Sample Board Operations Calendar

The timing for each of the following activities should be relative to the timing of the beginning of the fiscal year.
 
In the following sample table, the fiscal year begins January 1.

Regular Board Activity Approximate Date (see NOTE #3 above)
1.
Fiscal year begins
 
 
January (fiscal-year timing is often specified in the Bylaws)
2.
Conduct Board Self-Evaluation (do once a year and in preparation for first board retreat (there are 2 per year))
 
March-April (do shortly before evaluating chief executive)
3.
Evaluate Chief Executive (by referencing his or her progress towards last fiscal year's goals and his or her job description)
 
April-May (do shortly after completion of last fiscal year)
4.
Review and update board policies and personnel policies
 
April-June (do concurrent to board and chief evaluations)
5.
Conduct first board retreat (address board self-evaluation results, team building, begin strategic planning, etc.)
 
April
6.
Begin recruiting new board members
 
April-May (in time for June/July elections)
7. Conduct strategic planning to produce organizational goals and resources need to reach goals
May-June-July (start planning in time for setting mission, vision, values, issues, goals, strategies, resource needs, funding needs (nonprofit-specific), and time for getting funds before beginning of next fiscal year)
 
8.
Elect new board members
 
June-July (per By-Laws)
9. Establish chief executive's goals for next year (as produced from strategic planning)
August (as organizational goals are realized from planning)
 
10. Hold annual meeting
July (per By-Laws)
 
11.
Draft next year's budget (based on resources needed to reach new strategic goals)
 
July-August-September
12.
Develop fundraising plan(nonprofit-specific) (with primary goals to get funds needed for budget)
 
July-August-September
13.
Conduct second board retreat (address board orientation/training, re-organize or form new committees based on goals from strategic plan, develop work plans, update board operations calendar, review planning status, etc.)
 
August (in time to orient new board members soon after they join the board)
14.
Conduct fundraising plan(nonprofit-specific) (primarily to meet fundraising goals)
 
August-December