As part of the best practices followed by nonprofit organizations, the Board of Directors (Board) should undertake a governance health check on a recurring basis. A Board Governance Assessment is an objective review of how an organization is overseen and evaluates whether there are adequate checks and balances in place for effective governance.
The goal of the board governance assessment is to review the Board’s governance structure to identify strengths, weaknesses, risks, and opportunities, and to advise the Board regarding current best practices related to nonprofit governance.
The assessment looks at several key performance indicators (KPIs):
Reinforcing the organization’s bylaws and board governance manuals, regular assessments ensure that proper policies, procedures, and practices are followed by the Board. The organization can confidently demonstrate to donors, funders, and other stakeholders that any deficiencies identified have been addressed and their governance structure is adequate to support the organization through tough decisions and difficult financial times.