Problem

Board Checkup evolved out of the scientific research of Professors Yvonne Cafik (Harrison) and Vic Murray to increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations to resolve problems of board performance through the practice of board performance assessment.

To date, 24,000 individuals from 750 boards in 80 countries around the world have used Board Checkup to confidentially self-assess and benchmark changes in board performance. The research, which has been peer reviewed and published shows boards who used Board Checkup increased board, organization, and leadership effectiveness significantly over time (from one assessment to the next). Not only did effectiveness increase, 80 % of the boards who adopted the practice made intentional changes in behavior and practice in alignment with what theory and research suggests is ideal leadership and governance in the nonprofit and voluntary sector.

With significant impact on the problem, Board Checkup, Self-Assessment Software Services was incorporated in Canada to optimize the leadership and governance of boards of directors of nonprofit organizations in a reliable, accessible, and affordable way.

For more background about the problem, theory behind the research and results, please contact Professor Cafik at ycafik@buffalo.edu.