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Six Components of Organizational Capacity
Excerpted from Strengthening Nonprofit Performance: A Funders Guide to Capacity Building by Paul Connolly and Carol Lukas
Capacity is an abstract term that describes a wide range of capabilities, knowledge, and resources that nonprofits need in order to be effective. Through its more than 25 years of experience, Fieldstone Alliance has learned that six components of organizational capacity are critical for high performance:
Mission, Vision, and Strategy: The organization has a vital mission and a clear understanding of its identity. It is actively involved in regular, results-oriented, strategic, and self-reflective thinking and planning that aligns strategies with the mission and organizational capacity. The planning process involves stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue that ensures that the organization's mission and programs are valuable to the neighborhood or constituency it serves.
Governance and Leadership: The organization's board of directors is engaged and representative, with defined governance practices. The board effectively oversees the policies, programs, and organizational operations including review of achievement of strategic goals, financial status, and executive director performance. The organization is accomplished at recruiting, developing, and retaining capable staff and technical resources. The organization's leadership is alert to changing community needs and realities.
Finance: The organization successfully secures support from a variety of sources to ensure that the organization's revenues are diversified, stable, and sufficient for the mission and goals. The resource development plan is aligned with the mission, long-term goals, and strategic direction. The organization has high visibility with key stakeholders and links clear, strategic messages to its resource development efforts.
Internal Operations and Management: The organization has efficient and effective operations and strong management support systems. Financial operations are responsibly managed and reflect sound accounting principles. The organization utilizes information effectively for organizational and project management purposes. Asset, risk, and technology management are strong and appropriate to the organization's purpose.
Program Delivery and Impact: The organization operates programs that demonstrate tangible outcomes commensurate with the resources invested. Programs are high quality and well regarded. The organization utilizes program evaluation results to inform its strategic goals. The organization has formal mechanisms for assessing internal and external factors that affect achievement of goals.
Strategic Relationships: The organization is a respected and active participant and leader in the community, and maintains strong connections with its constituents. It participates in strategic alliances and partnerships that significantly advance their goals and expand their influence.
Mission, vision, and strategy are the driving forces that give the organization its purpose and direction. Program delivery and impact are the nonprofit's primary reasons for existence, just as profit is a primary aim for many for-profit companies. Strategic relationships, resource development, and internal operations and management are all necessary mechanisms to achieve the organization's ends. Absent any one of them, an organization flounders or does not reach its full potential. Leadership and governance is the lubricant that keeps all the parts aligned and moving. The model also suggests the need for constant feedback from the external environment and routine monitoring of program audience and outcomes to inform mission and strategy. When assessing nonprofit organizations and planning intervention strategies, it is best to examine each element separately, in relation to the others, and within the organization's overall context.
A variety of factors can influence an organization's needs at any time, including:
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Age and developmental stage of the organization
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Size of the organization
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Kind of work the organization does
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Cultural or ethnic identity of the organization
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Environment in which the organization functions
*Copyright Fieldstone Alliance. All rights reserved. Find many other free resources and subscribe to Fieldstone Alliance's e-newsletter: Nonprofit Tools You Can Use.
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It Benefits You |
Save the Date |
Calling Evaluators, Program Administrators and Funders. Please Take a Survey.
The Michigan Association for Evaluation (MAE) would appreciate 10 minutes of your time to provide them feedback on what skills you are most interested in improving. They want to learn more about nonprofits' needs for evaluation training and what funders expect them to know about evaluation. This information will be helpful in tailoring their workshops and professional development program.
Your name may be one of six drawn to receive a $25 gift card to your choice of Meijer or Target. Participation is open until December 15, 2009. Don't hesitate; access the survey now! Questions? Contact Dr. Laurie A. Van Egeren (517-353-8977; vanegere at msu.edu).
Not-For-Profit Career Expo
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 3pm-6pm
Michigan Union, Ann Arbor
Nonprofit organizations are invited to connect with the University of Michigan's talented undergraduate and graduate students from all academic disciplines at this annual, exciting career expo. Showcase your organization and discuss internship, volunteer and permanent positions.
Hosted by the University of Michigan's Career Center. See that website for more information and registration.
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 Get Connected: Identity Theft Prevention. Best Practices for Nonprofits
Thursday, January 28, 2010, 3:30-5:00 pm
NEW Center, Ann Arbor
If you think your organization is not at risk for damages from data violations and identity theft, think again. Over half of all identity theft occurs at the workplace, and nonprofits are no exception. While the monetary losses from a data breach can be severe, so can the assault to your organization's reputation from this crime.
Colleen Riccinto, an Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist with Identity Theft Solutions, will present an overview of concrete steps your organization can take to limit your clients, donors, and employee's exposure to identity theft. She will provide a summary of the laws related to preventing identity theft and equip you with best practices to implement in your organization. Mrs. Riccinto is a board member of the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra and active in several nonprofit organizations.
More information and a link to registration.
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Michigan Nonprofit Association SuperConference
May 18 & 19, 2010 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI.
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The Bulletin Board |
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Affordable work station space is available to 501(c)(3) nonprofits at the NEW Center in Ann Arbor. Free broadband, access to color copier, fax, postage machine; featuring full kitchen, conference rooms, free parking, and more! For details contact Lia Stevens: 734-998-0160 ext. 209 lstevens at new.org
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npServ™ News |
Resource of the Month |
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Here's another new training opportunity from npServ!
Social Media and Time Management
Intimidated by the time needed to maintain your online presence? Fearful that you'll be tied to your computer and mobile device at all hours? Learn how you can engage nonprofit staff members, volunteers, and even your constituency to realize your online campaigns. Tips include how to use online tools to integrate messages across platforms and how to analyze the impact you're making for resource planning. This workshop assumes that your organization has already established a presence through social media via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogging, etc. Please bring a laptop with a wireless card in order to access our wireless network.
At the NEW Center, 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor 48104
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Friday, January 22, 2010 | 9 am - 12 noon
At Affirmations, 290 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale 48220
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Friday, February 5, 2010 | 9 am - 12 noon
Presented by Jim Leija, Public Relations Manager, University Musical Society
Cost: $55 ($50 with online registration)
Register Now!
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The Bridgespan Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps nonprofit and philanthropic leaders in the hard work of developing strategies and building organizations that inspire and accelerate social change. Their website offers a wealth of resources on:
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Developing Strategy
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Managing Performance
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Funding the Mission
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Advancing Philanthropy
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Building the Organization
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Recruiting Leaders
A couple favorite pages:
What funding model will sustain our mission, its impact and future growth?
Managing in Tough Times: a collection of resources for nonprofits and funders navigating turbulence.
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Selected Upcoming Trainings in Southeast Michigan |
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See also Webinars (below).
BoardConnect Nonprofit Training (Oakland): Building Your Board
Tuesday, December 15, 3-6pm
The Corners, 2075 Walnut Lake Rd
West Bloomfield, MI
$55 (save $5 with online registration)
Covers important aspects of recruiting new members for a nonprofit's board of directors including recruitment planning, identifying and cultivating candidates, and electing new members.
BoardConnect Nonprofit Training (Detroit): Building Your Board
Wednesday, January 13, 9am-noon
Hannan House, 4750 Woodward
$55 (save $5 with online registration)
BoardConnect Candidate Training: Serving on a Nonprofit Board
Thursday, January 14, 3-6pm, Ann Arbor, NEW Center
$55 (save $5 with online registration).
For community members interested in serving on a nonprofit board. You will learn about the five main responsibilities of board membership and how to find a board match with a nonprofit that could really use your expertise. Develop your leadership skills and offer a valued community service through BoardConnect. More information, pricing and registration.
Anatomy of an Online Fundraiser
Looking to leverage your online presence beyond a PayPal button? We will walk through a step-by-step process of ideal nonprofit online fundraising campaigns for small to medium sized organizations; time management, creative ideas that can differentiate your organization from other campaigns, and all of the back office work involved for follow-up and long-term relationship development. Please bring a laptop with a wireless card in order to access our wireless network.
At the NEW Center, 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor 48104
At Affirmations, 290 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale 48220
Presented by Linh Song, Director of npServ
Cost: $55 ($50 with online registration)
Register Now!
Get Connected: Identity Theft Prevention - Best Practices for Nonprofits
Thursday, January 28, 2010, 3:30-5 pm
NEW Center, Ann Arbor (see above for details).
Social Media and Time Management (see above)
WEBINARS - LEARN AT YOUR DESK
. Board Member Orientation Webinar
Thursday, January 7, 1-2pm, EST
Cost: $39 ($34 with online registration)
This session is for individuals who have just joined a nonprofit board, as well as experienced trustees who have recently been elected on to the board of a nonprofit. Concepts, methods, and case studies address the major responsibilities and duties of board service.
Presented by Diana Kern, BoardConnect®
Register Now!
How to Get Your Board to Raise Money Webinar
Monday, January 11, 1-2pm, EST
Cost: $39 ($34 with online registration)
Join a seasoned board member in a fast-paced one-hour session about ways to get your board to be better ambassadors. Learn how to jump start their involvement in raising money!
Presented by Diana Kern, BoardConnect®
Register Now!
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Thank you to Supporters of NEW
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Special thanks to NEW's founding partner
the McKinley Foundation
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NEWSNOTES is proud to celebrate its seventh year of publication.
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