Nonprofit Board Self-Assessment Template (Free)

A board that does not assess itself cannot improve. This sounds obvious, but fewer than 40% of nonprofit boards conduct regular self-assessments (BoardSource, Leading with Intent). The rest operate on assumptions about their effectiveness that are frequently wrong.

After three decades of facilitating board assessments for nonprofits of every size, I can tell you that the assessment itself is valuable -- but what happens afterward determines whether it was worth the time.

Board Self-Assessment Template

Instructions

Each board member completes this assessment individually and anonymously. Responses are aggregated and presented to the full board for discussion and action planning.

Rating Scale:

5 = Strongly Agree
4 = Agree
3 = Neutral / Unsure
2 = Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

Section 1: Mission and Strategic Direction

#	Statement	Rating
1.1	The board has a clear understanding of the organization's mission	___
1.2	The board has approved a current strategic plan	___
1.3	The board regularly monitors progress toward strategic goals	___
1.4	Board decisions are guided by the mission and strategic plan	___
1.5	The board ensures programs and services align with the mission	___

Section 2: Financial Oversight

#	Statement	Rating
2.1	The board reviews financial statements at every meeting	___
2.2	Board members understand the financial statements they receive	___
2.3	The board approves an annual budget before the fiscal year begins	___
2.4	The board monitors budget-to-actual performance regularly	___
2.5	The board ensures adequate financial controls are in place	___
2.6	The board reviews and accepts the annual audit or financial review	___

Section 3: Fund Development

#	Statement	Rating
3.1	Every board member makes a personal financial contribution	___
3.2	Board members actively participate in fundraising activities	___
3.3	The board has approved a fund development plan	___
3.4	The board ensures diversified revenue sources	___
3.5	Board members open doors to potential donors and funders	___

Section 4: Board Composition and Recruitment

#	Statement	Rating
4.1	The board reflects the diversity of the community served	___
4.2	Board members bring the skills and expertise needed	___
4.3	The board has an effective recruitment process	___
4.4	New members receive adequate orientation	___
4.5	Term limits are enforced and succession is planned	___

Section 5: Board Operations

#	Statement	Rating
5.1	Board meetings are well-organized and productive	___
5.2	Meeting agendas focus on governance, not management	___
5.3	All board members participate actively in discussions	___
5.4	Board members come to meetings prepared	___
5.5	Committees function effectively and report to the full board	___
5.6	The board makes decisions efficiently	___

Section 6: Executive Director Oversight

#	Statement	Rating
6.1	The board has a healthy working relationship with the ED	___
6.2	The board conducts an annual performance evaluation of the ED	___
6.3	The board sets clear expectations and goals for the ED	___
6.4	Board members respect the boundary between governance and management	___

Section 7: Legal and Ethical Compliance

#	Statement	Rating
7.1	The board has adopted and enforces a conflict of interest policy	___
7.2	Board members understand their fiduciary duties	___
7.3	The organization files all required reports on time (Form 990, state filings)	___
7.4	The board regularly reviews organizational policies	___

Section 8: Open-Ended Questions

What is the board's greatest strength?
What is the board's most significant area for improvement?
What is one specific thing the board should start doing?
What is one specific thing the board should stop doing?
Additional comments or concerns:

How to Implement the Assessment

Step 1: Decide on Timing

Annual assessments are the standard. Schedule 6-8 weeks before the annual meeting or board retreat so results can inform planning.

Step 2: Distribute and Collect

Use an anonymous survey tool (Google Forms, SurveyMonkey). Give board members 2 weeks to complete. Send one reminder.

Step 3: Aggregate Results

Calculate average scores for each statement and each section. Identify the highest-rated and lowest-rated items. Compile open-ended responses (anonymized).

Step 4: Present and Discuss

Dedicate 60-90 minutes at a board meeting or retreat to review results. Focus on:

Areas of agreement (high scores or low scores with consensus)
Areas of divergence (some members rate high, others rate low)
Themes from open-ended responses

Step 5: Create an Action Plan

Select 2-3 specific improvements based on assessment results. For each:

Define the improvement goal
Assign responsibility
Set a timeline
Identify success measures

Do not try to fix everything at once. Two or three meaningful improvements per year compound into a dramatically better board over time.

Interpreting Results

Strong Areas (Average 4.0+)

Celebrate these. Acknowledge what the board does well. Ensure these strengths are maintained.

Growth Areas (Average 2.5-3.9)

These are improvement opportunities. Prioritize the ones that most directly affect organizational effectiveness.

Critical Weaknesses (Average Below 2.5)

These require immediate attention. Financial oversight, legal compliance, or executive oversight scores below 2.5 represent governance risk.

Divergent Scores

When some members rate an item at 4-5 and others rate it at 1-2, there is a perception gap. This often indicates that some members are uninformed or disengaged. Address through better communication, not just better performance.

Tangible Takeaway

Conduct a board self-assessment at your next annual meeting or retreat. Use this template as your starting point. The three most revealing sections: financial oversight (do members actually understand the statements they approve?), fund development (is every member giving and fundraising?), and board operations (are meetings productive or ceremonial?). Select your two weakest areas and build a specific improvement plan with assigned responsibility and a deadline. Boards that assess and act improve. Boards that assess and file the results do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should assessment results be shared with staff? Share themes and improvement commitments. Detailed scores are for the board's internal use. Transparency about what the board is working to improve builds staff confidence.

What if members are reluctant to participate? Frame it as a governance best practice, not a critique. Anonymous responses reduce anxiety. Start with the board chair modeling openness to feedback.

How do we handle very negative feedback? Resist the urge to dismiss or identify the source. Negative feedback is data. If multiple members share a concern, it is real and needs attention.

Should we use an external facilitator? For the first assessment or when results reveal significant issues, an external facilitator brings objectivity and helps navigate difficult conversations. For routine annual assessments, internal facilitation works.

How does this differ from individual board member evaluations? Board self-assessment evaluates the board as a collective body. Individual evaluations assess each member's contribution. Both are important and serve different purposes.

What if the board chair scores poorly on leadership items? Handle with discretion. A conversation between the chair and the governance committee chair is appropriate. External coaching may be valuable.

About the Author

Drew Giddings is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Giddings Consulting Group, with more than 30 years of experience in board development, governance assessment, and organizational development.

Contact Giddings Consulting Group to discuss board assessment facilitation, governance improvement, or board development for your nonprofit.

Board Self-Assessment Template: How Nonprofits Evaluate Governance Effectiveness

Key Takeaways