Join a Board
The DiverseCity onBoard board matching service is for groups currently under-represented on not-for-profit boards and public agencies, boards, and commissions of the municipal, provincial and federal governments so that their systemic under-representation in governance can be redressed. In less than a decade, the program has evolved to become the “go-to” program for connecting individuals and organizations seeking diverse leadership.
Why should this interest you?
Serving on a board gives individuals the opportunity to engage at a senior level. Boards become a forum to cultivate new personal and professional networks. DiverseCity onBoard provides training in governance through an online learning campus supplemented with in-person discussions and events.
If you are looking for a way to give back to your community, this is a great opportunity to do so.
The program has facilitated more than 800 board appointments and over 700 organizations and 1,800 individuals are part of its network. Over 1,450 board positions have been posted so far. In 2011, the program was recognized as a leader in its field with an Intercultural Innovation Award by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group.
The program is now available in cities across Canada including Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Greater Toronto Area, Windsor, and Montreal.
Stage One: Registration and Training
- Candidates begin by creating an online profile here. You will be asked to fill out an online form which will help us gain an understanding of your experiences, interests, and competencies.
- Based on where you are located in the operating cities (Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, London & Area, Ottawa, Greater Toronto Area, Windsor, and Montreal), you will be contacted by the participating local organization and scheduled for an interview. This will help us further fill in any gaps in our understanding of your skills and competencies, gain a better sense of your interests and goals in serving on a board, and answer any questions you may have.
- After your interview is complete, you will be invited to take the online governance training. You can do this at your own pace, in your own home. Once you have completed the training (10-12 hrs) learners submit a statement of completion for evaluation. After a review, an online completion award will be issued to you. You will then have access to the board matching service.
- Hurrah! Stage one is now complete.
Stage Two: Matching and follow-up
Your training is complete and you are ready to begin your search for a board opportunity. Through the board matching database you will be able to view available board vacancies, as well as a ranked list of opportunities that have been matched to your profile, experience, and interests.
You will be able to bookmark these positions and communicate with the organization through DiverseCity onBoard either by applying to positions of interest or requesting additional information via email.
The DiverseCity onBoard database is a two-way process:
- Your profile will show a list of available matches, and allow you to directly apply to any positions of interest. Organizations will also be able to view your profile and resume and, if they are interested in you as a potential candidate, they may contact you. We encourage you to be proactive and contact the organization if the position is of interest to you.
- For some postings, you may be asked to fill out an application form for the particular vacancy. In this case, you will deal directly with the board or public agency in question. DiverseCity onBoard staff are there to help facilitate this connection.
- Once you have applied to a position, we very strongly encourage you to inform your local DiverseCity onBoard office. We may be able to offer additional advice and support.
Once you have been appointed (and this may take some time) you must circle back to DiverseCity onBoard to update your profile and modify it to indicate availability or non-availability for further appointments.
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The DiverseCity onBoard board matching service is for individuals who identify as a member of at least one of the following groups:
Our matching program is available to:
- Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples
- LGBT+
- Persons with disabilities*
- Underrepresented immigrants
- Visible Minorities
- Women
*Our governance training modules are compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you are having difficulties accessing the board matching database, please contact [email protected]
We acknowledge that the following terminology may not be representative of all identities. For more information please visit the FAQ section of our website or contact us at [email protected]
Fees for Individuals
Board Matching and Governance Training Subscription:
Fee: $250 Sign up + $75 Annually
Includes:
- Board Matching through My onBoard - a “smart” state of the art and user-friendly board matching database which will match you to open board positions posted by a wide variety of organizations and allow you to apply to them directly
- The DiverseCity onBoard Governance Training Certificate offering 7 online self-paced, interactive, and quality board competencies created by subject matter experts. Read the course overview and meet the faculty.
- Webinars and Case Studies - Access to supplementary online governance training sessions. Learn more about our Webinar Series.
- In person events - Board matching mixers, panel discussions and networking events.
Contact us if fees will inhibit your participation.
