1 Vision and strategy

One of the main roles of the board is to define and oversee the vision and strategy of the non-profit, ensuring that it aligns with its mission and values, responds to the needs and expectations of its stakeholders, and adapts to the changing environment. Stakeholder feedback can help the board to assess the relevance and impact of the current vision and strategy, identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, and generate new ideas and solutions. The board can solicit stakeholder feedback through various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, workshops, forums, or online platforms. The board should also involve stakeholders in the process of developing, reviewing, and updating the vision and strategy, ensuring that their voices are heard and considered.

2 Accountability and transparency

Another key role of the board is to ensure that the non-profit is accountable and transparent to its stakeholders, demonstrating its ethical and legal compliance, financial stewardship, and social responsibility. Stakeholder feedback can help the board to evaluate and improve its accountability and transparency practices, such as reporting, disclosure, evaluation, auditing, and feedback mechanisms. The board can use stakeholder feedback to measure and communicate its performance and impact, identify and address any issues or concerns, and build trust and credibility with its stakeholders. The board should also encourage and welcome stakeholder feedback on its own governance, such as its policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities.

3 Engagement and communication

A third key role of the board is to foster and maintain positive and productive relationships with its stakeholders, engaging and communicating with them regularly and effectively. Stakeholder feedback can help the board to understand and meet the needs and preferences of its stakeholders, tailor and deliver its messages and stories, and solicit and respond to their input and feedback. The board can use stakeholder feedback to enhance its engagement and communication strategies, such as its channels, methods, frequency, tone, and content. The board should also create and nurture a culture of dialogue and collaboration with its stakeholders, inviting and involving them in its decision-making and activities.

4 Diversity and inclusion

A fourth key role of the board is to reflect and promote diversity and inclusion within the non-profit and among its stakeholders, respecting and valuing their different backgrounds, perspectives, and contributions. Stakeholder feedback can help the board to assess and improve its diversity and inclusion practices, such as its recruitment, retention, development, recognition, and representation of its board members, staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries. The board can use stakeholder feedback to diversify and enrich its composition and skills, ensure equal and fair opportunities and treatment for all, and celebrate and leverage the strengths and assets of its stakeholders. The board should also foster and support a culture of diversity and inclusion within the non-profit and among its stakeholders, creating and sustaining a sense of belonging and empowerment.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?