United Way of Greater Toronto Governance Review

The Client
United Way of Greater Toronto (UWGT) is an incorporated non-profit charity focused on improving the long-term health of the Greater Toronto community. It runs Canada's largest annual fundraising campaign in support of 200 social service agencies, providing a vital network of support for people in the community.

A volunteer Board of Trustees, made up of leading community members, governs all United Way decision-making. The board oversees how donor money is used, shapes UWGT¹s strategic vision and plan, and monitors organizational performance.

The Challenge
In 2003, UWGT¹s strategic planning process resulted in an expansion of its mandate to include playing more of a convening and community capacity building role, while continuing its traditional role of raising funds to support its member agencies. The board wanted to ensure that it had the governance mechanisms and processes in place needed to provide effective stewardship and oversight in support of this new strategic direction. The board also was interested in looking at its size and structure to identify any changes needed to achieve the appropriate balance between board effectiveness and inclusiveness.

How KTA Helped
KTA was asked to undertake the governance review for UWGT. Working closely with the Board Development Committee, KTA led a facilitated process over several months that included interviewing all trustees and senior managers, developing and proposing options for possible changes based on best practices and the specific needs of UWGT, and facilitating board sessions to gather feedback from directors on the proposed changes.

What We Delivered
As a result of the governance review, UWGT made a number of significant changes to its governance structure and processes. The board approved a new policy clarifying the role and responsibilities of the board and individual trustees, a new committee structure, and a plan to reform the size and composition of the board. The governance review also initiated the board¹s development of accountability and diversity statements and follow-on work by the Board Development Committee to improve trustee recruitment, orientation and development.