The Maine Association of Nonprofits has perfectly summed up the critical importance of regular self-assessments for boards:
A strong, vibrant board of directors is a clear indicator of a healthy organization. Yet even the best organizations need a periodic check-up to ensure that they cannot just survive but will really thrive in today’s environment. To check your board’s vital signs, or to put in place practices and strategies for a healthy and energized board, the best place to start is with a board self-assessment.
Practice Pointers
As a board, grapple with two fundamental questions: "Why does this nonprofit exist?" and "How can our board help advance the mission?" to focus the board before engaging in a self-assessment process.
Self-assessments may feel threatening to some board members, and getting buy-in to devote time to the process may itself take some time.
Resources
- Board Self-Assessment tool [4] and link to free guide Is Your Board Ready for Self-Assessment? (Maine Association of Nonprofits)
- The New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits offers an online Board Self-Assessment Questionnaire [5] that is an easy-to-use and objective self-evaluation tool. Online administration of the tool is available at no cost to members of the NH Center for Nonprofits. Other nonprofits pay a small administrative fee.
- Nonprofit Board Self-Assessment Tool (free) [6](McKinsey & Company)
- Sample self-appraisals [7] for the board as a whole and individual board members (Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability)
- Sucessful board self-assessments [8] (BoardSource)
- Tip sheet for encouraging candid conversations with the board [9] (National Council of Nonprofits)
- Individual Board Member Self Evaluation [10]
- Learn about the various self-assessment tools [11]available for-purchase through BoardSource [12] (discounts for members of state associations may apply).
- Does size matter [13]? (BoardSource)