Governance Reviews ForÂ
Non-Profit Sport Organizations
A structured, sport-specific review that gives your organization a clear picture of where your governance stands – and a prioritized path to make it better.
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WE'RE READY TO GET STARTED
 Is this where your organization is at right now?
Board meetings that last hours and go in circles, with directors who aren’t sure what their role is, and what they’re supposed to leave to staff.
Policies and process that were written years ago (or never written at all), quietly creating friction, frustration and risk that no one wants to take the time to address.
Board and staff leaders who are exhausted from using systems that don’t support them, and are quietly worried that the whole thing depends too heavily on a handful of people.Â
You want governance that makes your leadership work easier, not harder.
Imagine knowing exactly how your organization is governed – and feeling good about it.Â
When roles are clearly defined and everyone understands where the board’s responsibility end and the staff’s begins, decisions get made faster and with less friction. There’s less second-guessing, less stepping on each other’s toes, and more energy directed where it actually belongs – toward the people and the sport you serve.
Board meetings feel different. Instead of wading through operational updates and relitigating decisions, directors show up to lead. They govern with confidence, ask better questions, and leave meetings feeling like their time, and their expertise, was well used.
And underneath all of that is relief. The kind that comes from knowing your organization isn’t held together by only a few exhausted people. That it has structures strong enough to survive transitions, welcome new leaders, and keep moving forward, even when the faces around the table change.
Bringing in an expert to lead your governance review is the most effective way to assess your systems honestly, identify the priorities that will make the biggest difference, and give your board the clarity it needs to lead with confidence.
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I’m Lara, the Owner and Principal Consultant of Spark Solutions.
I help sport organizations reflect on their governance systems, identify what’s getting in the way, and build the structures and processes that let their leaders do their best work, without burning out in the process.
Before consulting, I spent years working inside provincial and national sport organizations, navigating the exact tensions many boards and EDs face today: unclear roles, misaligned expectations, policies that hadn’t kept pace with the organization, and the quiet pressure of knowing too much depended on too few people. Having lived them, I chose to study them.
My master’s research focused specifically on good governance and its influence on capacity in sport organizations, and my consulting work is grounded in that academic foundation and more than fifteen years of hands-on experience across the Canadian sport system. I’ve worked with organizations from over 35 sports, at every level – community clubs, provincial and national sport organizations, municipal recreation, and everything in between.
I know your world. And I know what good governance looks like when it’s working.
Governance Review for Nonprofit Sport Organizations
A structured, expert-led review of your governance systems, from bylaws and policies to board operations and leadership pipelines.
By next quarter, you’ll have:
- A comprehensive picture of where your governance stands across four domains: strategic oversight, governance foundations, board operations, and people and leadership systems.
- A plain-language recommendations report that tells you what’s working, what isn’t, and what to prioritize, so your board can make informed decisions without starting from scratch.
- A governance foundation your organization can build on: clearer roles, stronger processes, and systems designed to support your leaders instead of exhaust them.
The Governance Review
$5,000 + GST
These are the steps we’ll take together:
- Personalized Project Plan - We start with a one-hour kickoff meeting to finalize the project plan, including the timelines, roles, and next steps tailored to your organization. You’ll leave the call knowing exactly what to expect and what’s needed from your team.Â
- Governance Audit – This is the core of the review. Your Project Lead (a small group of board and/or staff leaders) submits information on your organization's current policies, processes, and practices across four domains: Â
- Strategic & operational oversight
- Governance foundations
- Board operations & performance
- People & leadership systems
Board and staff leaders also complete a leadership survey to share their perspectives on what’s working, where the gaps are, and what they think could be stronger. We’ll also attend a board meeting, or review a recording, to observe your meeting process firsthand. A two-hour audit call to gain deeper understanding rounds out the assessment.
- Recommendations Report – Once the audit is complete, we develop a robust current state report that synthesizes everything – survey findings, audit results, and observations – into clear conclusions and prioritized recommendations.
- Board Presentation & Facilitated Discussion – The review closes with a two-hour session where we present the findings to your board and staff leaders and facilitate a discussion to help your board decide which recommendations to prioritize and how to move forward. Â
Lara delivered an exceptional, comprehensive governance review for the PGA of Canada as a subcontractor to Sheffe Consulting. She engaged our Board and key membership representatives with confidence, professionalism, and genuine care, while thoughtfully benchmarking against leading comparable organizations. The final report was outstanding - clear, insightful, and firmly grounded in our organizational reality. I strongly and unequivocally recommend Lara to any sport organization seeking a high-impact, forward-looking governance review.
-— Matt Allen, Chief Innovation Officer, PGA of Canada
Lara led Hockey Manitoba through a comprehensive governance review between December 2024 and February 2025, bringing strong expertise, practical insight, and a clear, structured approach to the work. She has an ability to take complex governance concepts and make them understandable, both at the Board level and across our membership. I would confidently recommend Lara to any organization undertaking governance review or change.
— Boyd Canart, President, Hockey Manitoba
WHO THIS IS FOR
- Your board is working hard but spinning its wheels. Meetings are long, roles are fuzzy, and the same issues keep coming back.
- You’re an ED or CEO who needs a clear, objective picture of how governance is functioning – one you can bring to your board with confidence.
- Your organization is growing, transitioning, or recovering from a difficult period, and you know your governance systems need to catch up.
- You want to reduce the organization’s dependence on a few key people and build something sustainable enough to outlast any one leader.
WHO THIS IS NOT FOR
- You're looking for a quick audit that delivers a checklist without context or recommendations your board can actually use.Â
- You want someone to tell you everything is fine without looking closely enough to know.
- Your board isn't ready to hear honest feedback or have a candid conversation about what needs to change.
- You aren't ready to engage seriously with what comes back, or to commit the time and capacity to act on it.
- You’re expecting a binder on the shelf. This process is designed to prompt real decisions and real change.
Step 1 - Book a Spark Session
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Book a no-obligation call to find out if a governance review is the right fit for your organization right now. Fill out a short intake form to share where things stand, ask questions, and hear more about how the process works.
Step 2 - Review Your Proposal
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You’ll receive a proposal outlining Spark Solutions’ process, timeline, costs, and everything else your board or leadership team needs to review and approve the project.
Step 3 - Begin Your Governance ReviewÂ
Once your organization is ready to move forward, you’ll receive an agreement to sign and we’ll book your kickoff call to get the project underway.
WHY SPARK SOLUTIONS WORKS
A governance review is only as good as the person leading it. Here’s what makes this process worth your organization’s time and investment.
We know your world.
Unlike general nonprofit or management consultants, Spark Solutions understands the nuances of the Canadian sport system: volunteer board dynamics, the ED/board relationship, funding pressures, and the governance expectations that come with operating in this sector. You won’t spend a lot of time bringing us up to speed on your context. We already know it.
Our process goes beyond the documents.
Plans are tailored, action-oriented, and created together. Everyone contributes and owns the plan. The result is a living document that guides decisions rather than collects dust.Â
We work with your board, not just for them.
The governance review doesn’t end with a report dropped in your inbox. It ends with a facilitated session where your board reviews the findings together, asks questions, and makes decisions about what to prioritize. The goal isn’t just to tell you what we found; it’s to help your organization decide what to do about it.
Here are the top questions we receive about governance reviews:
Where do we start?
Book a Spark Session to talk about what your organization is facing. We won’t pressure you to move forward if it’s not the right fit or the right time. We’ll share more about the process and how we’d support your team through it.
Our time is limited and we’re already stretched. How demanding is the process for board or staff?
The process is designed to be thorough without being burdensome. We need enough from your team to build a full, honest picture of how your organization is governed. We've structured it so that contribution is meaningful but manageable. The Project Lead submits audit information and coordinates internally. Board and staff leaders complete a leadership survey. Everyone participates in the two-hour audit call and the final board presentation. Beyond that, we handle the rest.
Is this a fit if our sport organization is very small and informal? What about if we’re only volunteer led and don’t have any staff?
Governance doesn't have to be elaborate to be effective. Every organization benefits from having systems that fit where they're at. If you’re a small or volunteer-only organization, book a no-obligation Spark Session and let’s talk about what’s actually useful for your context.
What makes your approach different from other sport consultants or general nonprofit/management consultants?
Lara brings something most consultants can’t: a governance framework that’s been intentionally designed for the realities of Canadian nonprofit sport, not one adapted from a general nonprofit model or borrowed from the corporate sector. Her master’s research focused specifically on good governance’s impact on capacity in sport organizations, and her consulting experience spans more than 35 sports at every level of the system. She’s also worked inside provincial and national sport organizations, which means she understands the ED/board relationship, the volunteer board dynamic, and the governance pressures of this sector from lived experience – not just from the outside looking in.
Does the governance review include legal or HR expertise?
The governance review is a consulting service, not a legal or human resources service. It assesses your governance systems, identifies gaps, and provides recommendations, but it doesn't constitute legal advice. If the review identifies areas where legal or HR expertise would be valuable, that will be noted in the recommendations report so your organization knows where to seek the right support.
If we invest the resources to hire you, how do we know this plan will actually be used?
That’s the right question to ask. The recommendations report is written in plain language, prioritized, and designed to be decision-ready, not a dense document that requires interpretation. The board presentation and facilitated discussion at the end of the process is specifically designed to help your board move from “here’s what we found” to “here’s what we’re going to do about it.” What happens after that is your organization’s to own, but we set you up to move forward with clarity.
When will I be invoiced?
You’ll receive an invoice at the completion of each step in the project. Payments are tied directly to progress made.
Do you offer support to help us implement the recommendations?
Yes. Many organizations find that having ongoing support after the review is essential. Spark Solutions offers a governance support retainer for organizations that want a consistent, knowledgeable partner to help them work through recommendations, develop or update policies, and build stronger governance practices over time. If that sounds like something your organization would benefit from, it's worth discussing during your Spark Session.
 THE RESULTS YOUR CAN EXPECT
A comprehensive audit of your governance systems across four domains: strategic oversight, governance foundations, board operations, and people and leadership systems.
A clear picture of what’s working, what isn’t, and where the gaps are, grounded in both your documentation and the perspectives of your board and staff leaders. Â
A plain-language recommendations report that prioritizes what to address first, so your board isn’t guessing where to start.
Defined roles and responsibilities that reduce overlap, confusion, and the friction that comes from not knowing who decides what.
Governance systems and processes that support your leaders instead of adding to their load, and that can sustain the organization through leadership transitions.
A board that’s equipped to govern strategically, with the clarity and confidence to lead your organization forward.
Why This Work Matters to Me
For more than fifteen years, my work in nonprofit sport has been shaped by a simple belief: when organizations are well-governed, the people inside them can do their best work, and the communities they serve feel it.
Governance isn’t the most glamorous part of running a sport organization. But it’s the foundation everything else is built on. When it’s working, it’s almost invisible. Decisions get made, roles are clear, leaders feel supported, and the organization moves forward with confidence. When it isn’t working, everyone feels it, even if no one can quite name it.
I’ve sat inside that frustration. I know what it’s like to care deeply about an organization and feel like the systems aren’t keeping up with the people trying to lead it. That experience shapes how I approach every governance review: with honesty, with care, and with a genuine investment in helping your organization find its footing.
It would be an honour to walk alongside you through this process. To help you see your organization clearly, prioritize what matters most, and build a governance foundation your leaders can rely on for years to come.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Book Your Spark Session
Take the first step toward clarity and alignment.
More frequently asked questions:
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Can the process be customized to our organization’s needs?
The governance review framework has been carefully developed to be comprehensive without being overwhelming. That said, every organization is different. Book a Spark Session and let’s talk about what your organization is facing. We’re open to a conversation about how the process can be tailored to fit your situation.
What if our board isn’t sure it’s ready for a governance review?
That uncertainty is actually a good sign as it means your board is being thoughtful. A governance review isn’t a verdict on how well your organization is run. It’s a structured way to understand where you are and build from there. If you’re not sure it’s the right time, book a Spark Session and let’s talk it through together.
What’s the typical timeline?
The governance review takes approximately eight weeks from kickoff to board presentation. The timeline is structured around four clear phases – project launch, audit, report development, and board presentation – so progress feels manageable and purposeful throughout.
Is there flexibility in payment methods?
Absolutely. You can choose the option that works best for your organization, whether that’s electronic transfer, card payment, or traditional cheque.
