Board & Organizational Assessment

WHAT WE DO

• Volunteer Engagement
• Strategic Planning
• Board & Organizational Development
• Board & Organizational Assessment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The San Diego Council was so pleased to meet and work with Jill and JFFixler & Associates.  Jill was able to define and streamline our strategic planning process in two short board retreats.  Our board had just previously spent over a year working with two different moderators on the strategic plan with very little progress.  Jill helped us recognize and define our critical issues, streamline the process, and help our board and staff recognize our role within our national organization.  Now, our board and staff work together using the work plans developed in the strategic plan!

Rebecca M. Reid
Board President
Hostelling International USA –
San Diego Council

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The organizational and board assessment process was invaluable to our organization.  It helped us clarify key operational activities and board responsibilities on which we could focus, and resulted in an increased understanding of roles and responsibilities and improved organizational and board performance.

Sue Schaffner
Executive Director
Hostelling International USA – San Diego Council

 

 

Self-assessment provides an opportunity for board and staff members to step back from day-to-day operations and take a comprehensive look at how well the organization and its board are doing.  Self-assessment benefits board and staff members, the organization, and the people the organization serves.  Information from board and organizational assessment helps to:

• clarify roles and responsibilities
• define criteria for effectiveness and success
• identify and celebrate strengths
• identify areas that need attention and improvement
• measure progress toward existing plans, goals, and objectives
• promote teamwork within and between board and staff

Organizational Assessment Survey Measures	Board Assessment Survey Measures
(online survey completed by staff members) Mission, vision, and values Marketing & public relations Programs & services Fund development Financial management Operational planning Human resources Volunteer engagement Use of technology Leadership	(online survey completed by board members) Mission, vision, and values Marketing & public relations Oversight of programs & services Board participation in fund development Fiscal oversight Strategic planning Risk management Board/staff relationships Board organization & effectiveness Individual board member self-evaluation

The Organizational and Board Assessment Surveys are tallied and average scores are computed for each key area of organizational operation and board responsibility.  Based on the average scores, each area measured falls into one of three categories:

1. Areas of Strength
2. Areas of Competency
3. Areas for Planning and Development

The Assessment Report includes a summary of all results and recommendations for achieving outstanding performance.  The recommendations become the basis for creating a plan to improve organizational and board performance.  

 

Case Study

Hostelling International USA – San Diego Council

The Challenge

Running a nonprofit organization and providing quality services to the community entails many challenges.  It is not unusual for board and staff members to become so engrossed in day-to-day operations that they rarely have the time to stand back and take a comprehensive look at the organization.  It is often difficult to assess – on a big picture basis – how well the board is meeting its responsibilities and how well the organization is operating.  While many boards provide oversight for their organization, they do not often evaluate their own performance.  As a result, governance can be inconsistent and ineffective.

The Solution

JFFixler & Associates has created two online surveys to assess board and organizational effectiveness.  The Organizational Assessment Survey, completed by staff members, is designed to measure key areas of operation.  The Board Assessment Survey, completed by board members, is designed to measure key areas of board responsibility.  In 2006, the San Diego Council of Hostelling International USA retained the services of JFFixler & Associates to conduct board and organizational assessments and facilitate their strategic planning efforts.  The assessments were completed in August of 2006 and followed by a strategic planning retreat that produced a three-year plan to commence in March 2007.  In December 2007 the Council again retained the services of JFFixler & Associates to conduct a follow up assessment of the organization and board of directors to determine progress.

Results

The initial Organizational and Board Assessments identified one area of strength, seven areas of competency, and six areas needing planning and development.  The Organizational & Board Assessment Report included suggestions on how the Council could achieve outstanding performance in key areas of operation and board responsibility.  Having established benchmarks for current performance, the board and staff were able to set goals for improved performance in several areas over the next year.

Follow-up Organizational and Board Assessments were completed in 2007 and showed significant progress having been made in organizational and board development.   The Council went from one area of strength to four, and decreased the areas needing planning and development from six to two. 

• There was a renewed focus on mission.
• The relationship between board and staff improved.
• The process for selecting and orienting new board members improved.
• The board and staff created and implemented a three-year strategic plan.
• Fund development efforts increased.
• Risk management practices improved.
• Marketing and public relations improved.

Impact

The organizational and board assessment process helped the HI-USA San Diego Council improve its effectiveness and increase organizational capacity.  The success was so notable that the national organization, Hostelling International – USA, selected this council as a model pilot program to be emulated by other HI Councils across the country.