BOARD MEMBER SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST
Individual board members or advisory committee members use this self-evaluation checklist. The evaluation is designed to reveal what a board member knows about the organizations. Be honest in all of your answers, no one will see your responses. Only honest answers will allow you to examine the depth of your understanding of what your role is as a member of a board of directors and to identify the data, details and facts you need to improve as a board member. If you have concerns after you’ve completed your evaluation contact the President of the Board for his/her opinion on resolving these issues.
Scale: 3: Yes, I understand 2: I understand somewhat 1: No, I don’t understand or know
The Organization: DO I UNDERSTAND:
3 / 2 / 11. The stated mission and purpose of the organization?
2. The organizational structure?
3. The bylaws of the organization?
4. The policies and procedures of the organization?
5. The goals of the organization?
6. Future plans of the organization?
The Legal Side of Board Membership: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. What the role of the board is?
2. Whether it is a policy-making board?
3. Whether it is a working board?
4. What my legal responsibilities are?
5. What insurance policies the organization carries?
6. What my liabilities as a board member are?
7. How much lobbying and advocacy activities can be
undertaken in the name of the agency?
The Board Members: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. Each member of the board?
2. What the position of each person on the board is?
3. What the skills of each board member are?
4. What position each board member holds in the
community ?
5. What part each plays in the fulfillment of the
purpose of the organization?
6. For what planning I am responsible?
7. What my commitments of time and money are?
8. For what scheduled assignments I am responsible?
9. What the occasional tasks for which am I
responsible are?
10. To whom I am immediately responsible?
11. Who is immediately responsible to me?
12. For what records I am responsible?
The Budget: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. Understand the organization’s budget?
2. If the organization keeps within the budget or
has a deficit?
3. Who develops, approves and administers the
budget?
4. What the main revenue source of the
organization is?
5. What the procedures and revenue sources for capital expenditures are?
6. Who audits the organization?
7. If there is adequate insurance?
8. How grants are obtained and if there are management
requirements?
9. How the size of the budget is determined?
Fund Raising: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. If I am responsible for donating personally to the
organization?
2. How much I am expected to contribute?
3. If I am expected to participate in fund raising?
4. If I am expected to solicit money for the organization?
Time: DO I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME:
3 / 2 / 11. I am expected to give to the organization monthly/yearly?
2. I am expected to give to board meetings?
3. I am expected to give to fund raising?
4. I am expected to give to special events?
5. I am expected to give to committees?
The Staff: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. The personnel policies and procedures?
2. The staff organizational structure?
3. The program director/administrator?
4. The key/staff or volunteer?
5. The job descriptions of each staff person and volunteer?
The Executive Director: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. How the ED intends to accomplish the goals of the
organization this year?
2. If the ED is a good organizer?
3. To whom the ED is specifically responsible?
4. Whether the ED works well with the volunteers? Board?
Staff? Community?
The Volunteers: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. What the organization philosophy toward volunteers is?
2. How the volunteer program is organized?
3. What the role of the volunteer is?
4. If there’s a paid or volunteer Director of Volunteers?
5. What the make-up of the volunteer corp is?
6. How we recruit volunteers?
7. What my role is in relation to the volunteer program?
8. If I can be a volunteer?
9. How the volunteers are evaluated and trained?
10. If there are established policies and procedures for the
volunteer program?
Power Structure: DO I KNOW:
3 / 2 / 11. Who makes the decisions for the organization?
2. What the assets are and who controls them?
3. How the system of communication is structured?
4. Who the official spokesperson for the organization is?
Write any issues or concerns you’ll like to address to the President of the Board or Executive Director:
Board Evaluation: Members’ Self Assessment of Board
Rate your board using the following scale:
0 – No, this doesn’t exist on our board
1 – We’re working on it
2 – Yes, we’re in great shape on this item
A. Selection and Composition
1. The board is composed of persons very interested in the work of the organization.2. The board is representative of its constituency with regard to race, class, gender, etc.
3. There is balance of new and experienced board members to guarantee both continuity
and new thinking.
4. Board members have the combination of skill (e.g., fund-raising, management, legal,
fiscal, etc.) necessary to carry out their work.
5. There is a limit to the number of consecutive terms a member can serve on board.
6. The organization has a pool of potential board members identified for the future.
7. The organization develops future board members through the use of volunteers on a
committee.
8. New board members are recruited and selected using a thorough review process.
B. Orientation and Training
9. There is a statement of agreement outlining the duties and responsibilities of boardmembers that all board members sign.
10. The board understands its legal liability.
11. The organization provides an orientation for new board members.
12. The organization makes training opportunities available for board members to
increase skills related to board responsibilities.
C. Structure & Organization of the Board
13. The board has a simple, concise set of bylaws that describe the duties of boardmembers and officers, as well as procedures by which the board conducts it’s business.
14. The board has a mechanism (such as an executive committee) for handling matters
that must be addressed between meetings.
15. The board elects a chairperson to provide leadership and to coordinate the ongoing
work of the board and its committees.
16. The board’s standing committees work with specific assignment and responsibilities.
17. Committee assignments are reviewed and evaluated periodically.
18. Working relations between the board, chairperson, and the executive director are
strong and productive.
19. Working relations between the staff and board are characterized by mutual respect
and good rapport.
20. Board and staff members are clear about their respective duties and responsibilities.
D. The Board at Work
21. There are regularly scheduled board meetings- at least four times a year.22. Meetings begin and end on time as per and agreed-upon schedule.
23. There are adequate preparation and distribution of materials, including agenda,
research documents, etc., in advance of board meetings.
24. Board meetings are characterized by open discussion, general participation, and active
thinking together.
25. Board meetings deal primarily with policy formulation of: programs, fund
development and long-range planning, financial monitoring and evaluating the work
of the organization.
26. Minutes of board and committee meetings are written and circulated to the members.
27. Committees are active and complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
28. The board is aware of matters or concerns in the community, state and nation that
effect the mission or field of service of the organization.
29. Board members follow through on their commitments in a timely manner.
30. Board members make a generous financial contribution (self-defined or defined by
the board) to the organization on an annual basis.
31. Individual members of the board accept and carry out assignments within the area of
their talents and expertise.
32. All board members are involved in some aspect of fund-raising for the organization.
33. The board conducts annual review of its own work and that of the organization.
34. New leadership is emerging consistently from the board and its committees.
Add up your total score: ______
If your score:
60-70: You’re in great shape. You have a healthy board with good working relations. You realize that the work of developing an effective board is a lifelong process.
48-59: You’re on the way to a strong, effective board; pay attention to your weak spots, and involve the entire board in developing solutions.
31-47: You have lots of room for improvement. The board needs to prioritize areas to work on – both in the short and long term – make a plan, and work the plan.
Less than 30: You’re probably experiencing problems already. Now is the time to devote serious attention to ways to strengthen the structure, composition and functioning of the board. If not, your program, and ultimately the entire organization, will suffer.