Nonprofit Executive Director Performance Evaluation
with Nancy Fournier Ph.D., Leadership Coach for Women Nonprofit Executive Directors

Are you part of the 50% nonprofit leaders who do not receive an annual performance review?
You deserve a thorough, data-driven performance evaluation providing objective feedback and acknowledgment for your successes and an action plan to shore up your weak spots.
Although it is a core Board of Director’s responsibility to evaluate their Executive Director, most Boards do not know where to start.
Strong, visionary nonprofit leaders are hard to find and retain. They are more likely to stay in their jobs when they feel supported by their Board. One way to demonstrate support is to formally evaluate the Executive Director’s work performance.
A meaningful Executive Director performance evaluation is comprised of more than a Board of Directors survey. When done correctly the performance evaluation will:
- Provide an opportunity to reflect on the general health of the agency.
- Identify and track progress on priority issues.
- Strengthen the Executive Director and Board of Directors' relationship.
- Clarify performance areas which need support.
- Fill a critical component of the Board of Directors' governance responsibilities.
- Boost stakeholders' confidence in your agency's leadership.
I have conducted scores of nonprofit Executive Director performance evaluations. The process has always resulted in an increased clarity around agency priorities, leadership competencies and a deeper Executive Director/Board of Directors relationship.
The performance review process:
In a three-to four-month process working jointly with the Executive Director and Board we follow a seven-step process.

- Identify priorities for the Execuive Director's job tasks and leadership skills.
- Reach consensus on the goals and how progress should be measured.
- Gather data using information the agency already collects as well as surveying/interviewing important stakeholders.
- Create a performance dashboard and detailed report identifying both areas of strength and professional development suggestions.
- Develop performance improvement strategies based on the evaluation findings.
At the conclusion of the evaluation the agency will receive the following which can be used for future Executive Director performance reviews:
- An easy-to-read performance evaluation dashboard.
- A detailed report with graphs and charts explaining all the data findings.
- Customized Board or Directors, staff and stakeholder surveys.
- Customized Executive Director self-assessment.
- Complete data collection plan with measures and data sources identified.
It is time to strengthen your nonprofit by conducting a performance evaluation for the Executive Director.
Nancy Fournier Ph.D.
Leadership Coach for Women Nonprofit Executive Directors