Building a Strong Nonprofit: Assessing Your Board

Building a nonprofit board that actively supports your organization’s mission and vision is a journey—and board assessment is one of the most critical steps in that journey. Let’s dive into why board assessment is essential and how it can serve two core purposes: re-engaging your current members and recruiting new ones to fill in gaps.

Why Assess Your Board? When you look at your board right now, ask yourself, Can these members truly help me achieve the organization’s vision? If the answer is “no” or even “maybe,” then it’s time to take a closer look. Assessing your board means analyzing each member’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s not about pointing fingers or discrediting their dedication. Even when board members seem disengaged, the passion that brought them to you in the first place is likely still there. Life changes, workload increases, or other factors may have affected their involvement—but that doesn’t mean they can’t be brought back into alignment with the mission.

Re-engaging Your Current Board Members Many nonprofits are quick to consider replacing disengaged board members, but let’s not forget that your current board members bring invaluable experience and context. So before seeking new members, focus on re-engaging the existing ones. A thorough assessment can reveal each board member’s current interests, strengths, and willingness to contribute, which helps you determine the best path forward. Some members may want to step into a more advisory role, while others may prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or even remain as valuable resources you can tap into as needed.

But to make this work, you need to actively engage each board member in the assessment process. Instead of making decisions in isolation, bring everyone on board. Share your vision for the future, communicate the organization’s needs, and let members decide how they can best support the organization’s goals. This approach encourages buy-in, keeps morale high, and ensures members aren’t blindsided by changes, which can otherwise create friction or discontent.

Identifying and Filling Board Gaps Once you’ve re-engaged your current board members, it’s time to assess the composition of the board as a whole. The question here is simple but crucial: Are there gaps that prevent us from fully reaching our potential? Knowing the answer means you’re ready to recruit strategically.

Board assessment helps you pinpoint gaps in skill sets, values, ethics, and even diversity of thought. What specific skills do you need? Do you need someone with financial expertise, a strong background in community engagement, or perhaps legal knowledge? Knowing these details will make recruiting a more intentional process and help you avoid simply adding more of the same skills or backgrounds.

When you skip this step, it’s a bit like heading out without a clear destination; you might end up somewhere, but it may not be where you truly want to go. Without assessment, you’re likely to repeat the same recruitment mistakes, leading to a board that doesn’t fully support your mission.

Board Assessment with Solutions Matter At Solutions Matter, we’ve developed a board assessment tool tailored specifically to nonprofits like yours. Our process is straightforward and effective: we provide a detailed form for each board member to fill out, which captures both individual and collective insights. This assessment serves as the foundation for a follow-up session with your board, where we share our findings and facilitate a discussion on actionable next steps.

This isn’t just about filling out a form—it’s about building consensus and fostering collaboration. Rather than taking action in isolation, the entire board has an opportunity to agree on how to move forward. This consensus-based approach reduces the risk of misunderstandings and keeps your board cohesive. Plus, it gives every board member a stake in the future, empowering them to feel aligned with the vision.

Moving Forward with a Stronger Board Assessing your board is a powerful step toward building a team that’s capable, motivated, and aligned with your mission. A well-rounded, engaged board isn’t just an asset; it’s a driving force behind your nonprofit’s impact. So, whether you’re looking to re-energize current members, fill skill gaps, or both, remember that a thoughtful board assessment lays the groundwork for a more effective and unified organization.

If your nonprofit is ready to take this step, reach out to us at Solutions Matter. We’re here to help you identify gaps, engage your members, and recruit strategically, so you can move forward with a team that’s fully equipped to support your mission and vision.

Rooney Akpesiri is the VP of Client Services at Solutions Matter LLC