Free Sample for Nonprofit Organizations Survey
50+ Sample Survey Questions for Nonprofit Organizations
Measuring staff, board, and stakeholder feedback is critical for nonprofit organizations looking to refine their programs and boost community impact. A survey is a structured set of targeted questions - whether you need strategic planning survey questions or sample survey questions for nonprofit organizations - that helps you pinpoint areas for improvement and guide your mission forward. Download our free template preloaded with example questions, or head to our online form builder to craft a custom survey if you need more flexibility.
Trusted by 5000+ Brands

Top Secrets to Crafting a Sample for Nonprofit Organizations Survey
When you build a sample for nonprofit organizations survey, you lay the foundation for insights that drive change. You'll learn how donors, volunteers, and board members really feel about your mission. This clarity helps you set goals, allocate resources, and improve outreach. A well-designed sample gives you actionable data, not just numbers.
Start by defining your objectives and audience clearly. Use filters like age, geography, or donor type to target responses. Follow the Survey Best Practices: Examples & Tips for Better Design to avoid jargon and bias. Keep each question focused to boost response rates by up to 40%, according to SurveyMonkey.
Imagine a small food bank in Ohio testing new outreach events. They segment clients by neighborhood and send a short email invite. Within a week, they gather dozens of replies that pinpoint the most popular time slots. That real-world feedback steers them to host weekend drives where they'll see the biggest impact.
Sample questions bring your template to life. Try "What do you value most about our programs?" or "How satisfied are you with our communication efforts?" You can also include "Which volunteer roles interest you?" to recruit effectively. These clear, closed-ended prompts guide respondents and simplify analysis.
Ready to sharpen your questions? Check out the Nonprofit Survey guide for more tips. You can also run a quick poll to test one question with your core group. Finally, review the AAPOR guidelines to ensure neutrality and reliability.
5 Must-Know Tips to Dodge Nonprofit Survey Mistakes
Even seasoned teams stumble when they overcomplicate questions or miss clear goals. A common mistake is asking too many open-ended prompts - you'll get rich stories but low completion rates. Another pitfall? Leading questions that steer answers. Stay neutral and concise to respect your respondents' time and honesty.
1. Define one primary objective per survey. A youth mentoring NGO in Chicago wanted feedback on both curriculum and facilities. They split their survey and saw response jump by 25%. Clear scope means you can act swiftly on each result.
2. Avoid jargon and double-barreled questions. The 5 Essential Steps for Your Nonprofit's Stakeholder Surveys guide warns against "How satisfied are you with our board governance and fundraising?" It's two questions in one - split it for clarity.
3. Keep it brief and balanced. Try "How likely are you to recommend our organization to a friend?" Mixing a clear 1 - 5 scale with a single optional comment field drives honest feedback. You'll see trends quickly and know which strategic planning survey questions nonprofit teams need next.
4. Pilot your survey with a small group before full rollout. A regional arts charity in Atlanta tested on ten volunteers, caught confusing phrasing, and improved their form. That simple trial boosted their overall data quality.
5. Use proven templates and examples. Browse our Questions to Put on a Survey for Nonprofit Organization Survey page, and then refine with best practices from the Nonprofit Surveys Ultimate Guide. You'll avoid rookie errors and deliver a polished experience that yields clean, actionable results.
Demographic Survey Questions
Gathering demographic information helps tailor programs and communications to your participants. When designing your Nonprofit Survey , understanding backgrounds and preferences is essential. Use these questions to capture the key characteristics of your audience.
-
What is your age?
Knowing age distribution helps segment responses for targeted outreach and program design.
-
What is your gender?
Gender data supports inclusive programming and ensures equity across services.
-
What is your race or ethnicity?
Collecting this information helps measure diversity and identify underserved groups.
-
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Education levels can influence communication strategies and volunteer training needs.
-
What is your current employment status?
Employment status provides insight into economic challenges or stability among stakeholders.
-
What is your annual household income range?
Income data helps align financial assistance programs and fundraising appeals.
-
In which ZIP code do you reside?
Location information guides regional service expansion and community outreach efforts.
-
Do you identify as a veteran or active military member?
Understanding veteran status ensures specialized support for this community.
-
What is the primary language spoken at home?
Language preferences allow for more effective translation and interpretation services.
-
What is your marital or partnership status?
Household composition data helps customize family-oriented programs and resources.
Nonprofit Board Survey Questions
Board member engagement is critical for effective governance and strategic direction. These targeted inquiries, drawn from our Questions to Put on a Survey for Nonprofit Organization Survey , help evaluate the board's performance and alignment with the mission. Use their feedback to strengthen leadership and decision-making.
-
How clear is the organization's mission and vision to you?
Ensuring clarity of mission boosts board alignment and strategic focus.
-
How satisfied are you with the frequency and quality of board communications?
Quality communication fosters transparency and informed decision-making.
-
How effectively do board meetings facilitate strategic discussions?
Assessing meeting effectiveness supports continuous improvement of governance.
-
How well does the board collaborate with senior staff?
Positive collaboration between board and staff drives organizational synergy.
-
How satisfied are you with financial oversight and reporting?
Strong financial governance ensures accountability and donor confidence.
-
How useful was the orientation and training provided when you joined the board?
Effective onboarding equips new members for meaningful contributions.
-
How confident are you in the leadership abilities of executive management?
Board confidence in leadership is essential for organizational stability.
-
How closely do board roles match your professional expertise?
Role alignment maximizes each member's impact and engagement.
-
How satisfied are you with the board's fundraising strategies?
Evaluating fundraising efforts helps optimize resource development.
-
How likely are you to recommend board service at this organization to a colleague?
Willingness to recommend reflects overall satisfaction and pride in service.
Staff Survey Questions for Nonprofit Organizations
Staff feedback is vital for improving workplace culture and operational efficiency. Integrate these items into your Nonprofit Organization Needs Survey to gauge employee satisfaction and development areas. Their insights help retain talent and boost productivity.
-
How would you rate your overall job satisfaction?
Overall satisfaction measures workforce morale and predicts turnover risk.
-
How clearly do you understand your job responsibilities?
Role clarity supports efficiency and reduces workplace confusion.
-
How effective is internal communication within the organization?
Strong communication channels are essential for collaboration and timely decisions.
-
How supported do you feel by your direct supervisor?
Managerial support is a key factor in employee engagement and growth.
-
How adequate are the resources and tools provided to perform your job?
Resource availability affects the quality and speed of program delivery.
-
How satisfied are you with professional development opportunities?
Training and growth options drive staff retention and skill enhancement.
-
How well does the organization recognize and reward your contributions?
Recognition programs boost motivation and reinforce positive behaviors.
-
How would you rate the work-life balance at this nonprofit?
Balance assessments guide wellness initiatives and reduce burnout.
-
How confident are you in the organization's senior leadership?
Staff confidence in leadership correlates with organizational stability and trust.
-
How likely are you to recommend this organization as a place to work?
Employee referrals are a strong indicator of workplace satisfaction.
Stakeholder Survey Questions
Stakeholders - donors, volunteers, and partners - provide critical perspectives on your impact. Use these questions in your Non Profit Membership Survey to identify strengths, gaps, and growth opportunities. Their input drives stronger relationships and more targeted programming.
-
How familiar are you with our mission and core programs?
Awareness levels help refine outreach and education efforts.
-
How satisfied are you with the frequency and quality of updates you receive?
Consistent, clear updates strengthen stakeholder trust and engagement.
-
How well do our programs align with community needs?
Alignment feedback guides program development and resource allocation.
-
How likely are you to continue supporting our initiatives?
Ongoing support indicators help forecast future funding and involvement.
-
How effectively do we address your questions or concerns?
Responsiveness is key to maintaining positive stakeholder relationships.
-
How transparent are we about fund usage and outcomes?
Transparency fosters confidence and accountability.
-
How accessible are our services or events to you?
Accessibility ensures broad participation and equity in service delivery.
-
How confident are you in our ability to achieve stated goals?
Confidence measures credibility and perceived competence.
-
How valuable do you find opportunities for involvement?
Volunteer and partnership options strengthen commitment and ownership.
-
How likely are you to recommend our nonprofit to others?
Recommendations reflect overall satisfaction and advocacy potential.
Strategic Planning Survey Questions
Collecting input on your strategic plan helps ensure relevance and adaptability. These questions are ideal for your Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Survey and assist in refining goals, measuring progress, and engaging stakeholders. Use them to guide data-driven decision-making.
-
What do you see as the organization's top strategic priority for the next three years?
Identifying priorities aligns resources with the most urgent needs.
-
How effective is our current goal-setting process?
Assessing goal-setting helps refine planning methodologies.
-
How well do our strategic objectives reflect stakeholder feedback?
Incorporating feedback ensures plans are realistic and supported.
-
How confident are you in our capacity to execute the strategic plan?
Execution confidence indicates resource and capability alignment.
-
How effectively do we measure progress toward strategic goals?
Progress metrics are essential for accountability and continuous improvement.
-
How flexible is our plan in responding to unexpected changes?
Flexibility accommodates evolving needs and external challenges.
-
How inclusive was the planning process for diverse stakeholder groups?
Inclusive planning fosters buy-in and broad representation.
-
How well do we address resource constraints in our plan?
Realistic resource planning prevents overcommitment and ensures sustainability.
-
How aligned are departmental goals with the overall strategic plan?
Alignment drives coordinated efforts across the organization.
-
How satisfied are you with the communication of our strategic plan?
Clear communication is key to successful implementation and engagement.