THE
MAXCI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
THE M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL ™ IS AN ONLINE,
CONFIDENT IAL, THIRD PART Y ASSESSMENT FOR NONPROF IT
ORGANIZAT IONS THAT UTILIZES COMPAR AT IVE SCORING TO
MEASURE THE ORGANIZAT ION’S STATUS QUO AND ITS
GROW TH POTENTIAL.
The Nonprofit
Edge
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
B U S I N ES S C H A L L E N G ES F O R N O N P R O F I T S
MaxCI helps to navigate an increasingly complex landscape
 Increased competition for scarce resources
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Traditional sources of funding have fewer dollars and higher requirements
Evidence based outcomes demanded by grant makers
Economic uncertainty continues
Attracting and retaining Board Members, Staff, and Volunteers are more critical.
 Increased oversight
 IRS and other regulatory groups
 Grant makers
 Your community
The MaxCI Assessment Tool™ was developed as an online, systematic strategic
assessment and planning tool to help navigate this landscape, to improve
operations, aid strategic planning and maximize organizational potential.
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
T EST IMO NIA LS
“The “Levels” and the questions forced me to think more deeply and broadly
about organizations as grantees, or grantors, like never before. That
p e r s p e c t i v e w a s h e l p f u l i n t h i n k i n g a b o u t w h a t o u r b o a r d s h o u l d f o c u s o n .”
J i m B l o c k , Pa r t n er, J o h n s o n B l o c k C PA
“T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i n t r o s p e c t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o c o m p l e t e t h e a s s e s s m e n t w a s ,
i n a n d o f i t s e l f, w o r t h i t s w e i g h t i n g o l d .”
J e f f H a i g , B o a r d M e m b e r, H a r l ey O wn e r s G r o u p
“Effectiveness begins with self-awareness, and not knowing where to begin is
the pressing challenge. The MaxCI Assessment is the most effective tool I
have ever seen in helping nonprofit organizations begin to transform
shortfalls into maximizing their potential.
B i l l Tu r p i n , M a ster C o a c h , I n st r u cto r & Tr a i n e r
“ T h e M a x C I A s s e s s m e nt i s a h i g h l y e f fe c t i ve o r g a n i zat i o n a l h e a l t h s e l f - a s s e s s m e nt to o l
t h a t p r o d u c e d a n u m b e r o f s a l i e nt r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r e a c h o f t h e f o u r n o n p r o f i t s
i nv o l ve d . T h i s a s s e s s m ent f o c u s e s o n p e r fo r m a n c e a n d o r g a n i za t i on a l p o te nt i a l , w h i c h
w a s exa c t l y w h a t w e n e e d e d i n t h i s i n s ta n c e .
The Wisconsi n Arts Board, State of Wisconsi n
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
C O R E A P P L I C AT I O N
MaxCI Assessment Tool™ Benefits
Annual
Assessment
Implement
Recommendations
Priority Setting
Communication
• Board & staff perceptions are translated into metricbased scoring* to:
A. Illustrate strengths, stability and shortcomings
B. Define organizational health
C. Provide participant confidentially within the
total organizational analysis
D. Improve competitive position in fundraising
• A growth-oriented set of recommendations based on
the organizational comparative score that helps your
nonprofit move forward and maximize your potential.
• A baseline from which to re-assess and effectively
measure improvement and competencies.
* Assessment answers are weighted, totaled and then compared
MaxCI Assessment
Tool™ in a Generalized
Strategy Framework
to the organization’s potential (this scoring mechanism is called
“ipsative.”) The entire Assessment has been reviewed and tested
by educators, nonprofit organizations and business consultants.
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
A D D I T I O N A L A P P L I C AT I O N S / B E N E F I T S
T h e M a x C I Assessment Tool™ provide s ways
to leverage other critical areas of your
organizat i on , and to maximize its value to the
commun i ty.
B o a r d / L e a d e r s h i p Eva l u a t i o n
It is used as confidential self-evaluation as well as assessing
the effectiveness of leadership and management
I d e n t i f y S k i l l / Re s o u rc e G a p s
Comparative scoring may uncover the need to acquire and/
or develop talent in key areas, as well as with the board of
directors, leadership and management, staff and/or volunteers
Communication
It will improve your communication and messaging to all
your constituents, contributors and community
F u n d ra i s i n g
The Assessment Tool™ will give you a competitive edge over
other nonprofits seeking funds from grantors and contributors.
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
P O W E R F U L A N D C O M P R E H E N S I V E E VA LU AT I O N O F
N O N P RO F I T B U S I N E S S F U N C T I O N S
 Metrics-based scoring of organizational health from confidential stakeholder perspectives in nine
business core areas
 Tailored and concrete recommendations to maximize organizational improvements and potential.
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
W H O S H O U L D TA K E T H E A S S E S S M E N T
Successful strategic execution relies on the alignment and
focus of the board of directors and staff.
 The greatest insight will be derived from the participation of all
board members, the executive director and senior management.
 Recognizing there may be situations where full participation is not
feasible, the Assessment Tool was developed so that it could deliver value to
even a single participant – the Executive Director or Board President.
Board
Members
Management
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
A S S E S S M E N T ST R U C T U R E OV E RV I E W
The Assessment is completed online, is confidential and can be completed in less than an hour.
9 Business Functions Assessed
Mission Statement
Board of Directors
Select a Level for each Function…
then answer the questions
Business Plan
Administration
Finance
Programs & Services
Marketing
Fundraising
Volunteers
Review, then select the best
match from 4-6 Levels (or
scenarios) of organizational
sophistication
Answer the particular set of questions for the Level selected and,
upon completion of the Assessment, you will receive comparative
scores - one for the organization and one for each of the 9 business
Functions.
M AX CI ASSESSMENT ©
Q U A N T I TAT I V E R E S U LT S O F C O M PA R AT I V E S C O R I N G
RESULTS EXAMPLE: Part of first of 7-8
pages
The Following has been emailed to your inbox for
future reference
This is your organizational comparative score
(ipsative) is 70 out of
119, or 58.8% of your potential.
Mission Statement: 3 out of 10
Board of Directors: 10 out of 15
Business Plan: 8 out of 11
Administration: 3 out of 5
Financial Management: 8 out of 13
Programs & Services: 16 out of 19
T h e c o n f i de nt i a l c o m p a ra t i ve s c o re f o r t h e
o r g a n i za t i o n a n d t h e 9 b u s i n e s s Fu n c t i o n
s c o re s a r e s e nt i m m e d i a te l y u p o n
c o m p l et i o n to t h e p a r t i c i p a nt ’s e m a i l i n b ox .
O r ga n i zat i o n a l S c o r e
 Co m p are s t h e n o npro fit to it s o wn p o tential
(ip sative ), n o t o t h er n o npro fits
 The scores are unique to each participant:
Multiple participants from the same
o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l l i ke l y h a v e n o t o n l y d i f f e r i n g
scores, but also differing total potential based
on their personal perceptions, levels of
participation and knowledge of the
organization
 Sets a baseline from which to measure
progress.
Marketing Plan: 3 out of 16
Fundraising: 11 out of 14
Volunteers: 8 out of 16
Thank you for taking the MaxCI Assessment. If you
found some of the questions difficult to answer,
then our hope is that reflecting on your
organization prompted a deeper understanding
of where it is, and what is needed to reach your
organizational capacity.
The above organizational score and its percentage,
the one that compares your organization to itself
- to its potential and not to other organizations
Functional Scores
 I l l u s t rate s t h e l ev e l o f d ev e l o p m e nt i n
each of the nine functions
 H i g h l i g ht s t h e s p e c i f i c a re a s o f s t re n gt h
and weakness
 P ro v i d e s g u i d a n c e to w a rd a re a s w h i c h
w i l l l i ke l y re q u i re a s t ra te g i c a c t i o n p l a n .
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
S U M M A R I Z E D C A S E ST U DY
Situation/Challenge
The organizati on was challenge d to suppor t its budget , threatening its ability to
sustain progr ammi ng and ser vices. Simply put - more money was needed to keep
the organizati on going. Poised to hire a fundrai si ng consultant , leadership took a
step back and decided to use the MaxCI Assessment to diagnose potential issues.
Outcome
The MaxCI Assessment Tool™ was utilized. It was immediately appare nt that the
core issue was not fundr aisi ng, but the lack of adequate marketing. Constit ue nts
were not clear about what the organization did. This allowed the organization to
redirect attention and pursue expertise in marketing to improve messaging and
awarene ss, which will suppor t developme nt efforts, then lead to increased funding.
M AX CI ASSESSMENT TOOL™
M A X I M I Z I N G C O M M U N I T Y I N V E ST M E N T S I N C .
Contact us to learn how to give your nonprofit organization an edge toward
optimizing mission fulfillment and enriching peoples’ lives in your community.
www.maxci.net
MaxCI Maximizing Community Investments Inc.
Assures effective and fair awarding of funds by grant -makers and maximum utilization
by recipients: Stewardship works for both sides of the funding table.