Because the executive director is so central to the success or failure of the agency,
evaluation of the executive director by the board is an important component of the
board's responsibilities. But too often evaluations (and job descriptions) are undertaken
only when the board has become unhappy with their chief executive. An annual,
written evaluation both documents the executive director's achievements and
shortcomings, and helps the executive director understand areas for improvement or
where the board is insufficiently informed. Typically, a committee of the board (often
the board officers) leads the evaluation process, reports on the evaluation to the entire
board, and recommends salary for the next year.