Appraisal

A trustee appraisal is a review of an individual trustee's own personal contribution to the board. 

An appraisal can help a trustee evaluate their strengths, weaknesses and support needs. Appraisals can also help the board ensure trustees are satisfied with their role and are using their time, skills, experience and interests to benefit the charity.

Appraisals can be formal or informal. A formal approach might involve a self-appraisal questionnaire, completed by each trustee, followed by an annual review meeting.

An informal approach might involve the chair talking to each trustee about their satisfaction as a board member and their interests or support needs.

Remember that trustees are usually volunteers and come from all walks of life. The format of the appraisal should be sensitive and should not feel too burdensome or too informal.

A code of conduct can form a useful part of a trustee’s appraisal. A code of conduct sets out the expectations of a trustee (for example, their behaviour and way of working) and can form a reference point when discussing any issues or concerns about their role.

The appraisal of a chair or honorary officer might follow a different process than the appraisal of other trustees. For example, the vice chair could gather confidential feedback from each trustee about the chair’s performance and sensitively present the findings to the chair.