Picture this: Five passionate nonprofit leaders sit around a conference table, brainstorming their upcoming community outreach campaign. Ideas are flowing freely – social media strategies, volunteer recruitment plans, partnership opportunities. Sarah from Development suggests reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships. Marcus from Programs builds on that, proposing a series of workshops. Emily from Marketing envisions a compelling storytelling campaign.

The energy in the room is electric, but no one is taking detailed notes. An hour later, as the meeting wraps up, the enthusiasm begins to fade into uncertainty:

"Wait, who was going to contact the community center about hosting?" "I thought you were handling the social media calendar..." "Didn't we say the workshop series would start in March? Or was it May?" "Was I supposed to draft the partner outreach email, or were you?"

Sound familiar? 

In the fast-paced world of nonprofits, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations and lose sight of the bigger picture. That's where an Organizational Health Assessment comes in. This tool can be the key to unlocking your nonprofit's full potential.

What is an Organizational Health Assessment? An Organizational Health Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation tool designed to measure various aspects of a nonprofit's operations. It covers key areas such as mission alignment, board effectiveness, financial management, program impact, and more. Think of it as a check-up for your organization - just like we go to the doctor for regular health check-ups, nonprofits need regular assessments too.

This month I'm starting the intensive 6-month certification process with the CoActive Training Institute (CTI) which will give me the qualifications to receive both my Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) credential and my Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Credential. The CoActive approach has been nothing short of transformative, not just in terms of the quality of coaching I can provide, but in how I approach life and relationships in general. 

My Co-Active journey began last August 2023 when I started the process to receive 100+ hours of training focused on the core principles of CoActive coaching. Here's a brief overview of the five experiential, life changing three-day trainings:

In March 2024, I had the privilege of completing an impactful 8-week program with 60 other nonprofit leaders - the Interim Executives Academy with Third Sector Company. This experience provided helpful and accessible insights around the transformation that is possible for organizations with an interim executive director.

The program emphasized the unique role and challenges of interim leadership compared to serving as a permanent Executive Director.  Having previously held an Executive Director role, I grew accustomed to playing the long game - developing multi-year strategies, building enduring relationships, and incrementally shaping the organization's culture.

In contrast, interim leadership is more of a sprint and the role demands both urgency and thoughtfulness because interim Executive Directors must quickly diagnose and address critical challenges while also ensuring that their interventions are sustainable and aligned with the organization's long-term goals. Striking this balance requires a strategic mindset, adaptability, and the ability to make tough decisions under pressure.

For growing nonprofits navigating constrained resources and increasing fundraising demands, effective program planning can take center stage.

A well-designed program serves as a guiding narrative, illustrating how your organization’s collective efforts - including staff, volunteer, partners, and donors - will make a meaningful impact. Documenting a program should be evidence-based, drawing insights both from your internal team and the communities impacted by your work.

Program narrative and logic models answer the fundamental questions of “what are we doing and where are we headed?” They should be widely shared across your organization to orient and align your board and staff. Furthermore, they are the basis for compelling grant applications and enable program evaluation and strategic program evolution. 

So, how does one embark on this journey?