System 7 Non Profit Consulting Services
Our Services
For a set of gears to move the machine forward, they need to be well aligned, properly lubricated, and all turning at the same speed. In the same way, an organization needs to have all of its departments properly aligned, well lubricated with communication, and all staff working at best capacity to achieve the plans that the organization has set.
As your organization grows, you know you need that extra gear but just don't yet have the capacity to put it in place. We will work with you to evaluate your needs and develop solutions that fill that gap. Our services are not "one size fits all" but are tailored to your needs and the dynamics of your organization.
Our four main services are listed below. However, if you aren't sure exactly where you fit, contact us and we'll start a dialog. If we can help, we'll let you know. If we can't, we'll do our best to connect you to someone who can.
Process Evaluation
Process - A systematic series of actions directed to some end.
Every organization runs on processes and procedures (P&P). In order to pass on organizational learning, these P&P need to be well documented, regularly reviewed for relevance and kept current to match today's activities.
When was the last time you conducted a procedural audit? Feel a little overwhelmed by the idea? We can help you take the sting out of conducting a P&P audit with your staff. We'll spend time with your key staff to learn more about how you handle key functions, document your key processes, and submit for your use. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with a working document for you to use in training staff and maintaining key information. As your organization grows and adjusts to new realities, this document will be a fluid roadmap for your teams.
Donor Services
Donor services or donor relationships should not be an afterthought as you go about the process of fundraising and development. Donors know when they are thought of as a checkbook.
Acknowledging your donors may begin with the receipt but goes far beyond. The policies you set will drive the relationship you have with your donors and their perception of your organization. Mailing a receipt within 48 hours as opposed to 1 week will pay huge dividends. Are your systems in place to serve your donor with excellence?
We can help you evaluate your donor management software, review your donation processing systems, and provide some insight on donor communications. We can also help ou put in place some standardized measurements to track the effectiveness of your communication and evaluate your donor retention.
Systems Alignment
Using the analogy of the human body, we can see what happens when one system is not working in synergy with the rest of the body. When the respitory system is not processing enough oxygen, there is little energy in the rest of the body to maintain a high level of activity.
So it is with our internal business systems. When one area of the organization is not working in concert with the others, the organization suffers.
A systems audit will look at your internal systems to evaluate three efficiencies - internal (self) efficiency, interconnected efficiency, external impact efficiency.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is a term often thrown about in the business world and not often understood. At the pace of today's world, strategic planning should be a constant activity within your organization. A longer range vision and/or mission may be set by the board but the task of planning the strategy to accomplish that mission should be a more fluid exercise.
If you are considering a new initiative or are wrestling with how to manage new tasks within the context of your mission, we will help you ask the right questions. We can facilitate the design of a department by evaluating your current skills bank and finding the gaps that need to be filled.