Capacity building
Discussion-Oriented Organizational Self-Assessment (DOSA) Tool
—Website, free
The DOSA is dedicated to helping organizations develop new methods to identify organizational strengths and weaknesses, interpret highly valuable data generated by the process and to translate findings into action plans for meaningful change. The DOSA tool builds capacity by bringing staff together in cross-functional, cross-hierarchical groups for open exchange. It identifies divergent viewpoints to foster growth.
http://www.edc.org/GLG/CapDev/dosapage.htmInstitutional Analysis Toolkit for Safety Net Interventions - World Bank
—PDF, free
Initially designed to be used by the tasks officers of the World Bank or similar institutions, others may adpat this toolkit to their specific purposes. The toolkit provides tools to assess and build the capacity of countries to ensure safety nets. Safety Nets are mechanisms that mitigate the effects of poverty and other risks on vulnerable households. Their effectiveness and efficiency depend on their accessibility, coverage, targeting, and the actual benefit amonf others. All of these elements depend upon the institutional and organizational design and environment of the programs.
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=6...Marguerite Casey Foundation Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool
—Excel Document, free
"The Marguerite Casey Foundation Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool helps nonprofits identify capacity strengths and challenges and establish capacity building goals. It is primarily a diagnostic and learning tool. Results from the Assessment can also help grantmakers deepen their understanding of the current capacity of their grantees as well as track their growth in capacity over time." Format of the tool is an Excel file.
http://documents.reflectlearn.org/Offline%20OA%20Tools/Marguerite%20Casey%20Capa...Institute for Human Services (IHS) "McKinsey-Ameen Capacity Assessment Sample Questions"
—Website, free
This webpage from the Institute for Human Services defines and explains in a simple way its view of organizational assessment. At the bottom of page, you can click on the link entitled "McKinsey-Ameen Capacity Assessment Sample Questions" (below graph) to open an offline survey. While you get no analysis of your results, the survey can still be used as a basic tool for you and your team to identify possible areas of improvement among the ones explored (leadership, management, operational, and adaptative capacities). Also available in French and Spanish.
http://www.ihsnet.org/pages.asp?CatID=8&PageID=114Fieldstone Alliance's "Funder's Guide to Organizational Assessment: Tools, Processes, and Their Use in Building Capacity"
—Website, approximately US$50
This website provides non-profit organizations with different tools to encourage their "strategic use of technology to achieve the mission work" of their organizations. The IT tools listed on that webpage will help you determine "how to make compelling requests for technology funding"; "how to assess needs"; "how to plan upgrades and to determine cost-effectiveness". The tools are downloadable in pdf, MS power point, or html format.
http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/productdetails.cfm?SKU=069539Community Tool Box (CTB) - Guide to Building Culturally Competent Organizations - Competency Building Toolkits
—Website, free
Building Culturally Competent Organizations is an online guide "providing practical, step-by-step guidance in community-building skills" regarding "cultural competence in a multicultural world." This guide is only one among the multiple ones available on the Community Tool Box website concerning many different aspects of communities/organizational management. While it is addressed to a large public, community leaders or aspiring ones will find the website particularly useful.
http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/section_1176.htm
