apply for and reserve a name. After going through the responses of the previous post, we have picked out a few potential names. If there are some names on this list that you particularly prefer or oppose, please share your thoughts below.
Federated Comms Canada (FCC)
Federated Open Comms Canada (FOCC)
Canadian Federated Platforms (CFP)
Open Comms Canada (OCC)
Canadian Federated Comms (CFC)
Canadian Communities Online (CCO)
Online Federation Canada (OFC)
Canadian Open Federation (COF)
Canadian Federated Agora (CFA)
Northern Federated Open Forum (NFOF)
.
If you have any other ideas, (such as variants of the names above) you can share those too. The specific requirements are as follows:
Societies must have their name approved and confirm that it doesn't conflict with a name already being used by a corporation. This makes sure that the public is not confused or misled by a society's name. Find out how to choose the right name.
We are currently looking at what roles need to be filled. Everyone is welcome (and encouraged) to apply if interested, even if you don't have experience in the areas listed:
Administrative: Organization development, project management, legal experience, financial experience, etc.
.
While the non-profit application is being prepared, we will only onboard a few people. Afterwards we will do call-outs for more people, including those with backgrounds in other areas (ex. technical background, community engagement, visuals, grants, etc.) depending on what we will be working on.
Not that I have incorporated hundreds of entities, but isn't "Canada/Canadian" a protected term in BC because it can imply a link to the government?
I know nothing about B.C., but I do know that it is a protected term in other provinces that are part of the NWP (New West Partnership. A thing where BC, AB, SK, and MB work together to make it easier to run a corporation across all 4 provinces).
The financial statements required when filing the Annual Maintenance of the non-prof, does BC have specific requirements for the qualification of the Auditor (AKA, do you guys need to hire an CPA for your year-end review)?
Is there a reason why you are registering Provincially instead of Federally?
I have incorporated a bunch of small not for profit corporations, and you raise some good points.
Registration federally is much less complicated than registering provincially, for a number of reasons (legislation to follow, filings, expanding business operations across the country, pursuing status as a charity, etc). I would recommend registering a not for profit federally every time (even if it was the smallest organization operating in one tiny corner of a single province).
To my knowledge, Canadian/Canada is not a protected term (when registering federally). I have registered a few not for profits with Canada in the name. The organizations did have a Canada-wide scope.
I have recommended Provincial registration for NFP a few times, mostly when I know that it's the kinda thing where saying "All of the money stays right here in __________" is better for fund-raising.
Or the person is a little nutso about Wexit, but they want to help fund a local children's sports league.