Organizational Health & Growth: Self-Paced Learning

Support for watershed groups and other organizations of all types, sizes, and capacities

Organizations are like people: they need a check-up once in a while! And a check-up might lead to making some intentional changes and seeking specific support. In partnership with the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, River Network identified the needs of organizations in two distinct stages: new/young organizations, and established/growing organizations.

With funding provided a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, through the Hudson River Estuary Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance & River Network collaborated on producing a suite of resources to help organizations respond to common startup and growing pains. These resources are enthusiastically provided for any organization to assess their needs and address development hurdles.

Organizational Checklists

For an overview of topics, and initial assessment prompts, organizations are invited to utilize one, or both, of the organizational checklists below. Download the checklists to access linked resources and more information.

In addition, River Network created an Organizational Diagnostic Tool: What’s Really Happening? that compiles a list of what the team often hears from organizations of all sizes and structures, and pairs those statements with what they usually find as a root problem when they start digging deeper. Use this guide to start diagnosing areas of growth, knowing that online resources and consulting support can help you along the way.

Organizational Health: Self-Paced Learning Series

To build on the topics listed on the Organizational Health Checklist, River Network produced a self-paced learning series, which features short videos accompanied  by downloadable templates and worksheets. This learning series covers all of the topics identified for new/young organizations, or organizations in transition.

Episode 1: Org Health Checklist & Mission Statements

The first episode in this series reviews the checklist topics, and dives into building and assessing a mission statement.

– Mission Statement Worksheet
– Values Worksheet
– Vision Statement Worksheet
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 2: Leadership Models

The second episode covers leadership and decision-making models, which are critically important in young organizations that are often volunteer-run or founder-funded.

– Decision-Making Models Worksheet
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 3: Roles & Recruitment

The third episode details the process of defining roles and creating effective position descriptions, as well as using position descriptions for recruiting new people to join your organization.

– Position Description Template
– Position Description Examples: Treasurer Position, Committee Member Position, General Member Position
– Organization Inventory Template
– Sample Volunteer/Member Interest Form
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 4: Budgets & Workplans

The last episode in this series covers two topics that are highly connected: budgeting and workplanning. These tend to be topics of high need for all organizations. Both topics are covered at an introductory “101” level, meant for organizations without this kind of infrastructure already.

– Annual Workplan Template
– Budget Template
– PDF of episode slides

Organizational Growth: Self-Paced Learning Series

To build on the topics listed on the Organizational Growth Checklist, River Network produced this self-paced learning series, which features short videos accompanied  by downloadable templates and worksheets. This series is best suited for established groups looking to increase their internal capacity.

Episode 1: Communications

Episode 1 covers the basics of communications, including what we mean by “communications,” determining your audience, choosing effective messages, and creating and managing assets.

– Communications Calendar Template
– Communications Plan Template
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 2: Financial & Legal Infrastructure

When an organization starts receiving more funding and/or engaging more community members, there are additional financial and legal risks. In Episode 2, learn how to manage additional resources and risk to help protect your organization. This video covers financial and legal infrastructure for groups and organizations, with a focus on defining, assessing, and managing risks.

– Basics of Internal Controls
– Nonprofit Insurance Alliance
– Conflict of Interest: Basics of COI, Conflict of Interest Deeper Dive & Sample Policies
– Financial Policies: Gift Acceptance Policies, Financial Policies Round Up, Fiscal Sponsorship 101
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 3: Leadership Policies and Planning

There are various elements that ensure smooth and sustainable leadership
transitions, including managing workloads, in-filling capacity, handing off information and duties, and more. These can be anticipated and well-planned for. Episode 3 covers planning for leadership transitions, including transferring documents and knowledge, managing transitions through bylaws and policies, and workplanning and budgeting for sustaining organizations.

– Webinar Recording: Building a Resilient Organization that Lasts by consultant Karen Strong, Strong Outcomes, from the Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s 2021 Annual Watershed Conference.
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 4: Evaluation Systems

Evaluation is an often overlooked tool when considering workplanning and leadership needs. Having a way to constructively evaluate the organization’s progress toward its mission, its leadership, and its value in the community will help guide work and identify needs in the future. Evaluation metrics also support fundraising and engagement goals. Episode 4 covers evaluation systems to understand how well groups or organizations are working towards their missions, including learning from leadership, volunteers, and program/project participants.

– Sample Board/Leadership Self-Evaluation Template
– PDF of episode slides

Episode 5: Community Assessment

Every few years, it’s good to take stock of your group’s/organization’s place in the community. This is often an assessment that happens during a broader strategic planning process, but can be completed internally with a few key questions. Episode 5 covers community assessments to support watershed groups and organizations in better understanding the interests and needs of communities within their watersheds, along with how their group fits into the broader landscape of organizations.

– Good Work Institute: Resource Mapping and Balanced Giving
– The Commons Social Change Library: Power Mapping
– River Network: Strategic Planning in 15 Minutes or Less webinar recording playlist
– PDF of episode slides

This Project has been funded in part by a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund through the Hudson River Estuary Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.