There are times in the life of every nonprofit board when things are bogged down. Perhaps there has been a change in leadership, bringing with it a new direction. Meetings are dull and routine, many board members resist fundraising, and it is not providing strategic direction to your organization. How does one solve that problem, prevalent in so many organizations? The best way is to have your board self-identify what are its strengths and weaknesses. Then they can begin to address the issues with a laser-like focus, and they will be excited because they have all contributed to this new plan.

The best way to do this is with a Board Self-Assessment for non-profits (BSA), which I conduct, collaborating with BoardSource. The BSA lays a foundation for setting development priorities and motivating board members—individually and collectively—to strengthen the full board’s governance performance and practices.

The online survey covers board practices and policies plus nine areas of board responsibility: mission, strategy, funding and public image, board composition, program oversight, financial oversight, CEO oversight, board structure and board meetings. This easy, online assessment process has taken the hassle out of conducting and participating in an assessment.

Performance of the Board

All board members and the chief executive will be asked to assess the board’s performance by answering a series of questions based on recognized responsibilities of nonprofit boards. These questions are organized into the 4 broad categories and 10 subsections:

  1. The People: Board Composition, Structure, and Meetings
  2. The Culture: Leadership Culture and Dynamics
  3. The Work: Board Leadership Responsibilities
  4. The Impact: Perceptions of the Board’s Impact on Organizational Performance

Confidentiality – Individual answers will be kept confidential and are submitted directly to BoardSource. Only aggregate answers are shared with your board via a summary report which I will deliver and interpret for the board.

Don’t miss a golden opportunity to revitalize your board and get them re-engaged. Strong, involved board governance is the key to your organization’s future. To learn more about this amazing tool, call or write me, and I’ll send you samples of the survey.