Your nonprofit’s overall health matters. Having a clear and honest sense of your organization’s operations, finances, strengths, opportunities, growth areas, reputation, and position in the community is essential for effective strategic planning. How will you know where to go if you do not understand where your nonprofit is now? Framing your current position will help guide your future path.
Completing an organizational and financial assessment to understand your overall position will inform your planning and decision-making. During your organizational assessment, analyze your programs to ensure you have an accurate understanding of who the programs serve, how the programs are funded and how the programs are aligned with your nonprofit’s mission and values.
There are many resources available to help you with this work included in the resources section for this chapter, including a nonprofit snapshot assessment, peer scan worksheet, SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results worksheet, program inventory worksheet, and dual bottom-line matrix.