The Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP) conducted a survey to review governance practices across the Canadian charitable sector. The survey delved into board effectiveness in relation to the fulfillment of governance responsibilities, engagement in governance activities, and founder involvement. CICP concluded the survey by asking organizations to share what changes they perceive could help improve the effectiveness of their board and its ability to support the organization’s mission.
Survey Highlights:
Board effectiveness:
- 27% of organizations say their board is very effective in fulfilling its governance responsibilities
- 49% say it’s somewhat effective
- 14% describe their board as ineffective or very ineffective
Board diversity:
- 25% of respondents say their board closely reflects the diversity of their community
- 55% say somewhat, while 14% say not well
- 5% indicate that diversity is not a priority in board recruitment
Governance in action:
In the past two years, charity boards have:
- Revised policies or bylaws (62%)
- Expanded efforts to recruit underrepresented voices (34%)
- Implemented board training (32%)
- Conducted a skills or diversity assessment (28%)
- Developed succession plans (26%)
However, 22% reported no major governance changes at all.
Founder involvement:
42% of organizations say their founder is no longer involved, but:
- 12% report that the founder is still the executive director or CEO
- Others hold board, staff, or informal advisory roles
According to the CICP survey findings, the sector is actively navigating governance demands while striving for greater representation and sustainable leadership. To access the full report, click here.