The Governance Institute curates leading-edge, comprehensive educational resources and programs for healthcare boards that are tailored to individual needs and accelerate effective governance.

Founded in 1986, The Governance Institute provides in-person and virtual events, publications, tools, and resources for non-profit boards and directors. Founded in San Diego, California, The Governance Institute serves over 12,000 board members, C-suite executives, physician leaders, and governance support professionals through its membership service.

The Governance Institute evolved from an idea to bring together conscientious hospital leaders who recognized boards could perform more effectively if they had effective resources. While founder Charlie Ewell was conducting board retreats and talking with hospital CEOs, he recognized their need to bring education to board members and help their organizations become more effective. Ideas, efficiency, and the market were united to create a unique resource that would launch the healthcare governance education industry.

In 1990, Charlie and his staff hit on an important idea: members needed an opportunity to bring together the board chairperson and the CEO. The tone of that relationship can color the rest of the board’s relationship with the executive team. Charlie invited his subscribers to a quiet weekend to build that bond in November 1990 and started the chair/CEO conference tradition. We expanded this to include physician leaders as part of the three-legged leadership stool and continue to provide tailored programs and resources to this important leadership triad.

In 1994, The Governance Institute conducted the first national survey of hospitals to definitively capture current practices, average expenditures, and other basic information about board structure and operations. A year later, the survey concept was expanded to capture what system boards were doing for the first time. Today, The Governance Institute surveys hospital and health system boards together, every other year, and reports on trends and comparisons related to board structure, culture, and recommended practices.

The late 90s represented exponential growth for The Governance Institute; membership doubled and a new division emerged to serve medical leaders as a distinct but vital factor in excellent healthcare governance. Such success prompted a realization that to continue growing, the organization had to change. Charlie recognized that as the company was on its way to its 15th anniversary, there was more it was capable of providing to the healthcare community than even he had envisioned.

Bookending this exciting period of growth and refinement at The Governance Institute, in 2006 the company sold for the second time to NRC Health (National Research Corporation), a company based in Lincoln, NE, focused on improving the patient experience. Learning from the past and building on a solid foundation, The Governance Institute continued its mission to lead the way for excellence in governance.

In 2024, TGI introduced a new brand that reflects the strength of their legacy and an inspired vision for the future. The new TGI brand:

• Represents a renewed focus on original thinking and ideas, provocative perspectives, and innovative best practices.
• Inspires a vision of TGI as the premier gathering space for healthcare leaders and board members interested in world-class governance and leadership practices.
• Conveys a redoubled commitment to serving healthcare by supporting the leaders and trustees who steward the delivery of high-quality care in their own communities.
• Complements the broader NRC Health brand family and mission of building greater Human Understanding in healthcare.