Welcome to a Moment of Strategic Pause.

This audit is a dedicated tool for Board Members to name the "Shadow Budget" of their collective exhaustion and measure the real-time health of their leadership structure. Whether your board is navigating a leadership transition, preparing for a retreat, or simply feeling the "grind" of over-functioning, these 15 questions are designed to help you move toward a practice of systemic durability with radical honesty.

Instructions: Please rate your agreement with the following statements on a scale of 1 (Strongly agree) to 5 (Strongly disgree).

Section A: Time & Availability (The "Clock" Factor)

Context: Board sustainability relies on realistic expectations. Use the following general estimates for your internal calculation:

Full Board Meetings (Quarterly/Monthly): 2–5 hours per meeting
Committee/Working Group Meetings: 1–2 hours per month
Meeting Prep/Administrative Review: 1–3 hours per month

I have a clear understanding of the total monthly time commitment required for my current board and committee roles.

My personal and professional schedule allows me to consistently attend board meetings and review all materials in advance.

My personal and professional schedule allows me to consistently participate in my assigned committee or working group meetings.

If the organization hit a period of high-intensity or crisis, I would have the flexibility to dedicate an extra 5 hours or more this month to the organization without significantly harming my own well-being.

Section B: Interest and Skills Alignment

Context: Board work is often categorized in three primary buckets:

Programs: (The direct work/service we do)

Operations: (How we run our 'house'—finance, HR, culture)

Field Building: (How we shift the broader system/advocacy)

For each area, please identify how much you agree with each statement.

The time I spend on our programs and mission-driven work feels sustainable and aligned with my natural strengths.

My current contributions to the operations of this board (finances, policy, HR) feel balanced and energizing.

My involvement in Field-Building and Ecosystem work (networking, advocacy, partnerships) is at a level that feels healthy for my capacity.

I feel my specific professional expertise and lived experience are being utilized effectively by this board.

Section C: Emotional Bandwidth (The "Burnout" Factor)

This is a real-time audit of your internal battery, measuring the gap between your deep commitment to the mission and your actual emotional capacity to sustain it without depleting yourself.

I generally feel energized and inspired after a board or committee meeting, rather than drained or depleted.

I feel a sense of authentic trust and belonging with my fellow leaders, where I can share my true capacity without fear of judgment.

My current leadership commitments outside of this board are manageable and leave me with plenty of space to show up fully for this mission.

SEED AND STRUCTURE

building durability from the inside out

Welcome to a Moment of Strategic Pause.

Section A: Time & Availability (The "Clock" Factor)

Section B: Interest and Skills Alignment

Section C: Emotional Bandwidth (The "Burnout" Factor)