Boards are expected to keep pace with changing oversight demands, yet development planning is often still handled informally. That leaves capability gaps unclear, succession underdeveloped, and progress difficult to evidence.
Help your board build capability, develop directors with greater intent, and strengthen governance over time with this practical template.
Why use a board development plan template
Skills reviews, succession planning, and training decisions make board development harder to manage. A board development plan template brings everything into one structured framework.
- See gaps more clearly. Map current skills and spot where the board needs more depth, exposure, or support.
- Align development and strategy. Make sure the board’s mix of skills and experience continues to support the organization’s direction and oversight needs.
- Support better succession planning. Identify where future key roles may need preparation.
- Make progress easier to track. Record priorities, actions, owners, review dates, and keep development visible across the year.
- Show stronger governance practices. Provide stakeholders with a clearer view of how board capability is being reviewed.
What this whitepaper includes
Get a ready-to-use framework designed to support board capability planning, director development, induction, and succession readiness.
- Structured 8-component framework for board development
- Fully editable Word format for easy customization
- Step-by-step guidance for practical implementation
- Adaptable for corporate, nonprofit, and public sector boards
Who does this whitepaper target?
We designed this resource for governance professionals and senior leaders responsible for board effectiveness.
- Board chairs
- Company secretaries and governance officers
- Nominations and governance committees
- Senior executives overseeing board performance
Our board development plan template is suitable for corporate, nonprofit, advisory, and public sector boards.
How to use the board development plan template
This template provides your board with a foundation that can be tailored as needs evolve.
- Conduct a skills needs analysis. Assess your board’s current capabilities against the organization’s strategic priorities.
- Complete director profiles. Capture individual expertise, identify development priorities, and evaluate readiness for committee rotation.
- Facilitate structured discussions. Use the insights gathered to support objective, evidence-based conversations within the nominations committee on succession planning and recruitment.
- Maintain strategic alignment. Adopt an annual review and chair sign-off to ensure development activities remain aligned with evolving goals.
- Support nominations committee discussions. Bring the template into board development and succession conversations so decisions are based on official records.
If your board conducts an annual review, the board evaluation template is a useful companion resource. It helps turn review findings into focused development actions.
Download the board development plan template
Support stronger board planning with a practical framework for director development, succession readiness, and governance improvement.
Download your board development plan template with an 8-component framework covering skills mapping, development priorities, induction, and succession planning — fully editable and ready to adapt for corporate, nonprofit, and public boards.