Sections of this topic
Checklist of Nonprofit Organizational Indicators
- Guidelines for accomplishing nonprofit capacity building are included in
the books Field
Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development with Nonprofits, Strengthening
Nonprofit Performance: A Funder’s Guide to Capacity Building and Coping
With Cutbacks: The Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times Are Tight .
Edited by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD
(This organizational assessment tool can be completed online
for free.)
Description
The following checklist is a resource developed by
staff and volunteers of the United Way of Minneapolis Area for
internal use by nonprofit organizations. Management can use the
checklist to identify their organization’s administrative strengths
and weaknesses. United Way staff and community volunteers intend
this to strengthen their administrative capabilities. It is believed
that widespread use of the checklist ultimately results in a more
effective and efficient nonprofit community. The checklist is
not intended to be used as a tool for external evaluation, or
by grantmakers in making funding decisions. This tool will be
used to assist nonprofit organizations to gain a better understanding
of their management needs and/or make improvements to management
operations.
This checklist includes the following sections:
How to Use the Tool
Disclaimers
Legal Indicators
Governance (Board) Indicators
Human Resources Indicators
Planning Indicators
Financial Indicators
Fundraising Indicators
Also consider
Related Library Topics
How to Use the Tool
The checklist indicators represent what is needed to have a healthy,
well-managed organization. Since it is a self-assessment tool,
organizations should evaluate themselves honestly against each
issue and use the response to change or strengthen its administrative
operations.
Ratings:
Each indicator is rated based on its importance to the operation
and effectiveness of any nonprofit organization. The ratings are:
E: Indicators with an “E” are essential
or basic requirements to the operations of all nonprofit
organizations. Organizations which do not meet the requirements
of these indicators could place their organizations in jeopardy.
R: An “R” rating signifies that these
indicators are recommended as standard practice for effective
nonprofit organizations.
A: Additional indicators which organizations can
implement to enhance and strengthen their management operations
and activities are rated with an “A”.
Checklist Responses:
Organizations can respond in one of three ways to each indicators
used:
1. Needs work – An indicator that is marked as “Needs
Work” implies that work has been done towards achieving this
goal. The organization is aware of the need for this indicator,
and is working towards attaining it.
2. Met – All indicators marked as “Met”
demonstrate that the organization has fulfilled as essential management
need. However, the organization should review these indicators
in the future to be sure that their management remains healthy
in view of the many internal and external changes which constantly
occur in all organizations.
3. N/A – Indicators marked as “N/A” can
mean several things, including:
– the indicator is not applicable to the management operations
of this organization
– the organization is not sure of the need to meet the requirements
of this indicator
– the organization has not met, nor is working on this indicator
presently, but may address it in the future
All organizations should take note: All responses to
indicators should be reviewed carefully to see if they could improve
management operations. Indicators checked “N/A” due
to uncertain applicability to the organization must be further
reviewed to determine if they should become a part of “doing
business.” If the assessors simply do not know what the indicator
means, further information may be needed to accurately assess
the feasibility of its application. Indicators marked “N/A”
because they have not been met but that apply to the organization,
may require immediate attention. Technical assistance, consulting,
or training may be required to implement these indicators.
The indicators in this checklist should be informative and
thought provoking. The checklist can be used to achieve not only
a beginning level of good management, but improve existing management
to provide the organization with greater stability, reliability
and success in the nonprofit community. It is also a useful too
if an organization is experiencing management problems, to help
pinpoint any weaknesses so action can be taken or assistance sought
to improve the organization’s health. All organizations should
use the checklist to re-assess themselves periodically to ensure
compliance with established rules and regulations, and to continue
improving administrative health through the indicator’s helpful
suggestions.
Disclaimer
This checklist is designed to provide accurate and authoritative
information regarding the topics covered. Legal requirements and
non-legal administrative practice standards reflected herein are
capable of change due to new legislation, regulatory and judicial
pronouncements, and updated and evolving guidelines. All stated
legal requirements are in effect as of September 1, 1995. The
same are utilized with the understanding that the provision of
this checklist does not constitute the rendering of legal, tax
or other professional services.
If the organization requires professional assistance on these
or other nonprofit tax, management, or accounting issues, please
contact your own professional advisors.
This information may be copied. Please cite credit to the
Greater Twin Cities United Way.
For the Category of Organizational Development:
To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may want to review some related topics, available from the link below. Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.
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