Organizational Assessment
A nonprofit organizational assessment is a structured evaluation of how well a nonprofit is functioning—across strategy, governance, operations, programs, finances, and culture—to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. The assessment provides a clear, evidence-based picture of the organization’s current capacity and future needs. Lavin Strategies offers the following assessment tools:​​
Organizational Capacity Assessment
This consultant-administered assessment highlights organizational capacity gaps, particularly as it relates to readiness to engage in strategic planning. The assessment includes surveys and interviews with organizational leadership and a review of key documents. Less comprehensive than the board self-assessment, the Organizational Capacity Assessment provides an overview of critical gaps and associated recommendations. A good fit for:
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Early-stage nonprofits needing guidance on next steps
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Organizations needing to determine readiness for strategic planning
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Organizations on a budget​​​​
If you know you need help but don't know where to start, an Organizational Capacity Assessment is a great place. Based on the results of the assessment, Lavin Strategies can develop a recommended scope of work.
Board Self-Assessment
A board self-assessment is a more comprehensive assessment in which board members individually and collectively evaluate how effectively the board is fulfilling its governance responsibilities. It examines roles and responsibilities, strategic oversight, fiduciary duties, meeting effectiveness, committee structure, board–executive director relationship, fundraising, and board culture. Lavin Strategies offers several self-assessment options to fit your organization's needs and budget, including the BoardSource Board Self-Assessment (BSA), which allows organizations to benchmark their scores against other nonprofit boards nationwide. A board-self assessment is a good fit for:
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Boards struggling with engagement or accountability
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Organizations undergoing leadership transitions (Chair or Executive Director)
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Growing or maturing organizations as well as well-established organizations
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Organizations who are serious about continuous improvement and committed to adopting best practices in board governance​​
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