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Template · Governance

Board annual evaluation survey

A yearly survey on how well the board works: rated statements on meetings, teamwork and leadership, each member's own contribution, and feedback for the chair.

Download for Word (.docx)Rich Text (.rtf)Plain text (.txt)

Three editable formats: Word (.docx), Rich Text (.rtf) and plain text (.txt). Reviewed October 21, 2026.

How to use this template

  1. Download it as a Word file (.docx), which opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice, or as Rich Text (.rtf) or plain text (.txt). All three are editable.
  2. Fill in every blank. Blanks are in square brackets, like [ORGANIZATION NAME], and are highlighted in the preview below. Delete any bracketed notes you don't need.
  3. Make it yours. Check it against your bylaws and your state's rules, and change anything that doesn't fit. Have your board approve it where it says so.
  4. Printing? Print this page: the printout leaves out the site's menus and shows the template with lines for the blanks.

This survey asks board members how well the board works as a team: how useful the meetings are, how decisions get made, how the board works with the director, and what each person brings. Use it alongside our board self-assessment, which is a yes-or-no check of duties, policies and filings. The self-assessment asks "have we done it?"; this survey asks "how well are we working?"

Many boards alternate them: the self-assessment one year and this survey the next, or both at the same retreat.

How to use it

  • Choose who runs it. Usually the chair or a governance committee. If the chair is being rated, ask another director, or a trusted outside person, to collect the answers.
  • Keep answers anonymous. Use a simple online form or paper forms returned to one person. Report only totals and themes, never who said what.
  • Allow two weeks to answer. It takes about 20 minutes.
  • Share the results at a meeting, ideally a longer session or retreat. Look first at the statements with the lowest scores and the most "not sure" answers.
  • Pick two or three changes for the year, name who will lead each, and check progress at mid-year.
  • Keep the summary with the board's records and compare it next year.

Preview

Board annual evaluation survey

Organization: [ORGANIZATION NAME]

Year: [YEAR]

Please return by: [DATE] to [NAME OR LINK]

Your answers are anonymous. We will share only totals and themes.

Part 1. How the board works

Rate each statement: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree, or "not sure".

Meetings

  1. Meeting materials arrive early enough for me to prepare. [RATING]
  2. Our meetings spend most of their time on important questions, not routine reports. [RATING]
  3. Everyone has a fair chance to speak, and no one dominates. [RATING]
  4. Decisions are clear, and we know who will act on them. [RATING]
  5. Our meetings start and end on time. [RATING]

Direction and oversight

  1. I understand our mission and our plan for the next few years. [RATING]
  2. I understand our finances well enough to ask good questions. [RATING]
  3. The board spends enough time on risks to the organization. [RATING]
  4. We review whether our programs are making a difference. [RATING]

Working together

  1. Board members treat each other with respect, even when we disagree. [RATING]
  2. Disagreements are raised in meetings, not in side conversations. [RATING]
  3. Once we decide, we support the decision together. [RATING]
  4. New members are welcomed and helped to contribute quickly. [RATING]
  5. Our board reflects the community we serve. [RATING]

Working with staff

  1. The board and the director understand the difference between their roles. [RATING]
  2. The board supports the director and reviews their work fairly each year. [RATING]
  3. Board members don't manage staff directly. [RATING]

Part 2. Open questions about the board

  1. What is the board doing well that we should keep doing?
  2. What one change would make the board more effective?
  3. What topic should the board spend more time on next year?
  4. What skills, connections or perspectives is the board missing?

Part 3. My own contribution

Rate each statement about yourself: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree.

  1. I attend meetings regularly and come prepared. [RATING]
  2. I understand my legal duties as a board member. [RATING]
  3. I contribute my skills and time beyond meetings. [RATING]
  4. I help with fundraising in a way that suits me. [RATING]
  5. I speak up when I have a concern or a question. [RATING]
  1. What would help you contribute more next year?
  2. Do you plan to continue on the board after your current term? [YES, NO OR NOT SURE]

Part 4. Feedback for the chair

Rate each statement: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree, or "not sure".

  1. The chair runs meetings fairly and keeps them focused. [RATING]
  2. The chair makes sure every voice is heard. [RATING]
  3. The chair works well with the director. [RATING]
  4. The chair deals with problems early and fairly. [RATING]
  1. What should the chair keep doing, and what could the chair do differently?

Summary of results (for the person collecting answers)

Number of responses: [NUMBER] of [NUMBER OF DIRECTORS]

Three highest-rated statements: [STATEMENTS]

Three lowest-rated statements, or most "not sure": [STATEMENTS]

Main themes from open answers: [THEMES]

Changes the board agreed for next year: [CHANGE 1, LEAD PERSON]; [CHANGE 2, LEAD PERSON]; [CHANGE 3, LEAD PERSON]

Discussed by the board on: [DATE]

Template from Golden Hint: goldenhint.org/resources/templates/board-annual-evaluation-survey. Reviewed October 21, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.

General information. Not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and every situation is different, so check the official sources and talk to a qualified professional before you act. More about this.

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