The Microboard Guide: Part 1 of 5 A microboard is a small group of committed people who come together with an individual who has a disability to form a registered non-profit corporation. The microboard provides governance, advocacy, and decision-making support for that person throughout their life. It creates a formal legal structure that can outlast any one individual’s involvement. A microboard is not a group home or a service agency. It is a personalized structure, built a

The Microboard Guide: Part 2 of 5 To call your non-profit corporation a microboard, a minimum of five directors are required. Most families do not start with five people ready to serve. Building toward that number is a process that may take months or years. The formal structure comes later. The starting point is relationships. Start with Who Is Available A microboard can begin with two or three committed people. That might be a parent, a sibling or other family member, a nei

The Microboard Guide: Part 3 of 5 There are several government funding streams available to people with developmental disabilities in Ontario. They come from different ministries, go through different channels, and have different rules. This post provides a high-level overview of where a microboard fits in. The specifics depend on each family’s situation and should be worked through with Microboards Ontario or one of the other organizations listed in Part 1 of this guide. Fun

The Microboard Guide: Part 4 of 5 When a family and their circle are ready, the next step is to formally incorporate the microboard as a non-profit corporation. This is what creates the legal entity that can enter into agreements, open a bank account, manage funding, and engage support workers. This step does not need to happen on any timeline. Some families take months, others take years. What matters is that the relationships are in place and the group is ready. How to Inco

The Microboard Guide: Part 5 of 5 Once a microboard is incorporated and operational, there are ongoing obligations. These are more extensive depending on whether the microboard manages funding, but even microboards that serve primarily as governance and advocacy structures have basic corporate obligations. With the right systems and supports, these requirements are manageable. Regular Board Meetings A microboard should hold regular board meetings. Meetings can cover the indi