Nuffield Canada was established in 1950 with money from the original Lord Nuffield endowment, incorporated as a registered not-for-profit in 1986, and became a registered Canadian charity in 2014.

Nuffield has a volunteer Board of Directors that oversees the direction and strategy of the organization. A part-time Executive Director, hired by the Board of Directors, manages day-to-day operations at the direction of the Board.

Nuffield Canada is part of the larger Nuffield International community which includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zimbabwe. Scholarship recipients become a member of the Nuffield alumni, now more than 2,000 strong globally, which interacts to aid development of new scholars and continuing achievement of its alumni.

Nuffield Canada depends on corporate sponsorship and alumni donations to support scholarships and day-to-day operations.