Board Health Check Report for Sample Charity

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About the survey

The survey is a free Board Health Check provided by Tanarra Social Purpose and was completed by the Board of Sample Charity in November 2022. The survey is designed to be simple and quick, with 44 multiple choice questions, 5 commentary questions, and is designed to be largely automated. The online survey content covers 5 key performance areas:

  • Board Effectiveness
  • Individual Conduct of Board members
  • Board Meetings
  • Board Structure
  • Financial and Regulatory Compliance

About Tanarra Social Purpose

Tanarra Social Purpose is a for purpose enterprise providing pro bono independent advice to strengthen the efficiencies and effectiveness of Australia’s charity sector.
www.tanarraphilanthropic.org


About this report

This report is designed to provide a quick snapshot of your organisation’s strengths and opportunities for improvement, focusing on the top areas with notable scores.

Score Scale

To help your organisation interpret the indicator numbers associated with each question please see below:

Strongly Disagree Disagree Undecided Agree Strongly Agree  N/A Not applicable
1 2 3 4 5 Not counted

 

Summary of Results

Response rate

3 out of 3 members of the board (100%) responded to the survey.

Respondents' time serving on the Board

- Between 2.0 and 5.0 years with an average of 3.7 years served


Summary of Key Perfomance Areas


 

Your Board Strengths


 

Areas for Improvement


 

Director Responses to Strategic Questions

If the organisation had a 20% increase in unconstrained income tomorrow, where would you spend it and why?

What do you regard as the 2 most significant strategic achievements of your organisation in the past 3 years?

If you could change one thing about the organisation what would it be?

What do you regard as the most significant strategic failure of your organisation in the past 3 years?

Do you have any other feedback that could help improve the effectiveness of your board?

 

Full Responses

You can see the complete list of questions and the aggregated responses below. Responses with the highest variance (marked with ) may indicate poor communication, polarised views or inconsistent awareness of issues between directors. It may also indicate areas of over exuberance or frustration on the part of some individuals.

Symbol Meaning
Question has a large range of answers
Question rated in your Top 10 Strengths
Question rated in your 10 Areas for Improvement  
Column Meaning
Low    The lowest value submitted
Avg.    The average of the submissions
High    The highest value submitted
Range    The difference between the lowest and highest
Responses    How many respondents provided a value for this question
N/A    How many respondents answered N/A for this question


Board Effectiveness

Question Low Avg. High Range Responses N/A
Our organisation has a vision and mission statement that clearly and succinctly describes why it exists and what it seeks to achieve. 1 1.5 2 1 2 1
The Board regularly asks itself "Is our organisation getting the desired change in the most effective way?" 2 4.0 5 3 3 0
Our organisation actively seeks feedback from those it seeks to benefit 3 3.3 4 1 3 0
We review and act on the feedback from those we seek to benefit, even if uncomfortable 3 3.7 4 1 3 0
We have a high functioning Board that rolls its sleeves up and gets involved as required 2 3.5 5 3 2 1
The Board is clear about its role in fundraising for the organisation 1 1.0 1 0 2 1
Our fundraising effort is adequately balanced between board members and management (staff) 2 3.3 5 3 3 0
The fundraising efforts of the organisation are successful 3 4.0 5 2 3 0
The Board has a strategic plan outlining what it expects our organisation to achieve over the next few years 1 2.7 4 3 3 0
The Board regularly monitors the progress of its strategic plan 2 4.0 5 3 3 0
The Board has a proven record of achieving what it sets out to achieve in its strategic plan 1 2.0 3 2 2 1
We know who our main competitors are and discuss what we most admire about them 2 3.5 5 3 2 1
Board members know and act when they are not being effective and step down accordingly 3 3.3 4 1 3 0
Our chair is competent, respectful, can influence without dominating, delegates appropriately, runs effective meetings, and has a strong rapport with the CEO or leadership 3 3.7 4 1 3 0
Our organisation embraces and invests in new or emerging technology to improve effectiveness 2 3.0 5 3 3 0
At least once a year our board connects with our sponsors and supporters and seeks constructive feedback from them about our work and approach 1 3.0 5 4 2 1


 

Board Meetings

Question Low Avg. High Range Responses N/A
I am proud of the behaviours displayed by the Board 5 5.0 5 0 2 1
The Board manages its time effectively in meetings 1 1.0 1 0 1 2
I am satisfied with the quality of reports and briefing papers provided to the Board 5 5.0 5 0 3 0
Agendas, minutes and board papers are prepared and circulated sufficiently in advance of and after meetings of the Board 2 3.3 4 2 3 0
Board members are held accountable for agreed actions as a result of meetings 3 3.7 5 2 3 0
There is good communication between the Board and Management 2 2.3 3 1 3 0


Board Structure

Question Low Avg. High Range Responses N/A
We have a good Board orientation and induction process for new members 1 2.0 4 3 3 0
The Board is of an appropriate size 1 2.0 4 3 3 0
Board members possess an appropriate range and balance of skills to perform their duties and advance the organisation 2 2.0 2 0 3 0
The Board reviews the effectiveness of its operations at least once a year 3 3.0 3 0 3 0
The leadership team is given a clear written delegation of authority that empowers them to complete the tasks required for their work 4 4.3 5 1 3 0
The Board sets clear boundaries within which our organisation is to be managed 5 5.0 5 0 2 1


Individual Conduct of Board members

Question Low Avg. High Range Responses N/A
The expectations of Board Members are regularly reviewed 1 2.3 5 4 3 0
Board Members make a concerted effort to inform themselves about our activities, so that in the event that someone asks, "What does your organisation do?", they can comfortably give tangible real time examples of our impact 2 2.0 2 0 3 0
Board Members have a strong understanding of the issues affecting the organisation. 3 3.3 4 1 3 0
Board Members ideas are listened to in a way that is constructive and respectful 1 3.0 4 3 3 0
In between Board meetings, Board Members actively contribute to advance the purpose of the organisation 5 5.0 5 0 3 0
Board Members are consistently well-prepared for the meetings they attend 1 1.0 1 0 1 2
Board Members know our leadership team and actively engage with them outside of formal Board meetings 5 5.0 5 0 2 1


 

Financial and Regulatory Compliance

Question Low Avg. High Range Responses N/A
The Board annually receives and discusses a comprehensive compliance report, covering all relevant legislation, standards, and funding requirements. 1 1.0 1 0 1 2
I am confident in the ability of our organisation to manage its income and expenditures within agreed budgets 1 1.5 2 1 2 1
Conflicts of interest do not affect the integrity of the Board 2 3.7 5 3 3 0
Board Members have been appointed in accordance with the Constitution 3 4.0 5 2 3 0
The serving time limits for Members of the Board, prescribed in our Constitution, are appropriate 3 3.3 4 1 3 0
The responsibilities of Members of the Board are regularly reviewed 2 3.7 5 3 3 0
The Board has taken swift and considered action against any negative surprises in relation to the organisation 1 2.5 4 3 2 1