1. Welcome to Our Board Assessment Survey Survey

The questionnaire will assist you and your colleagues in assessing your board's management of its role on behalf of the organization you serve.  After everyone's responses are tallied, members will have the opportunity to discuss the outcomes and to decide on any steps that might strengthen the board's performance.
The assessment is divided into 12 sections dealing with important areas of nonprofit board operations.  For the statements in each section, you will be asked to choose from the responses:
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization
Thank you.

Section  1:  Board-Staff Roles
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 1. The roles and responsibilities of our board are clearly defined and separate from those of staff.

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* 2. Our board takes the primary responsibility for setting the organization's policy.

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* 3. Board members seldom assume roles and responsibilities that belong to the staff.

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* 4. The board delegates to the organization's CEO sufficient authority to lead the staff and carry out the organization's mission.

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* 5. When a problem or conflict arises between the board and staff members, we move quickly and efficiently to resolve it.

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* 6. Write additional comments here

Section 2:  Policy-Making Procedures
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 7. If a new policy is needed for the board or the organization as a whole, the issue is clearly presented to and discussed by the board.

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* 8. The full board approves all new organizational policies before they are implemented.

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* 9. Policies exist for key areas such as finance, personnel, and all functions unique to our organization's work.

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* 10. Our organization's policies are effectively communicated to all board members.

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* 11. The board reviews policies at least annually and updates them as needed.

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* 12. Write additional comments here.

Section 3: Planning Practices
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 13. Our organization's mission and purpose are clearly understood and accepted by our board.

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* 14. The members of the board have reached a consensus on a vision that indicates where the organization is headed over the next 3-5 years.

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* 15. The full board collaboratively reviews and updates the organization's strategic plan at least every 2 years.

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* 16. Staff develop and carry our annual plans based on our board's approved strategic plan

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* 17. The board is well-briefed by the staff on the annual plans the staff develops.

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* 18. Write additional comments here.

 Section 4: Fiscal Management Practices
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 19. The organization's annual budget is fully discussed by the board prior to its approval.

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* 20. The fiscal status of our organization is regularly reviewed and needed board actions are taken thoughtfully but quickly.

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* 21. Board leadership takes steps to ensure that financial reports are thoroughly understood by board members.

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* 22. The annual report of our organization's independent auditor is reviewed and needed actions are taken in a timely way.

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* 23. Board members are well aware of their legal responsibilities for the organization's fiscal management.

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* 24. Write additional comments here.

Section 5: Fund Raising Practices
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 25. Our organization's fundraising needs and strategies are understood by the board.

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* 26. The board has a clear policy on the individual board members' responsibility to raise funds.

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* 27. Board members play an active role in the organization's fundraising efforts.

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* 28. The board periodically engages in long-range fiscal planning to ensure an adequate flow of resources to the organization over time.

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* 29. Write additional comments here.

Section 6: Board Structure & Practices
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 30. Our board structure allows us to get our work done well and in a timely way.

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* 31. The board's standing committees streamline our work process and increase board efficiencies.

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* 32. Our board size is about right

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* 33. Our members' terms on the board are about the right length.

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* 34. We consciously select and prepare our board officers for their leadership responsibilities.

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* 35. Board members have a working knowledge of the organization's bylaws.

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* 36. Write additional comments here.

Section 7: Board Committees
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 37. Task and standing committee assignments generally reflect the interests and expertise of individual board members.

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* 38. I serve on at least one standing board committee.

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* 39. Any standing committee I serve on completes its tasks in an effective and timely way.

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* 40. Most board members actively participate in standing committee activities.

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* 41. Any standing committee establishes its goals and plans at the beginning of the fiscal year.

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* 42. Each standing committee establishes its goals and plans at the beginning of the fiscal year.

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* 43. Write additional comments here.

Section 8: Board Meetings
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 44. Our board's meeting schedule has the right number and length of meetings.

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* 45. The agendas of our board meetings and supporting written material are usually given out in advance of meetings.

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* 46. Board leaders and standing committee members contribute items to meeting agendas.

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* 47. Board meetings are generally well-run and make good use of members' time.

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* 48. Our board tends to brainstorm and identify creative approaches to problems.

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* 49. Our board thoroughly examines the pros and cons of all major decisions.

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* 50. Write additional comments here.

Section 9: Board Membership and Orientation
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 51. The areas of expertise, skills, and other factors we need to be an effective board for this organization are adequately represented among current board members.

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* 52. Our board successfully identifies the expertise, skills, and other contributions we need from potential new board members to maintain or increase our effectiveness.

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* 53. We actively recruit new board members based on identified needs.

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* 54. When seeking members for the board, we use a wide variety of referral sources within the communities we serve.

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* 55. Our board and staff inform new board members about responsibilities and important organizational information through a structured new member orientation program.

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* 56. Write additional comments here.

Section 10: Board-Executive Relationship
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 57. Our board uses a structured and participative process to recruit and hire our organization's chief executive.

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* 58. The board has approved a written job description that clearly spells out the chief executive's responsibilities and authorities.

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* 59. The chief executive's performance is formally assessed at least based on objectives established at the beginning of the fiscal year.

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* 60. The chief executive receives ongoing feedback regarding job performance in addition to any formal assessment

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* 61. Board members provide the necessary support that allows the chief executive to carry out the role successfully.

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* 62. Write additional comments here.

Section 11: Monitoring & Evaluation Process
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 63. Board members are adequately knowledgeable about the organization's programs and services.

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* 64. We periodically review with the chief executive the possibilities of adding new programs and services and modifying or discontinuing current programs and services.

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* 65. Our board keeps itself informed of our organization's performance against predetermined plans and goals.

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* 66. The effectiveness of our board and committee structure is assessed at least every 2-3  years.

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* 67. We annually assess our individual member's satisfaction with their participation on the board.

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* 68. We regularly evaluate the effectiveness of our board meetings.

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* 69. Write additional comments here.

Section 12: External Relations Practices
1=Strongly agree with the statement
2=Agree with the statement
3=Disagree with the statement
4=Strongly disagree with the statement
DK=Do Not Know
NA=Not Applicable to your board or organization

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* 70. Our board regularly assesses the effectiveness of our relations with our different external constituent groups.

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* 71. Most of our individual board members are active either externally or personally within the communities served by our organization.

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* 72. The board has approved effective marketing and public relations strategies for the organization.

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* 73. Individual board members actively support public relations and marketing events that benefit the organization.

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* 74. Board members are clear about who serves as official spokesperson for the organization.

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* 75. Write  additional comments here.

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* 76. For tracking purposes only.

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