As a CEO, executive director, board administrator, you know how important it is to keep your board engaged, aligned, and focused. A formal board self-assessment can seem like something reserved for year-end or major strategic pivots, but a short mid-year check-in can be just as valuable.
This is a great time to pause, invite feedback, and strengthen your board’s effectiveness heading into the second half of the year. And with Boardable Surveys, it only takes a few minutes to set up.
Below are five essential questions to consider including in your mid-year board self-assessment, plus a board self-assessment checklist, to make the process even easier. You’ll also get tips on how to send it, what to do with the results, and how to turn feedback into action.
Table of Contents
Why Run a Mid-Year Assessment?
A short, focused self-assessment helps board members:
- Reflect on their role and individual contributions
- Understand how the group is functioning collectively
- Identify areas for improvement before small issues grow into bigger challenges
It also shows that you value their input and are committed to creating a strong governance culture. For leaders, the results provide valuable insight into board dynamics, accountability, and opportunities for support.
Five Smart Questions for Your Mid-Year Board Self-Assessment
Use these as-is or customize them to reflect your nonprofit organization’s goals. These prompts are designed to spark thoughtful, useful responses.
1. Are we focused on the right strategic priorities as a board?
This helps identify whether the board’s time is being spent on what truly matters. Look for comments that reveal confusion or alignment around your goals.
2. Do I feel engaged and well-prepared during board meetings?
This question uncovers whether members are reading materials, asking questions, and contributing meaningfully — or if more support is needed.
3. Do we have the right mix of skills and experience on the board?
The answers can guide recruitment, onboarding, and targeted professional development.
4. Are we effectively holding ourselves and our leadership accountable?
This invites members to reflect on how they evaluate both their own performance and the organization’s progress.
5. Do I feel the board is supporting the Executive Director appropriately?
This is one of the most valuable pieces of feedback you can get. It highlights how visible and accessible the board feels, and how productive the working relationship is.
Board Self-Assessment Checklist
A streamlined checklist helps ensure you don’t miss any important steps in running your mid-year assessment.
Before Sending:
- Choose 4-6 concise, high-impact questions
- Decide on answer types (multiple choice, open-ended, or a mix)
- Confirm you have an updated contact list for all board members
When Sending:
- Set a clear deadline (one week is often ideal)
- Turn on anonymity to encourage candid responses
- Include a short note explaining why their feedback matters now
After Collecting Responses:
- Review results for recurring themes
- Choose 1-2 priority areas to address in the next quarter
- Share a summary with the board, noting any immediate action steps
Pro Tip: Turn this checklist into a one-page PDF to share with your governance committee. It’s a simple way to standardize your process year after year.
How to Launch This in Boardable Surveys
Boardable makes sending a board self-assessment fast and simple. Here’s how to do it:
1. Log in and go to the Surveys tool
You’ll find it right in your Boardable dashboard, just swap to “Surveys” in the upper right-hand corner.
2. Create a new survey
Start from scratch or use our Board Member Assessment template as a starting point. You can copy and paste any of the questions above and add multiple-choice or open-ended answer formats.
3. Send it to your board
Select recipients, set your deadline, and include your introduction note.
4. Turn on anonymity
This encourages honest, thoughtful responses.
5. Review and summarize results
Boardable will compile the responses into an easy-to-read report you can share at your next meeting.
After the Assessment: Turning Feedback into Action
Once the results are in, carve out 15-20 minutes during your next board meeting to review them together. You don’t need to fix everything right away. Start by highlighting one or two common themes and brainstorming ways to improve as a group.
You might:
- Adjust meeting formats to increase engagement
- Prioritize onboarding or training for new members
- Revisit your strategic goals and refocus the agenda
- Set up a check-in with your board chair to clarify expectations
The most important thing is to close the loop. Show your board you value their input by taking action —even small steps count.
You Can Set This Up Today
Board self-assessments don’t need to be heavy or formal to be effective. With just a few thoughtful questions and the right tool, you can create a quick but meaningful pulse check that benefits your entire nonprofit organization.
If you are ready to send yours, head over to the Surveys section in your Boardable account and get started today.
Don’t have a Boardable account yet? Sign up for a Boardable Free Trial to check it out!
