Board Performance Survey Template

This board performance survey template asks nonprofit board members about shared priorities, meeting information, discussion, and follow-through. Use the responses to plan a focused governance conversation about how the board works together.

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This board performance survey template asks nonprofit board members about shared priorities, meeting information, discussion, and follow-through. Use the responses to plan a focused governance conversation about how the board works together.

A board can hold regular meetings and still leave members unclear about its priorities or who owns a decision. Ask about the working practices behind the meetings before choosing what to improve.

When to use this survey

Use the survey before a board retreat or scheduled review, with one named review period. Create it in SurveyLegend and explain who will read individual responses and how themes will be discussed. The questionnaire reviews the board as a group; it does not appraise an individual director or replace a required governance assessment.

7 questions for your board performance survey

Think about the board’s collective work during the period named above. Do not name individual members or include confidential organizational matters. Answer only about the work you have experienced. Every question is optional.

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Explore this 7-question example at your own pace. Every question is optional.

SurveyLegend demo Question 1 of 7

Board Performance Survey

01 How clear are the board’s main priorities for this review period?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

02 How clear is the division between board responsibilities and staff responsibilities?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

03 How often did you receive the information you needed in time to prepare for board decisions?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

04 How much opportunity did board members have to raise different views before decisions were made?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

05 How clear was responsibility for following up on board decisions?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

06 How useful were the updates on progress toward the board’s priorities?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

07 Which change to the board’s working practices should be addressed first?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

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Customize your board performance survey

Define the review period and the board’s actual responsibilities before sharing. Retain the no-staff option if it fits your organization. In a small board, comments and roles may identify a person even without a name; use sensitive questions guidance to explain access accurately. Avoid adding a broad effectiveness score unless you have a justified method for interpreting it.

Printable board performance survey

Use the blank questionnaire before a board retreat, with a clear return process and explanation of who will read it. Allow members to complete it privately. Keep paper responses separate from online results unless they are deliberately entered through the agreed review process.

First page of the printable Board Performance Survey Template with questions and answer spaces
Download Board Performance Survey Template (PDF)

Create this survey with AI

The prompt below includes the board performance survey questions and response settings. Copy this prompt into an AI assistant to draft the questions. Review the draft, then build and customize the survey in SurveyLegend before sharing.

Copy the prompt into an AI assistant to draft the questions, then build your survey in SurveyLegend.

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How to use the answers

Discuss priorities, preparation, participation, and follow-through as separate topics. Check differences in perception against meeting records and agreed responsibilities without trying to identify or challenge individual respondents. Group open-ended data into a small number of changes, assign an owner and agree when to review progress. These responses do not certify governance quality or establish that the board meets legal duties.

Aulgur’s (2013) doctoral dissertation abstract examines “the gap between expectations of board performance” and members’ perceptions of governance. Its qualitative case concerns an emerging nonprofit. The practical lesson for this template is to clarify responsibilities and discuss different perceptions before turning answers into conclusions. These original questions are not the dissertation’s instrument or a validated board-effectiveness score. Read the board-governance dissertation .

Frequently asked questions

Is this an individual board-member appraisal?

No. Members describe the board’s collective routines. Evaluating an individual role requires its own agreed responsibilities, evidence and review process.

Can answers be called anonymous?

Only if the actual collection and reporting process supports that statement. In a small board, comments can identify people even when names are not requested.

Does this produce a governance score?

No. Review the separate dimensions and comments. This original questionnaire has no validated overall score or pass/fail threshold.