How can you measure the effectiveness of a nonprofit board?

1 Define your goals

The first step to measure your board's effectiveness is to define what you want to achieve as a board. What are your mission, vision, and values? What are your strategic priorities and objectives? How do you align your board's work with your organization's goals and needs? By clarifying your goals, you can set clear expectations and standards for your board members and evaluate their progress and contribution.

2 Use a board self-assessment tool

A board self-assessment tool is a survey or questionnaire that helps your board members to reflect on their own performance and provide feedback on various aspects of board functioning. For example, you can ask your board members to rate their level of satisfaction, engagement, knowledge, skills, diversity, communication, collaboration, decision-making, accountability, and impact. You can use a standardized tool or create your own based on your goals and context. A board self-assessment tool can help you identify your board's strengths and weaknesses, celebrate your achievements, and plan for improvement.

3 Collect feedback from stakeholders

Another way to measure your board's effectiveness is to collect feedback from your key stakeholders, such as staff, donors, partners, beneficiaries, and community members. You can use different methods, such as interviews, focus groups, surveys, or testimonials, to gather their opinions and perceptions of your board's performance and impact. You can ask them about their satisfaction, trust, involvement, support, and collaboration with your board. You can also ask them about the outcomes and benefits of your board's work for your organization and its mission. Collecting feedback from stakeholders can help you understand your board's reputation, value, and influence.

4 Review your governance documents

Your governance documents are the policies, procedures, and guidelines that govern your board's operations and responsibilities. They include your bylaws, board charter, code of ethics, conflict of interest policy, committee structure, board orientation, board evaluation, board development, and board succession plan. You should review your governance documents regularly to ensure that they are up to date, relevant, and compliant with the best practices and legal requirements. You should also check if your board members are familiar with and follow your governance documents. Reviewing your governance documents can help you ensure that your board is well-organized, transparent, and accountable.

5 Track your key indicators

Your key indicators are the measurable and meaningful data that show how well your board is performing and achieving its goals. They can include both quantitative and qualitative indicators, such as the number of board meetings, attendance rate, meeting duration, meeting agenda, meeting minutes, action items, board recruitment, board retention, board diversity, board education, board engagement, board fundraising, board advocacy, board recognition, and board satisfaction. You should track your key indicators regularly and compare them with your benchmarks and targets. You should also analyze and report your key indicators to your board members and stakeholders. Tracking your key indicators can help you monitor your board's progress and impact.

6 Seek external input

The last way to measure your board's effectiveness is to seek external input from experts, peers, or consultants who can provide an objective and professional perspective on your board's performance and impact. You can ask them to conduct a board audit, a board review, or a board consultation, depending on your needs and resources. They can help you assess your board's alignment with your mission and goals, compliance with the best practices and legal requirements, and responsiveness to the opportunities and challenges in your environment. They can also help you identify and implement the best solutions and strategies to improve your board's effectiveness.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?