What should your nonprofit resolve to do in 2018?

I recently facilitated several conversations with staff and board members from Bay Area nonprofit organization about the results of the impact capacity assessment tool (iCAT). The iCAT measures the health of a nonprofit in six core areas: managing, planning, learning, leading, overseeing and generating. Staff and board members take an online survey that asks about perceptions of the organization in these areas. The iCAT converts this data into a report on organizational strengths and weaknesses and recommendations effective next steps.

Recommendations range from strategic planning to fundraising training to investing in systems for greater organizational oversight. Organizations could use the recommendations to plan next steps or apply for capacity-building funding.

A few days before a results meeting, I spoke with a nonprofit executive director to go over last-minute details. She  was excited to hear the results and admitted that the process of taking the survey had been thought-provoking. Whatever results emerged, her mind had been opened by “taking the temperature” of the organization. Her response told me that, even before the results were delivered, the iCAT added value by zooming out from the questions of daily operations. The results added another level of learning and a path forward.

Assess, learn, plan. Repeat!

Which brings me to what all nonprofit organizations should resolve to do in 2018 and every year: Assess, learn, plan. Repeat!

Change is the only constant. We need to continually figure out what to do about that change in order to work effectively. We can’t stand still. As individuals or organizations, we’re either getting better or we’re getting worse. 

Most organizations spend much time and energy at the tactical level: what do we need to do today to serve our clients? Yet organizations must build some “step back time” into their workflow.

In addition to the iCAT, there are many ways for an organization to assess strengths and weaknesses. Many board assessments are available online. Organizations can explore results internally or work with consultants to facilitate next steps.

There are many ways to learn how to work better: read about best practices, seek professional development opportunities, find mentors. From this learning and assessment, organizations can plan their next steps.

When will your organization invest time this year to assess, learn and plan? And how?