Governance & Planning

We support organizational leaders to bring governance, strategy, and philanthropy into focus so purpose is clear, direction is shared, and the entire organization is ready to take the next step together. 

Strategic Planning Support The Discovery Group

How Do We Help?

We help organizations align their strategy with the scale of their mission, turning ambitious goals into strategic plans.

Through thoughtful planning and alignment of governance, we work with leaders and boards in setting priorities, clarifying roles, and making informed decisions.

Our work delivers more than a plan. It provides a clear path forward, with the tools and measures needed to grow while staying aligned to your mission.

What Sets Us Apart

As trusted partners to Canadian social profit organizations, we believe strategy and governance are most powerful when they are practical, inclusive, and rooted in purpose.

What We Offer

Our team brings both lived experience and a broad view of the sector, allowing us to understand context and tailor approaches to each organization. 

Our Process

We discover, synthesize, align, and activate; clarifying direction and turning insight into actionable steps through a collaborative, practical, tailored approach for organizations.

Governance & Planning Services

          –          Operational Direction Setting          –          Board Engagement and Planning          –          Strategic Planning          –          Board Evaluation and Governance Reviews          –          Board Recruitment          –          Board Retreats          –          Annual Planning          –          Organizational Audits          –          Co-Designed Services 

          –          Operational Direction Setting          –          Board Engagement and Planning          –          Strategic Planning          –          Board Evaluation and Governance Reviews          –          Board Recruitment          –          Board Retreats          –          Annual Planning          –          Organizational Audits          –          Co-Designed Services 

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Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is more than setting objectives. It is an opportunity to clarify purpose, strengthen relationships, and define your unique role in the community. 

Our co-designed planning processes result in: 

  • a clear and actionable strategic plan that is approved and supported by your board  
  • defined strategic priorities and objectives that can be translated into action  
  • an aligned and engaged board and leadership team 
  • a framework for accountability and annual review 

Business Planning

Putting a strategic plan into action requires a business plan that engages staff and provides a clear roadmap for the path forward.  

We provide guidance and facilitation to activate your strategic plan through operational planning, staff engagement, board alignment, and partner communications. 

Board Engagement and Leadership Alignment

Strong alignment between board and leadership is essential for success. When roles are clear and engagement is high, organizations make better decisions and create greater impact. 

We help leaders build effective, well-structured boards through: 

  • education on governance and fiduciary roles 
  • facilitation that strengthens collaboration and trust 
  • practical frameworks for oversight and strategic input 

Board Evaluation

A well-functioning board drives organizational performance. Our independent evaluations provide valuable insights on culture, board effectiveness, and governance practices. 

Boards gain: 

  • clarity on strengths and opportunities for improvement 
  • a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities 
  • priorities for both short- and long-term development 
  • renewed alignment between board and management 

Governance Reviews

In many organizations, strategy evolves faster than structure. We help align governance with your strategic direction by reviewing board composition, committee mandates, policies, and decision-making frameworks. 

The result is a governance model that reflects your organization’s growth and ambition. 

Strategic Counsel

For organizations navigating change or implementing ambitious strategies, we provide ongoing strategic counsel on a monthly basis.

Through regular communication with leadership and staff we can provide: 

  • support for engagement with board and key partners 
  • guidance to maintain alignment and momentum 
  • strategic counsel to help leaders stay focused, adaptive, and accountable as they move their mission forward. 

Board Recruitment

We help organizations assess board composition, identify gaps, and recruit members whose skills, experience, and values align with your strategy. 

Our support ranges from designing recruitment frameworks and policies to assisting with candidate identification and onboarding. 

Board Retreats

A well-planned retreat can strengthen alignment, build shared language, and renew focus. We support agenda design and facilitation so that board and leadership teams make the most of their time together and leave with clarity and commitment. 

Co-Designed Services

Every organization’s context is unique. We work with clients to design services that meet their specific needs, whether exploring an amalgamation, navigating transitions, or undertaking organizational change. 

 
 

Our Strategic Planning & Governance practice is delivered by our team of consultants who specialize in helping organizations build effective boards and develop strategies that match the ambition of their purpose.

Behind every governance engagement is the strength of our entire integrated team. We draw on the collective brain across The Discovery Group team, allowing us to seamlessly bring together the specialized knowledge and skills as each unique situation requires. We believe the strongest governance solutions emerge when knowledge flows freely among all of our team members.

Our Integrated Approach
Governance rarely exists in isolation. We integrate our services across strategic planning and governance, campaign and fundraising counsel, executive search, and executive coaching to create tailored solutions that address your organization's unique needs. Whether your governance work connects to a leadership transition, a capital campaign, or broader strategic planning, we bring the right combination of expertise to support your success.

The TDG team is highly respected for their knowledge and experience and the facilitation of Board engagement was a benefit as they set out a good, smooth process, managed people well, and we got the outcomes we were looking for as they helped kick us off at the right place.

Michael McKnight, President & CEOUnited Way British Columbia

It was a pleasure working with The Discovery Group on this project. Their support and expertise truly assisted us in helping to more clearly define the role of our department, not only in the current moment, but to envision what we can be in the future. Their final report included a framework for decision-making, provided clarity relative to roles and resources, as well as practical guidance for future departmental development and visioning. We appreciated the time and care from all TDG members involved in the process to make sure our objectives were clear and that we felt supported from start to finish.

Sue PorterDirector of Ceremonies and Events

Building Roadmaps Through Strategy and Aligned Governance

We help our clients build clear strategies and strong governance to support sustainable growth.

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