sharonbroughton.com
Creating impact for causes that matter
Strategy, Governance and Interim Leadership
Mission
impact through intention and action
Just as a stone skipping across a lake creates an ever-widening ripple effect into the distance, so too can effective leaders serve as catalysts, creating lasting positive impact for people and causes through their strategic, intentional, and empowering focus and actions.
My consulting practice supports leaders and organizations in the social impact sector to make a difference in the areas that matter most.
I bring more than two decades of executive leadership experience at the local, national and international level, and possesses an education, teaching and volunteer background focused on strategy, governance and leadership excellence.
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Purpose
I provide strategic leadership support for nonprofits facing growth, change, and transition.
If you are a nonprofit leader looking to align your board and leadership team; navigate executive transition smoothly; reduce organizational friction; improve board effectiveness; and/or build confidence during change, I invite you to explore my services and book a Leadership Consultation.
Sharon Broughton
Values
Learning for life
Learning to lead never stops, fueled by adaptation to changing contexts, reflection, renewal, refinement and resilience.
Lift others up
Develop and harness leadership potential in others, foster growth and empowerment and contribute to the long-term impact of the sector.
Courage, curiosity and collaboration
Create environments of trust to be brave, ask questions, challenge assumptions and work together for change.
Services
I provide the following supports and services to charitable, non-profit and social impact organizations.
Capacity+
Executive expertise to expand strategic capacity and deliver results for social purpose organizations+more
Change & Transition
Projects and initiatives that support organizational change and renewal, succession planning, talent development and training. + more
Governance
Helping leaders strengthen Board effectiveness through governance best practices, policy development and coaching. +more
Leadership Development
Tailored, intentional leadership development programs support nonprofit leaders committed to deepening the impact of their work and their teams. + more
30%
of nonprofit leaders lack confidence in their strategy.
In the realm of social impact, strategy plays a pivotal role in determining the effectiveness and long-term success of initiatives.
According to Forbes, it is critical to the success of a nonprofit’s strategic plan that a neutral, outside consultant facilitate the process.
Our strategic services have proven to be highly effective.
56%
of nonprofits report Governance challenges.
According to the Stanford Survey on Leadership and Management in the Nonprofit Sector, over half of nonprofits report challenges with board governance.
Overtasked nonprofit leaders benefit from sector-specific consultants who can vet their current governance, close any gaps, and help them confidently move forward.
84%
of nonprofits are experiencing increased costs.
According to the Ontario Nonprofit Network’s (ONN) 2025 survey report, a significant majority of nonprofits are experiencing increased costs and 76% report increases in salaries and benefits.
This indicates a need for streamlining while increasing capacity wherever possible. Many are turning to interim consultants rather than additional full-time staff as a cost-effective solution.
organizations I HAVE WORKED WITH
My associates and I are flexible and work with small, medium and larger organizations, at all stages of the non-profit life cycle. Our ‘ideal client’ is not dependent on the size of their operation, but rather on matching the kinds of supports and services they need and ensuring a good fit.
Testimonials
Recent feedback:
Additional, service-specific testimonials are included on each of our services pages.
Powerful and visionary guidance
“Sharon is a powerful and visionary force for compassionate and heart-centered service. She is warmly nurturing of every project she supports. She is the kind of leader, coach, and mentor that every organization needs. You can depend on her. She makes things better in ways that matter to all of us. I can’t imagine working without her behind us and and I wouldn’t want to.” +more
– Usha Tamba Dhar
Chief Impact Officer – Excellence in Literacy Foundation, Ashoka Fellow
Sharon gave the Board peace of mind
“As Interim Executive Director, Sharon set the benchmark for impactful interim leadership.
She brought strategic executive experience, quickly stabilizing and earning the trust of the team, identifying risks and establishing a pragmatic action plan. She deftly built relationships with key external stakeholders, serving as a credible liaison and sustaining their confidence in our organization.” +more
– Ryan Wiley, PhD
CEO ShiftHealth, Chair, Board of Directors – Amref Health Africa in Canada
A tremendous strategic impact
“Sharon’s leadership, guidance and support to our strategic planning has been essential in building out our plans. She ensured we kept our eye on the big impact we want to make as leaders of the social connection movement in Canada, and guided us to create our new vision, mission and framework that sets us up for incredible impact as we build a more connected Canada one face-to-face conversation at a time.” +more
– Pete Bombaci
Founder and CEO – The Genwell Project
Invested in leadership development for the next generation of non-profit leaders
University of Toronto
I have been teaching the Non-Profit Leadership, Strategy and Change course within the University of Toronto’s Certificate program in Non-profit Leadership for Impact since its inception. The course focuses on how to engage, inspire and influence staff, volunteer boards and stakeholders to achieve strategic results; to consider key trends influencing the Canadian non-profit sector; how to develop strategy and influence systems; and how to create a roadmap for ongoing leadership development.
Latest articles:
Capacity+ is a new service that supports nonprofit and social impact sector leaders by providing executive expertise to expand strategic capacity and deliver high-value results.
Land Acknowledgement
Based in Toronto, Ontario, I am grateful to live, work, learn and play on the traditional, ancestral, and treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat Peoples. These lands are now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Tkaronto is the Mohawk word for “the place in the water where the trees are standing,” a place now commonly known as Toronto, and covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
As a settler whose family came to this land as farmers in the 19th century, I recognize I have a responsibility to care for, respect and honour this land. In our consulting practice, we recognize our responsibility to move forward in reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and to work actively towards decolonization. We understand that reconciliation is a journey and way of life requiring learning and ongoing action, and that we are all Treaty people.
– Sharon Broughton