Selecting new board members might seem like routine business, but it’s still a process that requires attention and time.
Gathering the right information to assess each candidate’s experience and commitment can be a challenge even for seasoned organizations, especially if they don’t have the right process in place. The good thing is that a simple board member application helps streamline this work.
This article offers a quick overview and a free template to help your organization get started.
Let’s take a look!
Definition alert: What is a board member questionnaire?
Organizations use a board member questionnaire to evaluate potential board candidates by gathering essential information about their background, expertise, interests, and willingness to commit to the board’s responsibilities. Organizations that rely on a standardized questionnaire generally make better and more equitable decisions when selecting new board members.
Now that we’ve clarified what a board member questionnaire is and why it matters, let’s dive into the questions that will help us get to know you better.
18 questions to include in your board member questionnaire template
Just before diving into the specifics, it’s helpful to understand what kind of information will give you the clearest picture of your candidates. The following template is designed to cover the essentials without overwhelming the applicant or your review team.
| Note: We’ll show you what some of these questions would look like if you used Content Snare to create a questionnaire template. |
Section 1: Personal information
Start with the basics: who the applicant is and how to reach them. This section ensures you have up-to-date contact details and can follow up easily if needed.
1. Name
2. Email
3. Phone number
4. Mailing address
5. LinkedIn profile (optional)
Section 2: Professional background
The main goal is to analyze a candidate’s career path as it provides insight into their skills and areas of expertise. This section will help you do just that.
6. What is your current occupation/job title?
7. Employer/organization name
8. Brief professional bio (2–5 sentences)
9. Upload your resume
Section 3: Board experience and interests
This is where candidates can share why they want to join your board and what they hope to contribute. It’s also a chance to assess how their motivations and past experience line up with your mission.
10. Why are you interested in joining our Board of Directors?
11. Do you have prior experience serving on a board?
If yes, please describe your previous board experience.
12. What areas of expertise or skills do you bring to our board? Check all that apply:
- Strategic planning
- Fundraising
- Development
- Legal/governance
- Financial Management
- Marketing and communications
- DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)
- HR & people management
- Program evaluation
- Community engagement
Section 4: Commitment and expectations
Board service requires time, energy, and a willingness to be actively involved. Use this section to clarify expectations and confirm that the candidate is prepared to meet them.
13. Are you able to commit to a full board term?
14. Can you attend quarterly board meetings and serve on at least one committee?
15. Are you willing to support the organization through fundraising and/or personal giving?
Section 5: References
References can provide another layer of insight into a candidate’s character and reliability.
16. Please provide 2 professional or character references.
Include their names, relationship to you, phone, and email.
Section 6: Signature
A signature is a formality, but it’s a small step that signals a big commitment.
17. Signature
By signing below, I certify that the information provided is true and that I understand the expectations of a board member.
18. Date
Content Snare: A simple way to make board member applications
Collecting board member applications doesn’t have to involve endless email threads or scattered Word docs. Content Snare is a tool designed to simplify the process by letting you build smart and structured forms that guide applicants through each step while keeping everything organized in a single place.
This is why you’ll like Content Snare more than traditional form-building tools:
- Customizable forms: Tailor questionnaires to your unique board needs
- Automated reminders: It sends follow-up emails for incomplete submissions based on your schedule
- File uploads: Allow candidates to attach relevant documents easily
- Integration capabilities: You can connect responses with your existing systems thanks to countless third-party integrations
- User-friendly design: The system provides a seamless experience for board member applicants
- Secure data storage: The platform keeps sensitive applicant information protected thanks to extensive security mechanisms
Instead of chasing down missing information or reformatting responses, you can create a clear questionnaire with required fields, deadlines, and automated reminders.
This is also why Content Snare has become a trusted tool for over 1,600 organizations worldwide, across industries like accounting, legal, real estate, and nonprofit management. Its reputation is backed by hundreds of glowing reviews on platforms like G2, Capterra, and the Xero App Store.
Sign up for a free 14-day trial to start building your questionnaire and see how easy it is to speed up your board member application process.
