Organizational   Assessment

This free organizational assessment tool is based upon "Ten Best Ways to Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit"

by Cherie Kausler and Danae Yurgal 

Book available or purchase from Lulu.com at:  Ten Best Ways To Kill* Your Favorite Nonprofit (lulu.com) 

 Chapter 1: Ignore staff 

The lifeblood of any organization is its staff, which includes interns, volunteers, and Board members. They are essential for the provision of services, the execution of actions, and the creation of change.

It is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of your organization in supporting staff to ensure that staff, interns, volunteers and Board members feel safe, valued, and equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their jobs well and contribute to the organization's mission.

1. Does your organization provide professional development training opportunities?

2. Does your organization offer mentoring opportunities?

3. Does your organization offer employee wellness programs?

4. Are team-building activities integrated into your organization?

5. Do employee recognition programs exist in your organization?

6. Does your organization support work-life balance?

7. Does your organization provide a safe environment for employee feedback and engagement?

8. Does your organization offer leadership training?

9. Is your organization proactive in diversity and inclusion initiatives?

10. Are policies and procedures available to protect staff?

Chapter 2: Ignore clients/members

The primary purpose of an organization is to serve the human and/or nonhuman entities it was created for. Losing sight of this purpose undermines the very essence of the organization and its ability to deliver effective service.

Nonprofit organizations exist to serve their clients/members, and it is crucial to ensure that the services provided are of high quality and meet their needs effectively.

1. Does your organization conduct a thorough needs assessment or surveys to determine the needs of the community?

2. Does your organization collect feedback from clients to ensure that programs and services are meeting their needs and expectations?

3. Does your organization advocate for clients and their rights?

4. Does your organization provide education and information on issues relevant to the community?

5. Does your organization provide individualized support to clients?

6. Does your organization connect clients with other organizations or resources in the community?

7. Does your organization provide crisis intervention services for clients?

8. Does your organization offer volunteer programs?

9. Does your organization collaborate with other organizations and community partners?

10. Does your organization conduct community events and activities?

Chapter 3: Ignore community  

Nonprofits operate within the context of a community, whether it be local, regional, or national. Being a part of a community isn't about always agreeing, but rather acknowledging and being a good neighbor. The community is where the organization provides its services, and cutting off from the community can drain resources from the organization. 

Interacting with the local community is crucial for nonprofits that want to maximize their impact and create lasting change. By building relationships, tailoring programming, and advocating for change, nonprofits can better serve the communities they aim to support and increase their effectiveness in fulfilling their mission.

1. Does your organization engage with the local community to increase awareness about the nonprofit's mission and activities?

2. Does your organization interact with the local community to access additional resources?

3. Does your organization engage with the local community to build relationships with community members and stakeholders?

4. Does your organization interact with the local community to understand the needs and concerns of the people you serve?

5. Does your organization interact with the local community to build partnerships and collaborations with other organizations or community groups?

6. Does your organization interact with the local community to identify issues that require advocacy efforts?

Chapter 4: Ignore history 

Nonprofits operate within a continuum of time, either keeping up with their times, being progressive, or falling behind as reactive. Time flows, and change is constant. Rooting the organization in time provides a foundation to move confidently into the future, knowing where it has been and where it needs to go. 

An organizational history can serve as a valuable resource for nonprofits, providing a record of their achievements, values, and impact. It can help ensure accountability, foster learning and communication, and provide inspiration for staff, volunteers, and supporters, helping the organization to move forward with confidence and purpose.

1. Does your organization have policies and procedures to develop an organizational history?

2. Does your organization routinely check if it's living up to its mission and values?

3. Does your organization learn from past successes and failures?

4. Does your organization work to build trust and credibility?

5. Does your organization maintain a record of achievements, values, and impact?

6. Does your organization ensure accountability, foster learning and communication, and provide inspiration?

Chapter 5: Avoid the future 

Nonprofits strive to create a better future, but without proper planning, it can be difficult to achieve this goal. Focusing only on the present can lead to missed opportunities and stagnation. Failure to plan for the future can be damaging to the organization's ability to create positive change. 

Staying informed about trends and planning for the future is essential for nonprofits that want to achieve their goals and create positive change in their communities.

1. Does your organization attend conferences, seminars, and other events related to the nonprofit's mission?

2. Does your organization engage with stakeholders who can provide insights into emerging trends and issues?

3. Does your organization conduct research to stay up to date with trends in the field?

4. Does your organization collaborate with other nonprofits in the same or related fields?

5. Does your organization embrace or use technology to stay up to date with trends and communicate with stakeholders?

Chapter 6: Avoid the decisions 

In order to make sound decisions, nonprofits must address ethical considerations such as authority, transparency, and accountability. Failing to establish clear guidelines for decision-making can erode trust and compromise the integrity of the organization.:

To ensure effective decision-making, nonprofits should adopt a strategic and collaborative approach that involves setting clear goals, collecting and analyzing relevant data, engaging stakeholders, using consensus-based methods, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. By doing so, nonprofits can make ethical and informed decisions that support their mission and enhance their impact.

1. Does your organization clearly define goals and objectives?

2. Does your organization participate in long and short term planning? 

3. Does your organization participate in collecting and analyzing data for decision-making?

4. Are stakeholders involved in decision-making processes?

5. Does your organization participate in consensus-based decision-making?

6. Does your organization foster a culture of continuous improvement?

Chapter 7: Avoid organizational health 

Organizational health is crucial for nonprofits to function effectively and create positive change. Unhealthy organizations struggle to move forward and provide services, and can be further damaged by various factors.

To promote organizational health, nonprofits should prioritize strong leadership, clear mission and goals, effective governance, efficient operations, skilled staff and volunteers, and collaborative relationships. By investing in these components and continuously monitoring and addressing issues, nonprofits can improve their effectiveness and achieve their goals.

1. Does your leadership inspire and motivate staff and volunteers?

2. Does your organization have a clear and compelling mission statement?

3. Does your organization have strong governance?

4. Does your organization have effective operations?

5. Is communication within and among your organization departments fluid?  

6. Does your organization have skilled staff and volunteers?

7. Does your organization have strong relationships with stakeholders?

8. Does your organization have policies in place to assure a safe environment for all? 

Chapter 8: Avoid organizational aging 

Living systems, including nonprofit organizations, undergo natural cycles of growth and change over time. Failing to recognize and adapt to these cycles can result in missed opportunities, lost connections, and a focus on survival rather than growth.

To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the organization, nonprofits must actively address the challenges of organizational aging. This can involve investing in strategic planning, leadership development, innovation, and other measures to adapt to changing circumstances and stay relevant. By embracing a culture of continuous learning and improvement, nonprofits can thrive and achieve their mission over the long term.

1. Is your organization open to change and innovation?

2. Does your organization have community support?

3. Can your organization recruit and retain new leaders?

4. Is your organization flexible in decision-making?

5. Is your organization financially sustainable?

Chapter 9: Punish failure 

Mistakes are inevitable in any organization. However, the way an organization responds to these mistakes is crucial to its success. Healthy organizations adapt and implement structural changes to address issues, while damaged organizations struggle to identify opportunities for growth and spiral into dysfunction.

Instead of punishing failure, nonprofits should encourage a culture of learning and growth that embraces failure as an opportunity for improvement. This can involve investing in training and education, creating a safe space for staff to share and learn from their mistakes, and recognizing and rewarding successful adaptations and innovations. By fostering a culture of learning and growth, nonprofits can enhance their capacity for adaptive change and promote long-term success.

1. Is your organization open to creativity and risk-taking? 

2. Does your organization promote transparency?

3. Does your organization work to avoid a culture of stagnation?

4. Does your organization work to avoid high turnover rates or difficulty in recruiting and retaining talented individuals?

5. Does your organization work to improve its programs and services?

Chapter 10: Punish success

Success is not just about achieving goals, but also about how an organization acknowledges and rewards progress towards its mission. When success is not recognized or rewarded fairly, it can lead to a toxic work environment and ultimately harm the organization. The lack of support for success can stifle innovation, decrease motivation, and negatively impact morale. 

Support and incentives for their staff and volunteers fosters a culture of collaboration and teamwork. By creating a positive work environment that supports success, nonprofits can improve morale, boost innovation, and increase their overall impact in achieving their mission.

1. Does your organization work to avoid demotivation?

2. Are your organization leaders supportive and encouraging? 

3. Does your organization work to promote healthy competition?

4. Does your organization work to avoid a narrow focus?

5. Does your organization work to avoid a culture of overwork and burnout?

Rating your Score:

Please rate each question on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being "Strongly Disagree" and 5 being "Strongly Agree." 

There are 66 questions with a total of 330 point possible. 

• Rating: 1 (Weak Organization - <175) Description: The organization is struggling in various aspects and requires significant support and improvement to function effectively and achieve its mission.

• Rating: 2 (Below Average Organization-175-200 ) Description: The organization shows some weaknesses and areas that need improvement. It requires support and changes to enhance its effectiveness.

• Rating: 3 (Average Organization-200-225) Description: The organization is performing adequately in most areas but has room for growth and improvement to reach its full potential.

• Rating: 4 (Strong Organization-225-250) Description: The organization demonstrates strength in various aspects and is performing well. It has implemented effective practices and shows potential for continued growth and success.

• Rating: 5 (Excellent Organization- 250>) Description: The organization is exemplary in its performance and practices. It excels in multiple areas and serves as a role model for others. It exhibits a high level of effectiveness and efficiency.