Organizational Development and Capacity Building

Organizational Development and Capacity Building

Visioning

This process involves working to develop or update essential statements such as Mission and Vision that are key to communicating and guiding an organization’s purpose, intentions and aspirations.  Visioning is a process often used to engage stakeholders in creating a foundation for planning a start-up organization or for planning the next major growth initiative such as a major capital project.

Organizational Planning

This work involves assisting the organization in evaluating its effectiveness and efficiency.  It can include development of institutional Goals and Objectives as well as an evaluation of the organization’s community and external relations as it relates to specific objectives.

Many non-profits do not have the capacity to undertake a major capital project or other growth initiative without undertaking some capacity building and organizational development.  This may include assessing the strengths and skills of existing staff to support a capital project and developing a strategy for procuring needed skills and experience through team building.

Organizational planning may also include business plan evaluation and development to establish priorities and implementation strategies for new initiatives.

Governance

Governance efforts typically focus on two areas: structure and improving effectiveness of governance. Structural work may include evaluating reorganization of the existing governance structure to improve communications, efficacy and decision-making.  This might include creation of or restructuring of committees or advisory councils.  Often however, governance work addresses strengthening or developing clearer roles and responsibilities of the institution’s trustees/directors, staff and volunteers to address specific organizational needs in the short and long-term.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is critical to establishing and maintaining an organization’s vitality but it is also an essential component of planning for new initiatives or capital projects.  This work can include evaluation of current efforts and opportunities for expanded engagement, particularly targeted toward positioning the organization for success with specific objectives.