Does your organization have the Board it needs to grow?

Quiz Questions

1.
Let's start at the beginning: Does your board meet regularly and consistently?
- A.
  Absolutely! We set our meeting calendar at the beginning of each year and stick to it!
- B.
  Not as regularly and consistently as we should. We have a calendar, but meetings can shift based on people's schedules...
- C.
  Our meetings happen pretty randomly.
2.
How do you spend your time together? Are your meetings spent engaged in high-impact generative and strategic discussions?
- A.
  All the time! Our meetings actually move our work forward.
- B.
  Some of our meetings are organized around generative and strategic topics, but not as often as I'd like.
- C.
  Not at all. We spend most of our time on updates, financials, and board business.
3.
Let's look a bit deeper: Is your board rooted in a strong, positive, and inclusive culture?
- A.
  100%. The board gets along well, people express different perspectives easily, and people feel valued and respected.
- B.
  Everyone is polite but distant. People mostly get along but we don't have tough or meaningful discussions.
- C.
  This is a weak area for us. There is tension on the board and/or we have difficulty working together.
4.
Does your board have an explicit commitment to diversity and equity on the board, and throughout the organization?
- A.
  We are deeply committed to diversity and equity throughout the organization and are explicit about carrying out this commitment.
- B.
  We have an explicit commitment to diversity and equity but it is shaky and/or we lack full board buy-in.
- C.
  This is not a strong area for us.
5.
What about between meetings? Do your board members regularly make themselves available as advisors and thought partners to the Executive Director and senior staff?
- A.
  Definitely!
- B.
  Some board members are thought partners and some are not.
- C.
  That's not really the role the board members play in our organization.
6.
Do your board members stay involved with and connected to your programs between meetings?
- A.
  Definitely! Most/ all of our board members find a way to stay connected to our work between meetings.
- B.
  Somewhat. Only some of our board members stay connected to our work between meetings. Most do not.
- C.
  We struggle to get our board to stay connected and engaged outside of board meetings.
7.
Externally, your board can be your fiercest ambassadors! Do your board members proactively connect the organization to people in their networks?
- A.
  Absolutely! Most/ all of our board members are fantastic ambassadors for the organization.
- B.
  It's hit or miss... Some board members are great cheerleaders. Some are not.
- C.
  We struggle to get our board members to help connect us to new people.
8.
What about fundraising? Do your board members donate and proactively help raise money for the organization?
- A.
  We've got this covered! Board members give to the organization every year and proactively help to raise money.
- B.
  Some of our board members give consistently and/ or help raise money. Some board members do neither.
- C.
  This is an area of frustration. It's tough getting board members to give and/or help with fundraising.
9.
Ok, what about structure? Do you have well-documented board roles and expectations that are clearly understood?
- A.
  Absolutely. We have clear, written board roles, policies and procedures. We use them regularly and everyone understands them.
- B.
  We have some things written down, but much of what we do is still pretty organic.
- C.
  We don't have any written board policies or procedures.
10.
Last question: What about growing the board? Do you have an effective process for identifying, finding, and recruiting the right board members?
- A.
  We have a good, consistent process for figuring out who should be on the board, finding them, and onboarding them.
- B.
  Our board recruitment is slow and mostly organic, but not completely stagnant.
- C.
  We don't easily or regularly find, recruit, or onboard new board members.
11.
How clear and intentional is your work together? Do you set and track board goals every year?
- A.
  We are incredibly intentional about our goals and work together. We meet annually to set goals, and we track our progress throughout the year.
- B.
  We have loose goals that organize our work together, but they can shift and not everyone is clear about them.
- C.
  We don't set goals.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Your Board is Strong: Time To Make Magic
Congratulations! You're meeting the benchmarks of a strong and effective board of directors! It's time to leverage the special "magic" that a strong board can have!
2.
The Bones Are Good: Time To Build Oon That To Strengthen Your Board
3.
Your Board Needs Work
Good Job! Your organization has met most of the benchmarks of strong and effective board of directors! To further strengthen your board, focus on creating space for generative and strategic involvement, promote engagement between meetings, creating systems that clarify roles and responsibilities, and building a strong culture of trust.