A Better Governance Review for Nonprofit Sport

Many organizations seek out a governance review because things feel harder than they should. Meetings run long, roles seem fuzzy, policies feel like the elephant in the room because they haven't been updated in years. There's a general feeling that things could improve, but it's not clear where to start.

For others, the end is defined. The board and staff want to take the organization from an operational board to a governance board. Or, the board wants to clarify roles. It's the path on how to get there that's unclear.

And for others, things are actually going pretty well. A general checkup is ordered, to see what can be enhanced.

For each of these cases, this is exactly what a governance review is designed to address. And after working through governance reviews with organizations across the Canadian sport sector, we've made some updates to our process.

What Is a Governance Review?

A governance review is a structured, expert-led assessment of how your organization is governed. It looks at the systems, policies, and practices that shape how your board functions. It identifies what's working, what isn't, and where the biggest opportunities for improvement are. A governance review makes the invisible visible, and gives your leadership team a clear, prioritized picture of what to do next.

Why We Updated the Process

We've evolved our process for two reasons:

1. We understand that board volunteers and staff leaders alike are short on time. The updated process allows leaders to focus in on the areas where they will have the most impact.
2. We've separated the diagnosis from the subsequent treatment. Without the results of the governance review, determining the appropriate course of action was guesswork. As a result, it was difficult to provide an accurate budget and realistic timelines for execution.

Here's what the process looks like now.

The Four Steps of a Spark Solutions Governance Review

The full process takes approximately eight weeks. It's structured deliberately so that your team always knows what's happening, what's coming next, and what's needed from you.

Step 1: Project Kickoff
Every review begins with a one-hour kickoff call. We use this time to tailor the project plan — timelines, roles, and next steps — for your organization. You also identify your Project Lead: the person (or small group) who will coordinate your team's contributions throughout the review. After this, we move into the audit.

Step 2: The Governance Audit
The audit has four components that, together, build a complete picture of how your organization is governed:

• The Assessment: Your Project Lead submits information across four domains. We provide the question guide and ask clear questions and guidance on what documents to gather.
• The Leadership Survey: Key leaders complete a short survey to share their perspectives on what's working, where the gaps are, and what they think could be stronger.
• Board Meeting Observation: We attend a board meeting or review a recording to observe your governance in practice.
• The Audit Call: We conclude the audit with a two-hour conversation with the Project Lead and key leaders to go deeper into context and nuance.

The four domains of the assessment are the lens through which your governance is examined:

1. Strategic & Operational Oversight: How your organization plans, monitors performance, manages risk, and oversees finances.
2. Governance Foundations: The policies, bylaws, and procedures that form the structural backbone of your governance.
3. Board Operations & Performance: How your board actually functions — meetings, decision-making, culture, and self-evaluation.
4. People & Leadership Systems: How your organization recruits, develops, and supports its leaders, both on the board and in the ED/CEO role.

Step 3: The Recommendations Report
Once the audit is complete, we synthesize everything into a clear, plain-language report. It describes the current state, draws honest conclusions, and presents prioritized recommendations.

Step 4: Board Presentation and Facilitated Discussion
The review closes with a two-hour session with your board and staff leaders. We present the findings, walk through the recommendations, and facilitate a discussion to help your team discuss how to proceed.

The End Result
At the end of the governance review, your organization will have a clear picture of its strengths, its gaps, and its priorities for moving forward. From there, you can choose to tackle the work on your own, or you can choose to continue receiving support through our Governance Support Retainer.

Is a Governance Review Right for Your Organization?

It tends to be a fit when your board is working hard but not quite governing — when the same issues keep resurfacing and you don't seem to be making any progress. Or when your organization is going through a significant transition and your governance systems need to catch up. Or, when you need a clear, objective picture of where things are at.

It's not a fit if your board isn't ready to hear honest feedback, or if you're not prepared to engage seriously with what comes back. This process is designed to prompt real decisions. That takes a certain kind of readiness, and it's okay if the timing isn't right yet.

The Next Step Is a Conversation

If you've been wondering whether a governance review is the right move for your organization, the place to start is a Spark Session — a no-obligation call to talk through your reasons for reaching out, ask questions, and figure out whether this is the right fit right now.

Book a Spark Session and let's talk about what clearer, stronger governance could look like for your organization.