Organisational Assessment
The Organisational Assessment is a tool to help you consider the different areas of your organisation, identify strengths, and identify areas to develop.
The assessment is split into 12 themes. You can complete the full assessment and answer all of the questions, or you can complete just the sections that are relevant to your organisation.
Each of the 12 themes is split further into ‘sub-themes’ which include questions relevant to that sub-theme.
Before selecting your answer, we recommend that you discuss the questions with the people involved in each area of work, as different people may have different perspectives on the same issue or question. Hearing their views will help to identify the most accurate answer for your organisation.
Complete the assessment in the order listed or use the navigation bars on the left-hand side of the page to complete themes in any order. You can save your answers as a draft and come back to them later, or mark the section as complete to submit your answers to that theme. Completed themes will show a tick symbol on the navigation bar, along with how long ago it was previously completed.
You can skip any themes that are not relevant by clicking the arrow keys at the bottom of the theme page, or by clicking the next theme title in the navigation bar. However, please note that you should avoid leaving a theme partially complete, because each unanswered question will be counted as 0% and lower that theme’s overall average score.
Read our Organisational Assessment Guidance for more help.
Results
Once you have submitted your answers to each chosen theme, you can see an overview of your results by clicking the results tab at the bottom of the navigation bar, which includes charts that represent your average scores. You can also see a more detailed breakdown of each theme by clicking on the theme titles on the results page or navigation bar, which can help you prioritise areas for development. You can view and download your organisation’s results for all the themes from the results page.
Show question breakdown: To view your responses to each of the statements click on the toggle next to ‘Show question breakdown’ when on a theme’s results page. Your last saved response will be shown next to the statement.
Organisation results: As well as your own results you can also view the merged results of everyone who is a member of the organisation by clicking on the toggle after ‘Show organisation results’. This toggle can be found on every page and on the main results page. You can also compare organisational results by adding in a past date of approximately when the last assessment was completed and clicking ‘compare’.
Next steps
The results of the Capacity for Conservation Organisational Assessment will give a good baseline of the institutional capacity of your organisation and can be used to inform organisational planning. If the self-assessment is repeated every year then trends in capacity development can be seen. Themes can be retaken independently; to do this click ‘Retake this theme’ button on a theme’s results page.
Organisational Planning & Management
Organisational planning and management overlaps with many other areas of organisational development, e.g. Governance, Finance Management, Leadership.
Organisational management is about supporting staff to deliver the organisation’s aims through appropriate planning, management structures, systems and policies, and organisational learning. Developing a strategic plan as an organisation is a helpful first step as it:
- Clarifies what your organisation aims to achieve and how you intend to achieve it;
- Helps communicate to others what your organisation aims to do, why and how;
- Helps you make strategic decisions about how you allocate resources; and
- Builds organisational capacity by encouraging reflection, learning and dialogue
Once you have a strategic plan, it is much easier to develop annual operational plans and individual workplans, and appropriate management structures, systems and policies.
Read more about this themeResults: Organisational Planning & Management
Organisational planning and management overlaps with many other areas of organisational development, e.g. Governance, Finance Management, Leadership.
Organisational management is about supporting staff to deliver the organisation’s aims through appropriate planning, management structures, systems and policies, and organisational learning. Developing a strategic plan as an organisation is a helpful first step as it:
- Clarifies what your organisation aims to achieve and how you intend to achieve it;
- Helps communicate to others what your organisation aims to do, why and how;
- Helps you make strategic decisions about how you allocate resources; and
- Builds organisational capacity by encouraging reflection, learning and dialogue
Once you have a strategic plan, it is much easier to develop annual operational plans and individual workplans, and appropriate management structures, systems and policies.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Governance
Good organisational governance assures those who benefit from your organisation’s work that your organisation is serving their best interests as well as it can.
Organisations with good governance have strong leadership and effective organisational management and administration. They are transparent and accountable to stakeholders and respect the rights of stakeholders to participate in making and implementing decisions. They also have an effective governing body responsible for oversight of the organisation’s assets and overall strategic direction, and a governing document stating the purpose of the organisation and how it will be run.
Read more about this themeResults: Governance
Good organisational governance assures those who benefit from your organisation’s work that your organisation is serving their best interests as well as it can.
Organisations with good governance have strong leadership and effective organisational management and administration. They are transparent and accountable to stakeholders and respect the rights of stakeholders to participate in making and implementing decisions. They also have an effective governing body responsible for oversight of the organisation’s assets and overall strategic direction, and a governing document stating the purpose of the organisation and how it will be run.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Human Resources & Volunteer Management
We often give little thought to how we manage staff and volunteers on a day to day basis. But good people management is not as straightforward as it seems and can make a real difference to how your organisation functions.
Managing human resources involves more than recruiting staff and volunteers. It is about ensuring each individual performs to their best ability and can develop through their work. It involves having appropriate policies and procedures in place (e.g. on equal opportunities, health and safety in the workplace, performance management, grievances etc) and ensuring managers have the people skills required to build motivated teams and manage conflict (see also Leadership).
Read more about this themeResults: Human Resources & Volunteer Management
We often give little thought to how we manage staff and volunteers on a day to day basis. But good people management is not as straightforward as it seems and can make a real difference to how your organisation functions.
Managing human resources involves more than recruiting staff and volunteers. It is about ensuring each individual performs to their best ability and can develop through their work. It involves having appropriate policies and procedures in place (e.g. on equal opportunities, health and safety in the workplace, performance management, grievances etc) and ensuring managers have the people skills required to build motivated teams and manage conflict (see also Leadership).
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Leadership
Being able to both manage projects and inspire and be visionary are traits of excellent leaders. Leadership encompasses concepts such as knowing yourself, visioning, mentoring, constituency building, making sense of and challenging assumptions. Leadership does not have to only come from the top of an organisation but should be present at all levels.
Inspired and empowered staff, programmes and projects that encompass the essence of the organisation’s mission and vision indicate the presence of good leadership. Effective leadership also increases legitimacy in the eyes of donors, partners, and beneficiaries, therefore contributing to organisational sustainability, effective and strategic partnerships, and high quality project delivery.
Read more about this themeResults: Leadership
Being able to both manage projects and inspire and be visionary are traits of excellent leaders. Leadership encompasses concepts such as knowing yourself, visioning, mentoring, constituency building, making sense of and challenging assumptions. Leadership does not have to only come from the top of an organisation but should be present at all levels.
Inspired and empowered staff, programmes and projects that encompass the essence of the organisation’s mission and vision indicate the presence of good leadership. Effective leadership also increases legitimacy in the eyes of donors, partners, and beneficiaries, therefore contributing to organisational sustainability, effective and strategic partnerships, and high quality project delivery.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Internal Communications
Organisations are made of people all working towards the same goals, and conservation organisations with internal communications that support a cohesive organisational culture to achieve their objectives are the most effective. Communicating effectively with one another is the only way we can be efficient, make the most of other’s skills and experience, and avoid duplication.
Effective organisations have regular staff meetings, appropriate communications systems for the size and spread of their organisation, and a positive culture of sharing and communication. They will also have an internal communications strategy, which is monitored and reviewed regularly.
Read more about this themeResults: Internal Communications
Organisations are made of people all working towards the same goals, and conservation organisations with internal communications that support a cohesive organisational culture to achieve their objectives are the most effective. Communicating effectively with one another is the only way we can be efficient, make the most of other’s skills and experience, and avoid duplication.
Effective organisations have regular staff meetings, appropriate communications systems for the size and spread of their organisation, and a positive culture of sharing and communication. They will also have an internal communications strategy, which is monitored and reviewed regularly.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Fundraising
Funding is essential for us to implement our plans. Effective fundraising requires careful planning; effective management of relationships with donors, members and partners; and strong proposal writing skills (see finance management).
However, raising money is just one part of being a financially sustainable organisation. A financially sustainable organisation:
- Has adequate financial systems and is cost-efficient (finance management);
- Has multiple sources of income or means of generating income;
- Has clear strategic direction and regularly reviews organisational plans and financial plans;
- Has a good public profile (see external communications); and
- Has some degree of financial independence (i.e. is able to make its own decisions about how it generates and spends its fund, and does not have to compromise its vision or values to obtain funding).
Results: Fundraising
Funding is essential for us to implement our plans. Effective fundraising requires careful planning; effective management of relationships with donors, members and partners; and strong proposal writing skills (see finance management).
However, raising money is just one part of being a financially sustainable organisation. A financially sustainable organisation:
- Has adequate financial systems and is cost-efficient (finance management);
- Has multiple sources of income or means of generating income;
- Has clear strategic direction and regularly reviews organisational plans and financial plans;
- Has a good public profile (see external communications); and
- Has some degree of financial independence (i.e. is able to make its own decisions about how it generates and spends its fund, and does not have to compromise its vision or values to obtain funding).
No results yet.
Finance Management
Finance management is critical to the running of an effective and financially sustainable conservation organisation, but is often given low priority.
Finance management includes financial planning (budgeting), keeping accounts, financial monitoring and reporting, and appropriate financial governance systems and policies. Effective finance management helps you to manage grants and be accountable to donors and beneficiaries, to use resources efficiently, and to ensure financial sustainability for your organisation.
Read more about this themeResults: Finance Management
Finance management is critical to the running of an effective and financially sustainable conservation organisation, but is often given low priority.
Finance management includes financial planning (budgeting), keeping accounts, financial monitoring and reporting, and appropriate financial governance systems and policies. Effective finance management helps you to manage grants and be accountable to donors and beneficiaries, to use resources efficiently, and to ensure financial sustainability for your organisation.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Monitoring is the systematic and on-going tracking of project or programme performance through record keeping, studies and observation. Evaluation is the regular assessment of monitoring data to assess changes (or outcomes) that can be attributed to project or programme delivery. Impact assessment is the assessment of longer-term (over ten or more years) changes on target species, ecosystems or project sites to which your work has contributed.
Monitoring and evaluation is essential to:
- Assess progress and effectiveness;
- Inform decision-making to improve project delivery;
- Ensure accountability to donors, partners and beneficiaries; and
- Learn from your work and improve in the future
Good monitoring, evaluation and learning require rigorous project planning, including a monitoring and evaluation plan that measures results (outputs), effectiveness (outcomes) and change (impacts). It also requires adequate systems for the recording, storage and evaluation of data.
Read more about this themeResults: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Monitoring is the systematic and on-going tracking of project or programme performance through record keeping, studies and observation. Evaluation is the regular assessment of monitoring data to assess changes (or outcomes) that can be attributed to project or programme delivery. Impact assessment is the assessment of longer-term (over ten or more years) changes on target species, ecosystems or project sites to which your work has contributed.
Monitoring and evaluation is essential to:
- Assess progress and effectiveness;
- Inform decision-making to improve project delivery;
- Ensure accountability to donors, partners and beneficiaries; and
- Learn from your work and improve in the future
Good monitoring, evaluation and learning require rigorous project planning, including a monitoring and evaluation plan that measures results (outputs), effectiveness (outcomes) and change (impacts). It also requires adequate systems for the recording, storage and evaluation of data.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
Project Planning & Management
Project Management is a process of setting and achieving goals through planning, organising, directing, and co-ordinating project staff and other resources. It includes planning, budgeting and accounting, managing human resources, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
Project plans underpin all stages of project management. Often, however, conservationists are so keen to be ‘doing’ conservation that planning is not given the time and consideration it needs. Good project planning saves you time and effort in the long run, and makes you more effective by helping you to:
- Base your activities on a clear and current understanding of project context;
- Build confidence, motivation and ownership across your project team;
- Communicate clearly what you are trying to achieve – this in turn helps you to attract funding;
- Monitor progress against clear objectives and adapt as necessary; and
- Avoid over-committing yourselves.
Results: Project Planning & Management
Project Management is a process of setting and achieving goals through planning, organising, directing, and co-ordinating project staff and other resources. It includes planning, budgeting and accounting, managing human resources, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
Project plans underpin all stages of project management. Often, however, conservationists are so keen to be ‘doing’ conservation that planning is not given the time and consideration it needs. Good project planning saves you time and effort in the long run, and makes you more effective by helping you to:
- Base your activities on a clear and current understanding of project context;
- Build confidence, motivation and ownership across your project team;
- Communicate clearly what you are trying to achieve – this in turn helps you to attract funding;
- Monitor progress against clear objectives and adapt as necessary; and
- Avoid over-committing yourselves.
No results yet.
Constituency
Your constituency includes your supporters or members. A well-managed constituency or membership can provide your organisation with:
- A regular source of income through subscriptions, appeals, gift sales and legacies;
- Credibility and visibility to help influence decision-makers; and
- Talented and enthusiastic volunteers.
Making the most of your constituency requires active recruitment and maintenance of individual membership/supporters. This requires developing a membership strategy, regular communications with your supporters, and perhaps also engaging members in decision-making.
Read more about this themeResults: Constituency
Your constituency includes your supporters or members. A well-managed constituency or membership can provide your organisation with:
- A regular source of income through subscriptions, appeals, gift sales and legacies;
- Credibility and visibility to help influence decision-makers; and
- Talented and enthusiastic volunteers.
Making the most of your constituency requires active recruitment and maintenance of individual membership/supporters. This requires developing a membership strategy, regular communications with your supporters, and perhaps also engaging members in decision-making.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
External Communications
Promoting your organisation and raising awareness of conservation issues are strategies that can contribute towards achieving your organisational aims. Raising your public profile and the profile of the issues you are working to address helps attract funding, recruit volunteers and raise awareness. As such, developing and maintaining a positive public image can help an organisation become more financially sustainable.
Conservation organisations with good external communications have a communications strategy that supports their organisational strategic plan, and employ staff with communications expertise. They may promote themselves and raise awareness of the conservation issues they seek to address by:
- Holding occasional outreach events;
- Running campaigns;
- Publishing materials (including an annual report); and
- Working with the media.
Results: External Communications
Promoting your organisation and raising awareness of conservation issues are strategies that can contribute towards achieving your organisational aims. Raising your public profile and the profile of the issues you are working to address helps attract funding, recruit volunteers and raise awareness. As such, developing and maintaining a positive public image can help an organisation become more financially sustainable.
Conservation organisations with good external communications have a communications strategy that supports their organisational strategic plan, and employ staff with communications expertise. They may promote themselves and raise awareness of the conservation issues they seek to address by:
- Holding occasional outreach events;
- Running campaigns;
- Publishing materials (including an annual report); and
- Working with the media.
No results yet.
Partnerships & Networks
Partnerships are greater than the sum of their parts: by working together the partnership achieves more than each organisation would achieve by working on its own. The partners involved may also become more competent and effective as a result of the relationship.
The most effective partnerships are:
- Equitable relationships in which two or more organisations work together towards mutually agreed common or complementary goals;
- Characterised by a high level of mutual trust and respect, and transparency;
- Identified strategically with prior consideration of how the partnership contributes to the organisation’s objectives; and
- Well-managed and reviewed regularly.
Networking involves interacting with individuals or organisations with similar interests or concerns to provide mutual benefits. Benefits include better access to information, expertise and resources; extending your organisation’s reach and impact; solidarity and support over particular issues; and increased visibility and credibility. Networking can be face-to-face or virtual; informal, ad-hoc and on-going; or formally established to achieve a particular purpose in a given timeframe.
Read more about this themeResults: Partnerships & Networks
Partnerships are greater than the sum of their parts: by working together the partnership achieves more than each organisation would achieve by working on its own. The partners involved may also become more competent and effective as a result of the relationship.
The most effective partnerships are:
- Equitable relationships in which two or more organisations work together towards mutually agreed common or complementary goals;
- Characterised by a high level of mutual trust and respect, and transparency;
- Identified strategically with prior consideration of how the partnership contributes to the organisation’s objectives; and
- Well-managed and reviewed regularly.
Networking involves interacting with individuals or organisations with similar interests or concerns to provide mutual benefits. Benefits include better access to information, expertise and resources; extending your organisation’s reach and impact; solidarity and support over particular issues; and increased visibility and credibility. Networking can be face-to-face or virtual; informal, ad-hoc and on-going; or formally established to achieve a particular purpose in a given timeframe.
Read more about this themeNo results yet.
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