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Board Assessment
In addition to evaluating organizational performance, boards should consider their own performance as a board, and the satisfaction of board members. Board members who believe that their service is valuable to the organization and who enjoy being on the board are more likely to complete their terms, give generously, and participate enthusiastically.
A board assessment can help board members:
- Reflect on their experience
- Explore how comfortable, enjoyable, and meaningful participation on the board is to them
- Understand individual expectations for preparation time, how meetings are run, and how decision are made
- Identify different perceptions and opinions among members about the board's role
- Identify and remove obstacles to board effectiveness
ESC Assessment Service
ESC uses an anonymous online survey tool to collect information from board members. We provide a standard suite of questions, and will customize the survey so that it addresses the issues most relevant to your organization.
Confidentiality
Board and staff members in your organization will receive a report
with compiled responses and anonymous comments. This level of
confidentiality encourages board members to express opinions and
concerns freely. If any answers to open-ended questions appear to
identify a specific respondent, ESC will remove identifying information
(profession, position, etc.) while preserving the meaning and intent of
the comment.
Assessment Process
- An ESC consultant will meet with the organization to review the standard survey and determine if there are changes or additions to be made.
- The consultant will provide the organization with sample text explaining the assessment process for communication with board members.
- The organization provides email addresses for board members to ESC.
- ESC sends an email to each board member with a link to the assessment survey.
- Board members are asked to complete the survey within eight business days. On the deadline, ESC will send a reminder email to any board member who has not yet completed the survey.
- Three business days after the deadline, ESC will contact the designated organization representative (usually the board president) with the names of any non-responders. It will then be up to the organization representative to follow-up with board members and encourage them to respond to the survey. The final deadline for responses is fourteen business days after the launch of the survey.
- Within ten business days of the final deadline, ESC will send a summary of the aggregated results and responses to open-ended questions to the designated representative. The report includes a Pareto chart that gives a visual display of the areas where the greatest opportunities for improvement exist.
Cost
The cost of the board assessment varies by the size of an organization's budget.
- $100 for organizations with budgets under $500,000
- $200 for organizations with budgets between $500,000 and $1 million
- $350 for organizations with budgets between $1 and $3 million
- $450 for organizations with budgets over $3 million