CNPL BoardPulse2.0

No, the CNPL BoardPulse2.0 self-assessment tool is provided free-of-charge from NVPC.

Please submit your charity’s details and make your request through this form, and NVPC will be in touch to facilitate the process.

There are no strict eligibility requirements to take the CNPL BoardPulse2.0 self-assessment. However, we recommend that board members have some prior experience working with fellow board members before undertaking the assessment to ensure a fair and representative evaluation of their interactions. Examples of relevant experience include attending board or committee meetings, and participating in group discussions or decision-making processes.

The process from registration to receiving your CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report has been designed to be as straightforward as possible. From our experience, the step that takes the longest is the collection of completed individual survey responses from board members.

To facilitate this, we have ensured that the survey can be completed within 20 minutes online using mobile devices. Charities can consider leveraging board meetings to further facilitate the completion of this step. Upon closing of the survey, NVPC will generate and provide the CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report within 5 working days.

The CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report has been designed to be interpreted without the need of an external facilitator or workshop. Instructions for using the report to identify improvement areas (if any) are incorporated in the report and the action planning template.

The CNPL BoardPulse2.0 self-assessment survey is managed by your charity’s appointed coordinator. If you encounter any issues submitting your response (e.g., invalid survey link, survey closed), please reach out directly to your charity’s coordinator for assistance.

The results in each CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report are computed using the Charity Board Performance Framework and survey responses from individual board members. As such, the report provides an evidence-informed indication of the board’s performance based on the board’s self-reported behavioural characteristics, rather than an objective measurement of hard outcomes. The report should be used as a starting point to drive discussion rather than an “examination” that the charity needs to excel in. 

No, the CNPL BoardPulse2.0 is a self-assessment tool that computes performance scores based on responses from board members and the Charity Board Performance Framework developed from the Charity Board Leadership Study 2025. The report reflects the board’s internal view; it does not take into account outside-in perspectives and should not be read as a 360° report.

No, your charity’s CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report is shared only with the charity’s appointed coordinator for dissemination to the board. Sharing the report with sector administrators, regulators and others is at the charity’s discretion.

No, to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the self-assessment process, the raw survey responses will not be shared with the charities. Each CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report presents aggregated analysis and findings on a charity board’s performance as a whole through the Charity Board Performance Framework as a starting point for meaningful conversations about board performance enhancement. The technical details of the method can be found in the CBLS 2025 findings report.

No, your charity is not required to submit your action planning report. The CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report is provided for your charity’s own use and the board should decide on its application in alignment with the board’s ambition.

GEC Code 2.2 states: ‘The Board and Management should be inducted and undergo training, where necessary, and their performance reviewed regularly to ensure their effectiveness.’ The Office of the Commissioner of Charities has reviewed the CNPL BoardPulse2.0 report and confirmed that it serves as one of the tools that charities can use to evaluate their board’s performance and hence partially fulfils the requirement of Code 2.2.