Nonprofit Boards

If your board is asking, "How can we do this better?", then considering a board self-assessment may be the next step. A board self-assessment is not to evaluate staff or the executive director, rather it is an assessment for the board to look at itself.

From, Starboard Leadership Consulting, here is a list of what a board self-assessment can and cannot do:

Can

• Tell you how the board thinks it is doing at this particular point in time.
• Provide a summary of responses that can serve as a baseline from which to work in your governance improvement efforts.
• Help you begin the essential conversation with your board about its strengths and weaknesses.
• Provide a format for discussing some ongoing issues and concerns (term limits, lack of board support for fundraising, recruitment, etc.).
• Serve as a launching pad for an ongoing governance committee, the development of a governance agenda, and a continuing effort to strengthen your board.

Cannot

• Take the place of an organizational assessment or serve as a vehicle to evaluate the work of the executive director.
• Solve your problems with that "difficult" board member.
• Miraculously transform the board overnight. 

If your board is looking to conduct an independent self-assessment, finding free options can be difficult. Many companies will guide your board through a self-assessment for a fee. Those companies can provide valuable data and guidance but many small nonprofits do not have the budget for a fee-based assessment. For those nonprofits, the following resources can be beneficial.