Good governance practices:
- Advance an organization’s mission and strengthen its ability to achieve its vision.
- Provide a framework for accountability and support the staff and Board of Directors to actively fulfill their obligations to the community and their cause.
- Circumvent time wasted that could be better directed toward making change in the world.
“The role of governance in a nonprofit organization is to provide stewardship, sensemaking and foresight that advance its purpose. Governance leadership takes responsibility for building and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence in the organization’s integrity, legitimacy and viability.”
Ontario Non-Profit Network (ONN)
My services in the area of Governance:
Learning Sessions for Boards of Directors about best practices in nonprofit governance and the role and function of the Board overall, tailored to your context.
Governance policy review and development, including updating existing policies and Terms of Reference, identifying gaps and developing new policies, ensuring compliance with the Imagine Standards program and best practices in Board governance, and reviewing CEO performance evaluation policies, processes and measurement.
Governance coaching for CEOs/Executive Directors. Supporting leaders to improve Board effectiveness, addressing emerging issues and specific governance situations, and identifying areas where governance practices can be strengthened.
Board and Committee meeting improvements, including aligning agendas to strategy, strengthening Board briefing materials, drafting Board reports and briefing documents, and use of Board portals to improve volunteer experience.
Board renewal, including Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, Board evaluation and Board Director recruitment and succession planning.
Depth of Experience
“The added value I provide stems from my experience as a CEO who reported to Boards of Directors and led the accreditation process for the Imagine Canada Standards Program; as a volunteer Board member who chairs governance committees and supports the development and renewal of Board policy; as an Instructor of the University of Toronto SCS Nonprofit leadership certificate program, which includes a board governance focus; and as a Mentor to current and former students and non-profit CEOs facing governance challenges.”
– Sharon Broughton
Testimonials
Usha Tamba Dhar, Chief Impact Officer – Excellence in Literacy Foundation, Ashoka Fellow
“I met Sharon in 1994 when our organization submitted a grant application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation. At that time, Sharon was the manager for our grant – one of the first in our organization’s history. My first conversation with Sharon was unforgettable. She generously shared boundless encouragement, joy, wisdom, and offered genuine I’m-not-just-saying-this support. Sharon loves this planet of ours and the people on it. Thirty years later, her kindness remains one of the pillars of our organization’s strength, and of my career. As a young woman working in the charitable sector, I remember thinking of Sharon, ‘This is how I want to lead.‘
Sharon joined the Excellence in Literacy Foundation’s Board in 2005. As a governance leader, Sharon saw our organization through our early years. She skillfully helped alchemize dreams into impactful change. Sharon continued to provide flawless coaching as we grew our work and scaled our programs.
When we recently faced the threat of closure, as small charities often do, Sharon had the kind of faith in our organization that made our team feel we could do anything. So, we did. We made it through.
Katie Taylor, Board Chair, Upstream Ottawa
“I had the pleasure of working with Sharon during a period when Upstream was rethinking aspects of its governance and operations. She brought clarity and structure to our discussions, supporting me as Board Chair with insightful advice and concrete resources, such as policies and a well-designed Executive Director job description. Her ability to combine strategic perspective with practical solutions was invaluable in strengthening our organization.”
Michelle Capobianco, CEO – Pancreatic Cancer Canada
“Our organization was at a crucial expansion point and Sharon’s assistance was invaluable. She played a key consulting role on several important governance initiatives, providing strategic guidance to the Board and senior team. This work included researching and advising on cross-border considerations as we expanded into the US market and her thorough and thoughtful research and insightful issue assessment was followed by an effective presentation to the Board. This resulted in unanimous support and an actionable plan to move us forward. The Board found her to be a strategic expert who worked exceptionally well with the senior management team. We have greatly enjoyed working with Sharon and plan to do so again.”
Elisabeth Baugh, CEO (retired), Ovarian Cancer Canada and Past Chair, World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
“As a colleague and mentor, Sharon’s advice on issues related to Boards and governance has been invaluable to me. From practical situations to policy issues, her experience, knowledge, and insights helped me problem-solve and navigate tricky waters.”