A
SAMPLE
OF
NONPROFIT
ASSESSMENT
TOOLS
MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS:
STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Descriptive standards developed by Maryland nonprofits to promote ethical practices
and accountability in nonprofits across the State. These Standards describe how
nonprofits should act to be ethical and be accountable in their program operations,
governance, human resources, financial management and fundraising. Principles are
provided, along with 55 Standards - - more detailed performance benchmarks which will
enable nonprofits to strengthen their operation. The Standards of Excellence are
intended to describe how the most well-managed and responsibly governed
organizations should, and do, operate. (No metrics of performance included.)
- Maryland Association of
Nonprofit Organizations
www.mdnonprofit.org
McKINSEY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT GRID
“The McKinsey Capacity Assessment Grid is a descriptive tool that describes the
organizational capacity, by selecting the text that best describes the organization’s
current status or performance on 7 levels and components. The grid is not a
scientific tool and should not be used as one. The scores are meant to provide a
general indication - - a temperature taking. The tool is meant to be a starting point
only. We encourage you to adapt the grid to meet your own organization’s capacity
assessment needs.”
- McKinsey & Company
www.mckinsey.com
MANAGEMENT HELP:
CHECKLIST OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONAL INDICATORS
A self-assessment tool developed for internal use by staff and volunteers of the United
Way of Minneapolis Area, this checklist offers ratings of “E” (essential basic
requirement); “R” (recommended as standard practice); and “A” (additional indicators
to enhance management operations and activities.
- Management Help
www.managementhelp.org
LEADER-TO-LEADER INSTITUTE: SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
(Formerly the Drucker Institute)
The Drucker Foundation Self-Assessment provides a process for nonprofit organizations
to clarify mission, define results, set goals and develop a focused plan. The Drucker
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Self-Assessment tool addresses 5 questions: What Is Our Mission? Who Is Our
Customer? What Does the Customer Value? What Are Our Results? What Are our Plans?
- Leader-To-Leader Institute
www.pfdf.org
INNOVATION NETWORK:
RAPID ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT (ROA) TOOL
ROA provides nonprofits with a “snapshot” of organizational effectiveness as a
springboard towards evaluation discussions.
- Innovation Network
www.innonet.org
THE MANAGEMENT CENTER: NONPROFIT ASSESSMENT TOOL
The 80-item online system provides descriptive commentary to individual responses to
questions in the categories of Administration; Leadership; Board; Community Relations;
Marketing; Finance; Human Resources; Planning; Program Management; and Plant and
Equipment.
- The Management Center
www.tmcenter.org
MILTON EISENHOWER FOUNDATION: LESSONS FROM THE STREET
As part of the Foundation’s standardized needs assessment, a series of approximately
100 open-ended questions are categorized under the headings of Background,
Organizational Development, Fiscal Management, Fundraising and Proposal Writing,
Program Administration, Program Development, Staff Development, Communication
and Evaluation. These questions are administered through one-on-one interviews with
staff of each organization receiving technical assistance. Various workshops are offered
and rated (on a scale of 1 - 4; 4 is highest).
- Milton Eisenhower Foundation
www.eisenhowerfoundation.org
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER: SCAT
SCAT (Simple Capacity Assessment Tool) was developed to provide support
organizations with procedures for assessing the organizational capacity of potential
partners and to provide a process through which relevant, context specific indicators
can be developed in a collaborative manner. SCAT includes seven organizational
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categories which are further broken down into subcomponents. A rating scale of 1 – 4
(1 = nascent; 2 = emerging; 3 = expanding; and 4 = mature). 20 is a low score; 40 is
a moderate score; and 60 is a high score. (Developed by Beryl Levinger and Evan
Bloom)
- Global Development
Research Center
www.gdrc.org
BOARDSOURCE
The focus is on the Board’s role as a governing body and “discovering strengths and
weaknesses.” Online assessment asks board to evaluate “their satisfaction” with 10
areas of performance: determining mission; engaging in strategic planning; monitoring
programs and services; ensuring adequate financial resources; providing effective fiscal
oversight and sound risk management policies; selecting, supporting, and overseeing
the chief executive; understanding the relationship between board and staff; enhancing
public image; selecting and orienting new board members; organizing the board
efficiently.
Results are to be evaluated by Board and CEO in order to develop an action plan.
Offers customized questions for an additional fee.
-
BoardSource
www.boardsource.org
BALANCED SCORECARD
Developed in part, as a response the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA),
the Balanced Scorecard seeks to respond to the demand for performance-based
government. Measures (also related to nonprofits) are: Mission, Customer
Requirements, Internal Processes, and Employee Learning and Youth.
- Balanced Scorecard
www.balancedscorecard.org
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