Status: Volunteer Opportunity
Commitment: 6-8 hours per month, 2-year term, option to renew
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Openings: Multiple
Deadline to apply: December 5th 2025
The Child Development Institute (CDI) is a Canadian charity that has brought hope and built brighter futures for at-risk children and their families since 1909. CDI provides direct services to communities in Toronto and has scaled the delivery of its signature evidence-based programs across Canada and internationally through a growing network of affiliates. Built on a legacy of more than 115 years of helping children and families, CDI is an accredited mental health agency and child care provider that offers evidence-based programs across three primary service streams:
Child and Youth Mental Health Services
Family Violence Services
Early Years and Child Care Services
We are proud to be accredited through the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, a third-party organization that accredits Canadian social service and health care providers based on accepted practices that promote ongoing quality improvement and responsive, effective community services.
The opportunity:
We are seeking passionate, community-minded individuals to join CDI’s volunteer Board of Directors for a two-year term. The Board provides governance oversight and strategic direction for the organization, helping to ensure that CDI continues to deliver inclusive, evidence-based services that make a meaningful difference. Directors serve on a volunteer basis and do not receive compensation or personal benefit for their service.
As a member of CDI’s Board of Directors, you will play an active role in advancing our mission to help children, youth, and families build brighter futures. Your journey will begin with two orientation sessions, including an engaging 90-minute virtual training on Board Governance led by an external expert. From there, you will serve as an informed and committed ambassador for CDI—staying connected to our programs, policies, and the communities we serve. You will champion CDI’s mission and values within your network, contribute your insights to guide strategic decisions, and ensure our work continues to reflect the diverse needs of families and stakeholders.
You will begin by lending your expertise as a community member to one of our Board committees. You are committed and have expertise in one of these four areas:
Finance (Non-Profit Accounting)
Fund Development
Human Resources
Marketing and Communications
In addition to these areas of functional expertise, the Board will prioritize candidates who bring diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences and who reflect the communities and populations served by CDI. CDI is committed to expanding the range of perspectives that inform decisions facing the organization to broaden our impact with children, youth and families.
What’s in it for you?
As a Board member and advocate for CDI’s mission, you will have the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on the lives of children, youth, and families. You will:
Shape the future of children’s mental health and early learning by contributing your insights, expertise, and lived experience to guide CDI’s strategy and growth.
Engage with a passionate and diverse community of leaders and professionals committed to advancing inclusive, evidence-based care that responds to the evolving needs of families.
Gain exposure to innovative, science-informed programs and research, including CDI’s nationally recognized work in measurement-based care, trauma-informed practice, and early childhood development.
Contribute to governance that drives systemic change, ensuring that every child and family has access to equitable, high-quality support.
Grow as a leader by collaborating in a values-driven environment that celebrates curiosity, empathy, and impact.
As a Board member, you will:
Attend all regular meetings of the Board if possible, in person or by telephone or other electronic means, with a minimum of 75% of meetings annually.
Make an annual gift personally or from an affiliated company or foundation.
Represent CDI at external events, where appropriate and required to do so.
Support CDI events to whatever extent possible.
Stay informed of agenda items, read all material in advance and contribute knowledgeably, through thoughtful questions and comments, to the discussion and decisions of the Board.
Participate in orientation meetings and training as a new Board member to become familiar with the corporation’s mission, goals, programs and services and the responsibilities of the Board and individual directors.
Participate as a member of one or more Board committees.
Take on Board leadership responsibilities as requested and when appropriate.
Participate in the annual Board self-review and feedback process that reflects the values and policies of the organisation.
Participate in the annual review of the CEO, led by the Board HR Committee.
Assist in the identification and recruitment of prospective Board and committee members.
Comply with all Board policies, including CDI’s Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy.
Respect confidentiality of issues of a sensitive nature.
Declare any conflict of interest, or potential conflict of interest, including personal, professional or financial, to the Board Chair at the first available opportunity and communicate to the Board Chair and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee if circumstances change that might affect the “independence” of the director.
Remain independent and act personally and not as a representative of any group or organisation.
Effectively apply your knowledge, experience and expertise to issues facing CDI.
Be available to provide advice and counsel to the CEO or other senior management upon request.
Develop an understanding of corporate governance and risk management strategies.
Not become directly involved in operational decisions and matters that have been properly delegated to staff.
Respect that employees and the senior management team report to the CEO and not to the Board or individual directors.
Be a resource to CDI staff, as requested by the CEO.
What you bring:
High ethical standards and an alignment with CDI's core values.
The ability to exercise independent judgement. You are unafraid to take a stand and defend your perspective.
You communicate with clarity and effectiveness, valuing the importance of active listening. As someone who embodies courtesy and honesty in all interactions, you can pose challenging questions and collaborate with colleagues to resolve differences.
Strong leadership skills and the ability to think strategically and creatively, contributing innovative perspectives.
The following are required to fulfil the director’s duties and obligations:
In accordance with the Canada Not-for Profit Corporations Act, you must be an individual eighteen or more years of age; must not have been declared incapable by any court; have the status of a bankrupt; be an ineligible individual as defined in the Income-tax Act (Canada); or be a paid employee of the corporation.
All board members must also complete a Vulnerable Sector Check
Apply now
If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications are strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole application.
What you can expect from our Volunteer Board Member interview process:
A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor will provide an opportunity to discuss your experience and interest in joining CDI’s Board of Directors. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool, and additional details will be shared when you are invited to interview. Initial interviews are expected to conclude by mid-January.
A virtual interview with members of the Board. This discussion will offer a deeper look at the role and responsibilities of a Board member, as well as an opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more about CDI’s work and impact. These interviews will be completed by the end of February, with final decisions communicated by mid-March
CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at careers@childdevelop.ca
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