Building an Organization and
Defining Your Mission
Focus Area:
Grants Education
Instructor:
Vince Franco
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Course Description & Objectives
Course Descriptions:
Strategic thinking and an honest analysis are essential to building a strong
organization that will last. This course will guide attendees through best
practices in forming an organization that has a clear vision, goals, and plan.
Building an Organization and
Course Objectives:
Defining Your Mission
#1
After this course, attendees will be able to:
 Conduct a needs assessment;
 Utilize a SWOT analysis to uncover strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats;
 Develop a mission and vision statement;
 Create a logic model with resources, activities, outcomes and results;
 Develop goals and a strategic plan; and
 Develop partnerships.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Your Presenter
NLC
Vince Franco
Grants Compliance Manager
Native Learning Center (NLC)
6363 Taft Street
Hollywood, Florida 33024
VincentFranco@semtribe.com
1-954-985-2300
Ext. 10651
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Any Questions?
• If you have a question please use the hand tool to raise your
hand and type your question into the chat box (next slide).
• The presenter will work to answer your questions as
quickly as possible. Questions will be answered in the
order they were received.
• Please remember to complete the class
survey at the end of this course.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
How to ask a question?
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Technical Issues? Unable to hear us?
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What are the important aspects of a
successful organization?
A comprehensive Needs Assessment, a clear
Mission and Vision Statement, and good
Goals and/or Strategic Plan are the
foundation for long-term success.
Let’s take a closer look at each aspect.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a Needs Assessment
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a Needs Assessment
An excellent processes for any organization is
conducting a survey of your potential customers,
and/or other research before you launch a product
or service. Consider conducting a Needs Assessment
to determine if there is really a calling in your
community for the services you propose to offer.
Conduct a survey of a sample group to find out what they are
thinking. You may assume they need one thing but they may
need and/or want something else. Keep in mind that some
public resources or records might already be available. Check
with the Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a Needs Assessment
The first question you should ask or at least consider: is there
another organization that is providing or may provide the same
program or service you are considering?
Also consider:
• Who is your audience?
• What is their demographic profile? (male or female)
Are they senior citizens, youth, single mothers?
• What resources (transportation, childcare, etc.) do they lack?
• Where do they live and how do they get around?
• How many people are there who need your service?
• What are this group's needs and desires? (education or healthcare)
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a Needs Assessment
Good. You have conducted a needs
assessment or survey and determined that:
• There is a demand within your community
that is not being met by another
organization, business, or agency.
• Keep in mind that your organization
is also a business. As such, it is vital
to adopt business-like procedures.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a Needs Assessment
This chart shows a comparison
between a for-profit business
and a nonprofit organization.
With your needs assessment now
complete, let’s look at a process
that will help you develop a clear
mission and vision statement.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
For-Profit
Business
Nonprofit
Organization
Sales/Profit
Revenue
President/CEO
Executive Director
Shareholders
Board of Directors
Stock/Dividend
Issued
NA
Tax Return
Tax Return
Staff
Staff
Policies and
Procedures
Policies and
Procedures
Human Resources
Human Resources
Accountability
Accountability
NA
Tax Deductible
Contributions
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats. In its basic form, it is
a focus group session to gather ideas.
It is used to help an organization to focus on
its strengths, minimize its weaknesses, address
its threats, and take advantage of opportunities.
It is conducted or facilitated through group
discussion and brainstorming.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
• The rules of brainstorming are to generate as many
responses as possible to specific questions within a
limited time frame.
• Don’t evaluate the idea; defer judgment.
• Think out-of-the-box.
• Record each idea; tagging/combining ideas is okay.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
What are the Strengths of your organization?
Think internal or inside the organization.
What are the Weaknesses of your organization?
Also think internal or inside the organization.
What Opportunities exist in your environment?
Think external or outside the organization.
What Threats exist in your environment?
Also think external or outside the organization.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
What are our
Strengths?
What are our
Weaknesses?
What are our
Opportunities?
What are our
Threats?
Staff Expertise
Staff Turnover
Rapid Growth
Weak Economy
Morale and/or
Attitude
Morale and/or
Attitude
New Products
and/or Services
Political Structure
and/or Elections
Leadership and/or
Transparency
Lack of Professional
Development
Training and
Development
Perception vs.
Reality
Mission/Vision
Fear of Change
Facility Location
Competition
Policies/Procedures
Facility Location
Potential Partners
Uncertainty
Reputation
Penalty/Restrictions
Strong Economy
Consumer Apathy
Relationships
Internal Politics
Good Relationships
Decreasing Funding
Corporate Style
Lack of Efficiency
Increasing Funding
Cost of Operation
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
What are our
Strengths?
What are our
Weaknesses?
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
What are our
Opportunities?
What are our
Threats?
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop a Mission and Vision Statement
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop a Mission and Vision Statement
Your organization should develop a Mission Statement and a
Vision Statement. Organizations that do not take the time to
develop and implement these statements often fail to effectively
operate.
A well written mission statement explains
“why” your organization exists and its
overall purpose. It also states “what” your
organization is doing.
For example, the mission statement of Habitat for Humanity is to
bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop a Mission and Vision Statement
By comparison, a Vision Statement articulates the future path of
your organization and the community it serves.
A well written Vision Statement
supports and lends credibility to
the Mission Statement.
The vision statement of Habitat for Humanity is for safe, decent,
affordable homes for all.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop a Mission and Vision Statement
Mission Statement of the Native Learning Center:
Providing native and indigenous people with knowledge and
skills that improve quality of life through housing related
educational programs.
Vision Statement of the Native
Learning Center:
The recognized educational resource for the development of
cultural and quality-of-life skills for all known native and
indigenous people.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop a Mission and Vision Statement
Mission Statement
of our Organization
To provide…_______________________________________
_________________________________________________
Vision Statement
of our Organization
To be recognized as …_______________________________
_________________________________________________
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Create Realistic Goals
(Develop a Logic Model)
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Create Realistic Goals – Logic Model
Once the mission and vision of your organization
are established, the next order of business
is the clarifying of goals. Goals assist an
organization in defining its purpose.
One way to express information and create
goals is through the use of a Logic Model,
which requires defining assumptions,
problems or issues, and influences that will
affect the process of the organization.
This is an optional step, but let’ s look closer.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Create Realistic Goals – Logic Model
Logic Models focus on the accurate establishment of resources,
activities, outcomes, and results for an organization. Resources
are people, materials, and supplies. Activities are the actions of
the organization. Outcomes indicate a realistic short term
accomplishment. Results indicate long term changes.
Resources
Activities
Outcomes
Results
People, Materials,
and Supplies
Actions
Short-Term
Accomplishments
Long-Term
Changes
NLC Staff
Develop
education
& training
Create 30
webinar
topics
Host 25
webinars
NLC
Trainers &
Presenters
Provide
education
& training
Increase
awareness
for 500
individuals
Enhance
economic
change for
420
individuals
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
Every goal requires a
resource and should generate
activities. Most importantly,
every goal for an organization
should create measurable and
realistic outcomes and results
to justify its existence. The
next step is to develop goals.
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Create Realistic Goals – Logic Model
Our Resources
Our Activities
Our Outcomes
Our Results
(People, Materials, and
Supplies)
(Actions)
(Short-Term Accomplishments)
(Long-Term Changes)
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop a Strategic Plan
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Developing a Strategic Plan
Generally, when developing goals, an organization deals
with at least one of three key questions:
• What do we do?
• For whom do we do it?
• How do we excel?
In many organizations, developing a strategic planning is
viewed as a process for determining where an organization
is going over the next year (goals), or from 3 to 5 years
(strategic plan), although some extend their vision even
further.
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Developing a Strategic Plan
NLC Strategic Plan
2012-2015
Goal 1:
Maintain a Highly
Skilled Organization
Goal 2:
Provide Premier
Education Programs
Goal 3:
Develop Longevity
through Partnerships
Goal 4:
Develop A Native
Distance-Learning
Program
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
Developing a strategic plan is an
organization’s process of defining
its goals - or strategy - and making
decisions on allocating its resources
to pursue this strategy. In order to
determine the direction of the
organization, it is necessary to
understand its current position and
the possible avenues through which
it can pursue a particular course of
action.
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Developing a Strategic Plan
#
Our Strategic Goal
Our Sub-Goals
Our Tasks
1
2
3
4
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop Partnerships
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Develop Partnerships
Other Organization
Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Organization Leader:
ABC is an aboriginal community with a
population of approximately 1,500. We are
located in Middletown. Not surprisingly,
Diabetes is a concern for our community.
I am writing to express our support and
interest in your “Prevent Diabetes”
educational programs.
Unlike other programs, the concept of your
program is extremely innovative and involves
getting the community involved in attending
workshops and making healthier food choices.
Our community would like to become involved
in this project by integrating a hands-on
approach that encourages our citizen
responsible for their health and the
health of their children.
Last but not least, strong partnerships
are vital to almost every organization.
It allows the organization to share
resources and avoid a duplication of
services. If you are considering such
relationships, make sure to obtain a
Letter of Support (LOS) from the other
organization.
The LOS should clearly define the
purpose of each organization and their
specific relationship, support or
endorsement. Collaborations are
extremely valuable for the pursuit of
grants.
Sincerely,
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Closing Notes
Technical Assistance Hotline
1-866-973-2760
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Thank You!
Please visit our Website
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com
Next Webinar!
Title: Starting a Nonprofit Organization
Focus Area: Grants Education
Course Number: GE1102
Date: July 3, 2012
Time: 2:00-3:00pm EST
Instructor: Vince Franco
Registration is free!
Grant’s Assistance Hotline: 1.866.973.2760
www.NativeLearningCenter.com