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Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool
Resource Development
by: Andrew Lewis*
University of Wisconsin Extension
This section of the Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool can help guide a group
discussion about an organization's resource development process. This group discussion
ideally should include board members, staff, volunteers, and service recipients, but could
be used as a self-assessment tool by anyone associated with a nonprofit organization.
Review the assessment form below. First, check the indicators that have been completed or accomplished. Next, indicate
the amount of improvement that you think is needed for that indicator (None or Not
Applicable, Some, or much improvement needed). It is your perception of the organization.
There are no right or wrong answers. If used with a group, each individual should complete
the assessment tool. After allowing adequate time, compare responses and discuss any areas
where there were different perceptions. As a final step, identify the top 2-3 priorities
where there was a high level of consensus on an indicator needing "much"
improvement. If you are doing this as a group, have each individual select their top three
priorities and then tally the "votes" for the group to identify the top three.
Begin developing an action plan that would address these issues (A suggested action plan
format can be found at the end of the document). After successfully implementing your
action plans that address your top priorities, revisit your assessment tool and begin
developing action plans for the other indicators that need attention.
This particular section of the assessment tool focuses on the resource
development process and concepts presented during the educational programs produced by the Learning
Institute for Nonprofit Organizations. The complete Nonprofit Organizational Assessment
Tool will be comprised of eight sections based on the content presented in the eight
programs that make up the curriculum of the Learning Institute for Nonprofit
Organizations. The Learning
Institute for Nonprofit Organizations was a collaboration involving the
University of Wisconsin Extension and the Society for Nonprofit Organizations.
The University has ended its formal relationship with the SNPO, but videotape
presentation kits reside in most of the University of Wisconsin Extension County
offices.
*LI faculty contributor for this section: Jimmie Alford
Resource Development Assessment Tool**
Internal Procedures
| Indicator |
Done? |
Needs
Improvement ? |
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None/
N.A. |
Some |
Much |
| 1. The organization monitors trends in philanthropy and
analyzes the diversity of their funding support. Is the organization dependent upon a
limited number of income sources? Do your funding sources reflect changes in the
"market place"? |
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| 2. The organization periodically reviews its written
strategic plan. Short and long term funding goals are defined in a 3-5 year plan. |
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| 3. A common organizational vision has been created that
builds consensus for mission and programs. |
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| 4. The organization has established a recruitment and
relationship building committee charged with developing, evaluating and monitoring
resource development policies, practices, and goals. A resource development framework has
been established. |
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| 5. Budgets, and resource needs, are shared with and
understood by Board members, staff, and volunteers. |
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| 6. Board members, the executive director, staff, volunteers,
and established resource development committee all participate in the total fundraising
process, including the identification of funding needs, cultivation, solicitation, donor
"upgrades", and recognition. Their specific resource development
responsibilities are communicated and understood. |
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| 7. The organization has invested in technology that builds
capacity for resource development. |
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| 8. The organization does prospect research and maintains
records of past giving that will assist with the cultivation and development of donors. |
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| 9. Funds are raised in an ethical manner through activities
that are consistent with the mission of the organization. |
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| 10. The fundraising program is staffed (internal or outside
fundraiser) and funded at a level consistent with the funding expectations. |
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Communication
| Indicator |
Done? |
Needs
Improvement ? |
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None/
N.A. |
Some |
Much |
| 1. The organization regularly evaluates how the community
views the nonprofit. |
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| 2. Marketing/communication efforts clearly communicate the
organizations mission and funding needs. There is direct communications and relationships
between information services or marketing with the funding needs of the organization. |
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| 3. Budgets, and resource needs, are shared with and
understood by Board members, staff, and volunteers. Their roles in fundraising are clearly
communicated and understood. |
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| 4. Board members, staff and volunteers are provided
orientation to concepts like the Engagement Continuum of fund raising, techniques for
upgrading gifts, and solicitation techniques. |
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| 5. The organization has developed programs that inform,
educate and involve the public. |
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| 6. The organization regularly recognizes established donors
and focuses on individual donors. |
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| 7. The organization is accountable to its donors and key
constituencies and demonstrates stewardship through timely annual reports, budget updates,
and accurate state and federal financial reports. |
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| 8. The organization clearly communicates that it is the best
organization to be doing what it is doing. |
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| 9.
The organization utilizes donor surveys to learn more about their donors. |
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Sample Action Plans:
Use the following format to begin formulating an action plan that would improve your
organization's performance relative to a specific indicator listed above.
Indicator: Board members, staff and volunteers are provided
orientation to concepts like the Engagement Continuum of fund raising,
techniques for upgrading gifts, and solicitation techniques.
| Task |
Time Line |
Who |
Will Do What |
Evaluation Measure |
| Task #1 |
7 Days |
Jim (chair), Claudette, and Jill |
Review notes and the print materials from the Resource
Development - Unleashing Community Generosity program. |
# of resources identified that would assist the organization
in improving it's fund raising techniques. |
| Task #2 |
14 days |
Jim |
Develop a short orientation session that teaches the fund
raising techniques taught by Jimmie Alford. |
Orientation outline completed
Print materials identified
Date established |
| Task #3 |
30 days |
Staff/board - mtg. Called by Jim |
Deliver orientation session at mutually agreed upon time. |
Appropriate persons attend.
Evaluations indicate an improved understanding of fund raising
techniques |
* *Part of an
9-part series of assessment tools that address critical management issues within
a nonprofit organizations. This tool was developed for the Learning Institute
for Nonprofit Organizations collaboration and is based in part on two existing tools:
Community Organizational Assessment Tool, Bright, Robert D., University of
Wisconsin Extension, 1995 (Adapted from Citizens Involvement Training Program., University
of Massachusetts, Amherst).
Checklist of Nonprofit Indicators, United Way of Minneapolis Area, 1998.
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