CIL Management & Operations
-
Alphabet Soup: Independent Living Acronyms
If you are new to Independent Living and our acronyms have you dizzy with confusion, this five-page booklet is for you. If you are tired of all the... -
Board and Staff Roles and Responsibilities in Centers for Independent Living
This publication is intended to assist board members and staff of centers for independent living in gaining a better understanding of the roles and... -
Introduction and Suggested Dos and Don'ts
Congratulations on your new position as executive director of a Center for Independent Living (CIL)!Several of us compiling this tool kit have been... -
Management 101 Tool Kit for New CIL Executive Directors
This tool kit is designed for the new executive director of a Center for Independent Living (CIL) and its purpose is to focus attention on the most... -
Section 1: Definition of a Center for Independent Living (CIL)
The 1978 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act authorized the establishment of the Independent Living Program, which includes the Centers for... -
Section 10: Compliance and Independent Financial Statement Audits
The type of audit your CIL needs depends on the amount of federal funds the Center spends. Compliance Audit CILs that spend at least $750,000 in... -
Section 11: Risk Management and Insurance
Every organization has a responsibility to analyze and respond to any known risks. This is a key board role as they fulfil their duty of care to... -
Section 12: Consumer Satisfaction
In your CIL’s annual PPR, you will be asked to report on your consumers’ satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the CIL’s services. For example:Were... -
Section 13: Strategic Planning
Why is Strategic Planning Important?CILs frequently encounter challenging situations, including federal, state, or local budget cuts or delays;... -
Section 14: Advocacy vs. Lobbying
Advocacy is not only a core service of CILs, it is also the driving force in the Independent Living and Disability Rights movements.The very core... -
Section 15: Collaboration: Networks and Coalitions
The mission of a CIL involves social change—literally transforming your community. That’s a huge task for one organization to accomplish alone. The... -
Section 16: Staff Retention -- Appreciating the CIL's Most Valuable Asset
As a new ED, you may have inherited a team of dedicated, hard-working, passionate people, or you may have a number of vacancies to fill. When you... -
Section 17: You Are Important—Take Care of Yourself
These are stressful and uncertain times for us all. Even in the best of times, being a nonprofit executive director can be hectic and demanding.... -
Section 2: CIL Standards and Assurances
The Independent Living Program is based on a philosophy that sets forth a way of thinking and living. It is also a statutory program guided by... -
Section 3: Doing Business with the U.S. Government -- Important Registrations
In order to do business with the U.S. government, you will need to be able to access a number of online systems. As a new executive director, you... -
Section 4: Policies and Procedures
The assurances in Section 725(c) of the Act require that CILs “use sound organizational and personnel assignment practices” and “practice sound... -
Section 5: Budget and Finance
Managing the finances of a CIL is one of the most challenging aspects of being an executive director (ED). Mistakes in this arena can have legal... -
Section 8: Intersection of Disability and Diversity
Disability and diversity are two words that CILs know well. One of the basic definitions of a CIL is that it is cross-disability and inclusive.... -
Section 9: Engaging and Supporting the Board of Directors
How well your board of directors functions will have a big impact on your ability to do your job as executive director. You need to know up front...