Board Self-Assessment Tool
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, there is not a
better diagnostic tool than the Board Self-Assessment Survey.
What is MANP’s
board self-assessment tool?
How can a board self-assessment help my board?
How do I know if it is time to conduct a board self-assessment?
What roles and responsibilities of the board
are included in the assessment?
How will we go about interpreting the results
of the self-assessment?
Why should I use MANP’s
tools when assessing my Board?
How do I order a board self-assessment?
What is MANP’s board self-assessment tool?
MANP’s new Board Self-Assessment Survey (developed
in partnership with Starboard Leadership Consulting, a
Bangor based company) is an on-line tool that quickly and
easily provides your board members with an opportunity
to provide input on how they are
doing in living-up to the key responsibilities of the board.
With this on-line diagnostic tool, board members can fill-out
the assessment quickly, easily and anonymously from their
own computers. Providing them with the survey is as simple
as sending an e-mail, and, when everyone has completed
the survey, getting them the results is just as easy too.
The data is presented in easy to analyze bar-graphs that
quickly show where there is disagreement in responses and
where you need to focus your attention in your work with
the board.
MANP also offers the option of a Governance Survey Analysis,
which provides an analysis of the survey results, a clear
set of recommendations, and the guidance you need to develop
a clear action plan for better governance. For more information
on this option, see the “How
Will We Go About Interpreting the Results?” link.
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How can a board self-assessment help my board?
In today’s environment, non-profits are under more
and more pressure to demonstrate that they are meeting
the highest ethical, fiscal, and governance standards.
While some see this as a distraction, others are responding
by examining their practices and putting in place “best
practices” that will help them to demonstrate to
the community their commitment to excellence.
Even the very best boards realize that, on a periodic
basis, a self-assessment can help to identify where there
is room for improvement and help the organization chart
a course to even greater success.
We believe that the board self-assessment process can
help the board to develop more engaging meetings, get re-focused
on the issues that really matter, and make board service
a joy and not a chore. The end result is not only a stronger
board but a much stronger organization.
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How do I know if it is time to conduct a board
self-assessment?
Here are 10 “vital signs” to think about as
you consider whether or not it is time now to conduct a
board self-assessment:
- Is the board actively engaged in your meetings?
- Do they show signs that they’ve done their homework
in advance?
- Are they eager to talk about “big picture” issues
rather micromanaging?
- Is everyone clear about their fund raising responsibilities?
- Are all members aware of their fiscal responsibilities
and asking the right questions?
- Is there a shared vision for the organization and a
clear plan to achieve it?
- Has there been healthy turnover on the board and adherence
to term limits?
- Has your board recruitment been successful and strategic
in nature?
- Are board policies, like your conflict of interest
policy, up-to-date and in use?
- If asked, would your board members say, “My board
service is very rewarding”?
If you answered “no” to any of the questions
above, you will find that the board self-assessment survey
is a great way to engage your board in addressing those
issues and developing an action plan for better governance.
And even if you answered “yes” to most or all
of the above questions, you are certain to see enormous
value in having a discussion with your board about these
key issues. Building and enhancing governance best practices
depends on an ongoing dialogue and review.
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What roles and responsibilities of the board
are included in the assessment?
Every non-profit board has some basic roles and responsibilities
to fill in governing the organization. The board self-assessment
is designed to make your board members aware of their roles
and reinforce their responsibilities in each of the following
areas:
- Setting and keeping the focus on the mission
- Charting a clear strategic direction and assessing
progress
- Monitoring the organization’s services and programs
- Providing financial oversight
- Actively engaging in resource development
- Communication and community relations
- Supporting and evaluating the executive director
- Providing appropriate support to the staff
- Demonstrating best practices in board governance
- Strategically selecting, recruiting and orienting new
board members
To see an example of the survey, click
here.
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How will we go about interpreting the results
of the self-assessment?
The self-assessment survey results will be made available
to you on-line. You and your board members can review them
on-line or print-out the data and the comments on your
own printer. The data is presented in an easy-to-read and
understand bar graph format that quickly makes it apparent
where there is board agreement or disagreement.
If you would like help in interpreting your results, or
are just looking for an objective view, MANP also offers
the option of the Governance Survey analysis. To help you
interpret the results and develop a clear set of recommendations
for your board, MANP has partnered with Starboard Leadership
Consulting to offer you a thorough analysis of the survey
results, a clear set of recommendations, and the guidance
you need to develop a clear action plan for better governance.
If you decide to purchase the Governance Survey Analysis,
a Starboard consultant will contact you to get further
background and information before reviewing your board’s
survey results, item by item. The analysis will identify
strengths and weaknesses, where your board members may
be in disagreement (and how to handle that), as well as
observations based upon reviewing the self-assessment results
of other organizations. From there, in each section of
the self-assessment, you will get a clear set of concrete
recommendations, grounded in best practices, for your board
to implement. This is not a “one size fits all” report.
It is individually prepared for your organization with
its own set of unique recommendations.
For organizations looking to take the survey results to
an even deeper level, Starboard Leadership Consulting does
offer one-on-one consulting and board retreats. For more
information click
here.
To see the kind of information provided in the analysis
and the level of detail in the recommendations, you can
use the following link to see a sample page of the Governance
Survey Analysis that was provided to one organization:
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Why should I use MANP’s tools when assessing
my board?
Most people join a board because they care about the
mission and have a strong desire to make a difference.
Too often, however, their board experience comes up short
of their expectations, and it is not long before they become
frustrated or disengaged. The result is that the organization
misses an opportunity to maximize the talents and resources
energized and engaged board members could bring to their
efforts.
The Board Self-Assessment Survey is easy to fill-out
on-line, so it is perfect for busy board members who don’t
have time for paper surveys or interviews. The results
are easy to access on-line and will provide your board
with the information they need to have a focused discussion
about how they work as a board and what they can do to
improve their effectiveness. Best of all, rather than hearing
about board governance from the staff or an outside source,
with the Board Self-Assessment Survey you hear the voice
of the board loud and clear and learn about the issues
that really matter to them. And because the board is hearing
from and responding to its own members, there is a real
investment in the results and in responding to the concerns
voiced there.
"The board assessment tool helped our board clarify
their role and commit to an action plan." – Rob
Hatch, Child Health Center, Norway, ME
"The board
self-assessment survey really helped our board structure
the conversation about what we need to do together, as a
board-staff team, to further strengthen our organization." -
Diane F. Cowan, Ph.D., The Lobster Conservancy, Friendship,
ME
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How do I order these tools?
To view pricing information or to purchase the
Board Assessment Survey or Governance Survey Analysis
click here.
If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Scott Schnapp at 871-1885 or by email at ExecutiveDirector@nonprofitmaine.org.
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