If you're a trustee or an executive who attends board meetings frequently, take this simple quiz created by BoardSource to find out whether your nonprofit board is in need of rejuvenation.
Results
Congratulations, your board is engaged and on the right track to being a strategic asset for your organization.
If you would like to enhance your board's performance even more, try reading The Source: 12 Principles of Governance That Power Exceptional Boards. The book is the result of a panel of 27 experts who came up with ways for responsible boards to become exceptional by, to cite one example, adopting a "culture of continuous learning" to further trustees' knowledge about the organization they serve and what effective governance means. Such boards hold orientations for new members and regularly evaluate their own performance.
No matter how your organization scored on this quiz, it's always a good idea to assess your board's engagement and performance at least once a year, perhaps at an annual board retreat. Your organization will benefit from being sensitive to the possibility of trustee burnout and taking steps to proactively address it.
Results
Your board is at a tipping point, and there may be one or more problematic issues to address.
First, boards that don't follow effective meeting practices and fail to make good use of board members' time and skills risk losing their engagement. Ensure that your board meetings include time for discussing strategic issues beyond routine, administrative matters. Second, board members may simply be exhausted. Now might be the time to take a hard look at each board member's tenure. Are there trustees who should be rotated off the board? Would the board benefit from an infusion of fresh ideas and energy that new members can bring?
Do a board matrix: List the skills, demographics, and tenure of your board, and decide whether the board you have is the board that your organization needs. If you don't have an active governance committee to lead the way, maybe it is time to form one. For a simple board matrix and more ideas to refresh your board, read The Board Building Cycle: Nine Steps to Finding, Recruiting, and Engaging Nonprofit Board Members.
No matter how your organization scored on this quiz, it's always a good idea to assess your board's engagement and performance at least once a year, perhaps at an annual board retreat. Your organization will benefit from being sensitive to the possibility of trustee burnout and taking steps to proactively address it.
Results BoardSource offers an online tool that has helped thousands of board determine where they need improvement and suggests steps to help them make the necessary changes. There may be one or more other problematic issues to address. First, boards that don't follow effective meeting practices and fail to make good use of board members' time and skills risk losing their engagement. Ensure that your board meetings include time for discussing strategic issues beyond routine, administrative matters. Second, board members may simply be exhausted. Now might be the time to take a hard look at each board member's tenure. Are there trustees who should be rotated off the board? Would the board benefit from an infusion of fresh ideas and energy that new members can bring? Do a board matrix: List the skills, demographics, and tenure of your board, and decide whether the board you have is the board that your organization needs. If you don't have an active governance committee to lead the way, maybe it is time to form one. For a simple board matrix and more ideas to refresh your board, read The Board Building Cycle: Nine Steps to Finding, Recruiting, and Engaging Nonprofit Board Members. No matter how your organization scored on this quiz, it's always a good idea to assess your board's engagement and performance at least once a year, perhaps at an annual board retreat. Your organization will benefit from being sensitive to the possibility of trustee burnout and taking steps to proactively address it. More: In Challenging Times, Overstretched Board Members Fight Burnout Your board is in need of a formal self-assessment.
