Why Organizations May Consider An Assessment

In the lifecycle of non-profit organizations, a comprehensive organizational assessment may be useful for a variety of reasons. For new organizations that are just starting out, it can provide the direction and road map that boards and their executives need to carefully chart their work, from policy creation to required standards of practice for HR, fundraising, governance and many other areas of the first few years.


For mature organizations, an assessment may provide "the truth" as noted by its stakeholders of how it is viewed in the community, by funding organizations, and in some cases by its own staff and board members.


More that identifying weaknesses and deficits, the assessment when combined with a workplan can lead the organization to take advantage of opportunities to grow and mature, thus making it eligible for new partnerships, opportunities, and even funding.


For organizations that are required to have an assessment for continued foundation funding, it can be crafted to probe specific challenge areas and issues that sets the stage for a phased strategic planning effort.


Overview of An Organizational Assessment
and Capacity Building Plan


The Organizational Assessment Report

The goal of this report is to describe for the organization what should be the standard in an effectively functioning organization, where the problems are in their own organization and what the consultant recommends to increase their functional capacity. This report will be comprehensive and can be lengthy. It is targeted to the organization's chief executive officer. It details what an organization will need in order to specifically understand how to build organizational capacity. Each report will be organized in eight (8) organizational function sections:


  • Governance
  • Community Relations/Marketing/Partnering
  • Fund Development
  • Program Administration/Service Delivery/Evaluation
  • Staff and Volunteer Management
  • Financial Management
  • Facility/Technology
  • Systems Change/Advocacy/Public Policy

Each section has three parts:


  1. Basic Considerations - Briefly describes standards for each function
  2. Findings - The consultant's findings in each organizational function
  3. Recommendations - The consultant's recommendations to remedy findings

The Organizational Assessment Executive Summary, for the Board of Directors

The goal is to provide a snapshot of the assessment process, organizational function at the time of the assessment, the assessor's findings, options for consideration relative to the most critical findings and what the consultant recommends. This report is specifically targeted to the governance board. This report will be organized as follows:


  • Organizational Mission
  • Organizational Background - Briefly describes the organization, what it does and its current condition
  • Assessment Process - Briefly describes the assessment process
  • Summary of Assessment Findings - Briefly describes most important finding
  • Capacity Building for Next Stage of Development - Lists those areas where capacity needs to be built over next three to five years in five capacity areas (Adaptive, Cultural, technical, management, leadership)
  • Priority Recommendations - Briefly outlines the first steps an organization needs to take to build capacity

The Capacity Building Plan

The goal of this plan is to provide a list in priority order of recommended planned steps the assessed organization must take to build capacity over the next 3-5 years. This plan is targeted to board, staff and funding organizations. The plan will be organized as follows:


  • Prioritized Recommendations
  • Reference Assessment Report (section and page)
  • Suggested Timeline (to be completed by organization)
  • Assignment of Responsibility (to be completed by organization)

Attachment A: Summary of Internal and External Stakeholder Perceptions

The goal is to identify, for the assessed organization, the perceptions of internal and external stakeholders. This report is targeted to board and staff. The summary will be organized to provide the perceptions of:


  • What the organization does well?
  • What are the challenges for the organization?
  • What could the organization do better?

Attachment B: The Infrastructure Checklist

The goal is to identify which organizational infrastructure, policies, procedures and plans are in place and which are missing and to provide an initial assessment of organizational capacity.


For further information and a proposal contact
Centerboard Associates, Inc. 269.273.6308