Evaluate Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Board self-assessment helps the board understand its roles and responsibilities, examine its practices and assess how well it is doing, and agree on areas where it seeks improvement or change. It is designed to raise questions and spark dialogue among board members about their performance and priorities.

The board self-assessment process begins with an online survey completed by each board member and the Executive Director. La Piana Consulting compiles the survey results and provides a preliminary summary and analysis of the findings to the board. The final step in the process is a facilitated board discussion and training (typically at a special 2-hour board meeting) that includes the interpretation of these findings, as well as discussion of the key roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board, and how to best fulfill them for the organization.

The survey is organized in sections that cover roles that are critical to a strong and effective board, and provides for feedback on board member perceptions about what the board should be focusing its efforts on now and in the future. The survey sections include:

• Evaluation of the board and organization’s ability to think, plan and act strategically
• Review of the fiscal oversight process of
• Evaluation of  financial resources
• Process of hiring and supporting the  Executive Director
• Assessment of board members serving  as ambassadors to the community
• Evaluation of legal and ethical integrity and  accountability

The self-assessment process, including the survey followed by the facilitated discussion and training session, will assist the board to:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the board, and the particular governance needs of the organization
• Identify key board development needs and priorities; and
• Lay the groundwork for work to strengthen the board in the upcoming year.

Board Development

Boards tend to develop rather organically. However, boards also need to take responsibility for their own growth and development. Crafting a board development process requires attention and thought to the following areas of the board life-cycle.  We can provide assistance in the following areas:

• Crafting Board Responsibilities- Individually and Board Expectations
• Creating Recruiting Process for Perspective Board Members
• Developing Board Orientation Processes
• Board Self and On-going Evaluation
• Board Education and Development Plans
• Creating Board Agendas, Norms, Values and Culture
• Facilitating Board Meetings and Retreats