Effective nonprofit organizations are mission-directed, sustainable, customer focused, entrepreneurial, outcomes-oriented, and adaptable according to a report, "Profiles in Organizational Effectiveness for Nonprofits," by Jeanine Lee of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The following survey helps you examine these areas in your organization.

If you provide your name and email address, your survey scores will be emailed to you on completion. Your personal information will not be used for any other purpose and you are welcome to take the survey without providing it.

Your Name:  

Email Address:  

Please check "yes" for each indicator below that fairly describes your organization and "no" for each indicator that does not describe your organization.

I. Mission-Directed Organization Indicators

1.  The organization uses the mission statement as a criterion for determining success. 

 Yes             No

2.  Mission and vision statements are communicated throughout the organization and prominently displayed. 

 Yes             No

3.  Actions and programs of the organization reflect the mission and vision statements. 

 Yes             No

4.  Procedures are in place for the review of the mission statements at appropriate intervals. 

 Yes             No

5.  The organization can demonstrate that it reviews its mission and vision statements at regular intervals and makes necessary adaptations that support its strategic plan. 

 Yes             No

6.  The organization can document how the strategic and/or business plans are aligned with the mission. 

 Yes             No

7.  The organization is able to cite examples of cases in which decisions at all levels of the organization were guided by the mission and values of the organization. 

 Yes             No

8.  A dynamic and engaged Board clearly understands governance and carries out its responsibility to the organization. 

 Yes             No

II. Sustainable Organization Indicators 

1.  The organization has diverse funding sources so it is not overly dependent on a single funding source.

 Yes             No

2.  There is mutual respect, knowledge and integrity between the organization and funders.

 Yes             No

3.  The organization communicates with its major funders on an ongoing basis to address fiscal issues or challenges.

 Yes             No

4.  The organization attracts, creates, and sustains sufficient new resources by continuously seeking potential funding sources.

 Yes             No

5.  Appropriate financial controls are established and followed within the organization.

 Yes             No

6.  Independent auditors conduct financial audits and reviews at regular intervals.

 Yes             No

7.  Financial crises are managed (unpredictable events that are the result of circumstances beyond the control of the management of the organization).

 Yes             No

8.  The organizationís leadership has, as a matter of written policy, established a reserve fund sufficient to cover the organizationís operating expenses for a planned period of time.

 Yes             No

III. Customer-Focused Organization Indicators

1.  Everyone connected to the organization treats customers with respect and courtesy.

 Yes             No

2.  Facilities provided for customers are safe and well maintained.

 Yes             No

3.  There are well-established, readily available and publicized channels through which the opinions and concerns of customers may be expressed.

 Yes             No

4.  Feedback from all customers is solicited and responded to on an ongoing basis.

 Yes             No

5.  Customer satisfaction is a primary concern.

 Yes             No

6.  The organization understands the needs of stakeholders and constituencies.

 Yes             No

IV. Entrepreneurial Organization Indicators

1.  The organization continually pursues opportunities that are aligned with its mission.

 Yes             No

2.  The organization has taken the lead in identifying unmet community needs and developing innovative solutions to address those needs.

 Yes             No

3.  The organization continually pursues new resources to apply to fulfill its mission.

 Yes             No

4.  The organization shows entrepreneurial spirit by taking responsible risks to develop or promote new programs without needed resources at hand.

 Yes             No

5.  The organization uses due diligence when approaching new challenges or opportunities.

 Yes             No

6.  The organization understands the importance of crossing boundaries, as appropriate, between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

 Yes             No

7.  The community it serves trusts the organization.

 Yes             No

8.  The organization communicates candidly with organization staff, customers, and the community.

 Yes             No

9.  The community, the organization staff, and the customers of the organization hold its leaders in high esteem.

 Yes             No

10.  The organization invests resources in professional development for management, staff, and volunteers.

 Yes             No

11.  Leaders are active in and hold leadership positions in other community or professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

 Yes             No

V. Outcomes-Oriented Organization Indicators

1.  The organization recognizes the importance of incremental achievement.

 Yes             No

2.  Procedures are in place to measure program and organizational outcomes.

 Yes             No

3.  The organization reviews the quality of services to generate improvements that will benefit clients.

 Yes             No

4.  A strategic plan guides the organization.

 Yes             No

5.  The organization evaluates outcomes in ways that are innovative and useful to guide decision-making by program leadership and funders.

 Yes             No

6.  The organization documents the connections between the mission and outcomes.

 Yes             No

VI. Adaptable Organization Indicators

1.  The organization can identify major changes it has made within the past several years to meet changing community needs.

 Yes             No

2.  The organization analyzes whether and how the changing environment can work to its advantage.

 Yes             No

3.  Continuous innovation and learning prevail throughout the organization.

 Yes             No

4.  Technology is current and appropriate to services provided.

 Yes             No

5.  Programs are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the current needs of customers are met.

 Yes             No

6.  The organization uses partnerships, strategic alliances and collaborations to leverage opportunities.

 Yes             No

7.  The organization plans for the future for its competitive advantage.

 Yes             No

8.  The organization acknowledges its links to the past, its responsibility to look toward the future, and changes it has made in response to community needs.

 Yes             No

    

Click this Submit button for your Organizational Effectiveness Survey Score and Analysis. If you provided your name and email address above you will also automatically receive an email with your assessment scores.