Survey

Structure

The role and responsibilities of Board members are clear; board members know what is expected of them.

The Board has the right number of meetings per year.

The Board has appropriate input into setting agenda items for the meetings.

The Board has the right committees.

Board members have adequate input regarding their committee assignments.

Information

The Board receives relevant and timely information about meeting agendas and logistics.

The Board receives adequate and timely pre-reading materials, including budget and financial reports when appropriate, in advance of Board meetings.

Presentations by officers and staff at Board meetings are data-driven, accurate, and unbiased.

Board receives appropriate, responsive, and timely follow-up from staff in response to issues raised by Board.

The subjects covered at Board meetings are the right subjects.

Dynamics

The Board adequately monitors financial performance during the year.

All board members participate in important board discussions

We do a good job encouraging and dealing with different points of view.

Board creates a culture of accountability, for itself and for management, and evaluates both on an annual basis.

Board is both appropriately challenging of, and supportive of, staff.

Board Health

Board members are engaged passionate and unguarded in their discussion of issues.

Board members know what their peers are working on and how they contribute to the collective good of the team.

Meetings are compelling, not boring.

Board members leave meetings confident that their peers are completely committed to the decisions that were agreed on, even if there was initial disagreement.

During meetings, the most important—and difficult—issues are put on the table to be resolved.

Board members are deeply concerned about the prospect of letting down their peers.

Board members have adequate opportunity to build personal connections.

Board members end discussions with clear and specific resolutions and calls to action.

Board members are comfortable in challenging one another to take advantage of the diverse perspectives.

The Business

Our organization has a three to five-year strategic plan or a set of clear long-range goals and priorities.

The board’s meeting agenda clearly reflects our strategic plan or priorities.

There is a clear understanding of where the board’s role ends and the Executive Director’s begins.

The board trusts the judgment of the Executive Director

The board gives direction to staff on how to achieve the goals primarily by setting or referring to policies.

Open ended question – what is the biggest single opportunity for the board to focus improvements?