The Nonprofit Organization SelfAssessment

1
The Nonprofit Organization Self-Assessment

• Presented by
• Rachael Coleman Gibson
• Senior Project Specialist, Organizational
  Development
• Mosaica The Center for Nonprofit Development and
  Pluralism
• 1522 K Street, NW Suite 1130
• Washington, DC 20005
• 202-887-0620
• www.mosaica.org

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Mission and Goals

• Your mission should guide everything you do
• The mission briefly and concisely states the
  purpose, long-term goals and programmatic scope
  of the organization
• It articulates what is different and unique about
  your organization and can serve as a long range
  planning tool

3
Board Governance

• Board members are trustees on behalf of donors.
  They have ultimate oversight authority, including
  fiscal oversight
• The Board is responsible for ensuring that the
  organization operates for the public good and is
  fiscally accountable
• The Board should be structured in a way that
  makes sense for the governance needs of the
  organization

4
Leadership

• Leadership is the bedrock of organization
  effectiveness
• The leadership should understand the work of the
  organization and be capable of carrying out the
  vision and mission
• The executive leadership should be knowledgeable
  about managing the organization if they do not
  have the skills they should be aware of what is
  needed and have resources to get it done

5
Strategic Planning

• Strategic planning helps to clarify and refine an
  organizations values, vision, mission, and
  priorities
• It enables an organization to look into the
  future in an orderly and systematic way
• It helps assure that an organization remains
  relevant and responsive to the needs of its
  community.

6
Program and Service Delivery

• Your organizations programs and services are the
  heart of what you do
• Programs must respond to community needs and
  should always be evolving
• Programs and services will be more effective when
  the people who are being served have input into
  the future direction

7
Financial Management and Budget Operations

• Good fiscal management is a mechanism for
  accountability to donors and the public
• You should put in place adequate internal
  controls
• Budgets should be realistic, both on the expenses
  and revenue side
• Always implement fiscal management systems e.g.
  an accounting procedures manual

8
Fundraising

• Without money there are no programs!
• All nonprofits should strive to have diverse
  funding from a variety of sources
• Fundraising plans should be realistic and
  reasonable for your organizations situation
• The Board should be willing and able to raise
  funds for the organization

9
Human Resource Management

• People are an organizations greatest asset so
  you must manage that asset well
• Executive leadership should have at least minimal
  knowledge of or experience in the legal
  requirements related to hiring, managing, and
  separating from employees
• There should be a method for evaluating employees
  and/or volunteers and ensuring staff development

10
Community Outreach

• The community should know about your work!
• Community outreach keeps you in contact with the
  community and provides visibility for the
  organization
• It helps to build trust and strong relationships
• You are better able to disseminate information
  about key issues affecting your community

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Communications

• Communications efforts should be appropriate to
  the different audiences the organization wants to
  reach or engage
• You should be very intentional about your
  communications efforts
• You should focus on external and internal
  communications