Organizational Assessment 2024 - Digital Navigation Corps

Page 1 - Introduction

The Organizational Assessment (adapted from the McKinsey Organizational Assessment) should be completed each year of hosting a Digital Navigator AmeriCorps project with Literacy Minnesota - once at the beginning prior to the start of the project, and then once yearly until the project is completed.

This assessment tool helps us to evaluate, analyze and report on collective impact across the AmeriCorps sites/projects, and also serves as a tool for you to reflect and capture a snapshot of your current organizational* capacity in the area(s) in which your AmeriCorps Digital Navigation project is planned to make an impact (based on your Member Position Description).

*For large organizations: you’ll be asked to focus on the capacity available in the particular program(s)/department(s) with which the AmeriCorps member will be serving, rather than the agency as a whole.

Digital Navigator Project Information

Name of the person completing this survey

Your email

Name of organization/host site

How many years has your organization hosted an AmeriCorps Digital Navigator through Literacy Minnesota for this project?

Zero. Our VISTA project has not yet started/will start in 2024-25. 1 year (project began in 2025-26)2 years (project began in 2026-27)3 years (project began in 2027-28)4 years (project began in 2028-29)5 years (project began in 2029-30)

Are you currently wrapping up this Digital Navigation Corps project?

2023-24 is the final year of this projectThis project will continue into 2024-25 and/or beyond

Programs and Services

Please choose which of the following best describes this particular Digital Navigation project.

The Digital Navigator project aims to build the capacity of our organization as a wholeThe Digital Navigator project aims to build the capacity of a specific program or department

Please list each service your organization currently offers (include distinct service activities that enable the organization to address different needs or different populations in need of the organization's services).

Please name the specific program(s)/department(s) impacted by the Digital Navigator project.

Please list each service offered in the program(s)/department(s) impacted by the Digital Navigator project (include distinct service activities that enable the program/department to address different needs or different populations in need of the organization's services).

Page 2 - Organization's current capacity

For the following questions please select the description that best matches the current situation at your organization. For each item you’ll be rating your current capacity on a scale of 1-4: #1 represents a clear need for increased capacity and #4 represents a high level of capacity currently in place.

Conducting a Needs Assessment

Are appropriate stakeholders engaged in identifying the service needs of the individuals and/or families served by the organization?

1. No stakeholders other than program staff are engaged in identifying needs2. A few stakeholders are engaged in identifying needs, but they have a limited understanding of specific needs of the community served3. Some stakeholders with a basic understanding of the needs of the specific community served are engaged in identifying needs4. Multiple stakeholders with deep knowledge of the specific community served (including program participants and other non-staff community members) are engaged in identifying ongoing and emerging community needs

Does the organization use an appropriate tool to identify needs?

1. Assessment is only based on anecdotal information 2. Assessment is mostly based on anecdotal information with some valid tools used to measure quantitative and qualitative information about community needs3. Assessment is largely based on valid, reliable tools, but the tools may not be appropriate for the community served 4. All needs assessment tools are valid, reliable and appropriate for the community served

To what extent do gaps exist between community needs identified and program services offered?

1. A large number of significant gaps exist between community needs and program services offered 2. Many gaps exist between community needs and program services, some of which are significant 3. Some small gaps exist between community needs and program services 4. The services offered align closely with currently-identified needs

Comments on current capacity regarding Conducting a Needs Assessment

Developing or Implementing New Literacy Program Content/Modifying Existing LIteracy Program Content

Is a formal or standardized curriculum in place?

1. No specific curriculum is used 2. Curricula are used but inconsistently or not across all programs 3. Curricula are used consistently for most programs 4. Curricula are used consistently across all programs

Is the same curriculum used by all instructors teaching the same course?

1. Curriculum varies from class to class or program to program depending upon who is teaching or providing services2. Some staff members/volunteers use the same curriculum 3. Most staff members/volunteers use the same curriculum 4. All staff members/volunteers use the same curriculum

Is a curriculum-review and modification process used to ensure curriculum is responsive to participants' needs?

1. No review and modification process is in place2. Some curricula are partially or occasionally reviewed and modified to ensure responsiveness to participants' needs 3. Most curricula are reviewed and modified as necessary to ensure responsiveness to participants' needs4. All curricula are reviewed regularly and modified as necessary to ensure responsiveness to participants' needs

Comments on current capacity regarding Developing new/modifying existing literacy program content

Conducting a Program Evaluation

Is a comprehensive, actionable logic model in place?

1. No logic model exists 2. Logic model is drafted but not finalized 3. Logic model exists, but is not updated or used regularly to inform planning or evaluation activities 4. Logic model is in place and updated regularly to inform all planning and evaluation activities

Are measurable outcome objectives defined in addition to output targets?

1. No measurable outcome objectives are defined2. Some measurable outcome objectives are defined but most targets are for outputs 3. Measurable outcome objectives are defined in addition to output targets for most relevant programs or activities 4. Measurable outcome objectives and output targets exist for all relevant programs or activities HINT: Output targets describe what your organization will do (for example, number of people served, activities completed or work produced). Outcome objectives describe what change will occur over time as a result (for example, percentage of individuals who demonstrate increased test scores or increased engagement after participating in a program)

Do program objectives/outcomes and strategies address identified need?

1. No direct alignment between objectives and strategies has been articulated 2. Some objectives are aligned with strategies 3. Most objectives are aligned with strategies 4. All objectives and strategies are clearly aligned and articulated

Does the evaluation design include the collection of relevant quantitative data?

1. No quantitative data are collected (only qualitative data) 2. Some quantitative data are collected, but most data are qualitative and/or not relevant to objectives 3. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected but some data are not relevant to objectives4. Both quantitative and qualitative data are collected and all data are relevant to outcome objectives

Are evaluation results used to guide program improvement?

1. Evaluation results are not reviewed or not used to guide program improvement 2. Evaluation results are reviewed on occasion and/or sometimes guide program improvement 3. Evaluation results are reviewed most of the time and/or usually guide program improvement 4. Evaluation results are reviewed regularly and consistently guide program improvement

Comments on current capacity regarding Conducting Program Evaluation

Developing or Strengthening Program Goals/Performance Targets

Are measurable targets and milestones clearly defined and aligned with program goals and strategies?

1. No measurable targets and milestones are articulated 2. Some measurable targets and milestones exist but may not be clear or may not be fully aligned with goals and strategies 3. Measurable targets and milestones exist for most outcomes and are generally aligned with goals and strategies 4. Clearly articulated, measurable targets and milestones exist for all outcomes and are aligned with goals and strategies

Are both short-term and long-term targets and milestones articulated?

1. No measurable targets and milestones are articulated2. Measurable targets and milestones are short-term only3. A few long-term measurable targets and milestones are articulated but most are short-term 4. Both short-term and long-term targets and milestones are articulated

Are goals and objectives ambitious yet achievable?

1. Goals and objectives are either not ambitious or not achievable 2. A few goals and objectives are both ambitious and achievable3. Most, but not all, goals and objectives are both ambitious and achievable 4. All program goals are both ambitious and achievable

Are program staff aware of relevant goals, objectives and milestones?

1. Program staff don't have a clear understanding of relevant goals, objectives and milestones2. Some staff are aware and understand some of the relevant goals, objectives and milestones3. Most staff are aware and understand the relevant goals, objectives and milestones4. All program staff are aware and understand all of the goals, objectives and milestones that are relevant to their work

Comments on current capacity regarding Developing or Strengthening Program Goals/Performance Targets

Developing and Nurturing Partnerships

Does the organization use community partners to deliver services or otherwise directly support service delivery (e.g., bring in new volunteers)?

1. No current partnerships exist 2. One or two partnerships have been established for at least one program or service 3. Multiple partnerships have been established for several programs or services 4. Program service partnerships exist for all programs that could benefit from such partnerships

How stable is/are the partnership(s)? (How likely is/are the partnership(s) to continue)? If organization has more than one partnership, select the item that most closely fits for the partnership(s) you consider most important.

1. Partnership(s) is/are unlikely to continue beyond the current agreed-upon period 2. Partnership(s) may continue in the short term (through the end of the calendar or fiscal year) 3. Partnership(s) is/are likely to continue, but only for another year or two 4. Partnership(s) is/are likely to continue through the foreseeable future (three to five years or beyond)

What is the impact of the partnership(s) on the organization's capacity to serve the community?

1. No real impact on service capacity 2. Organization is able to serve a few more individuals and/or increase effectiveness of services slightly 3. Organization is able to serve some more individuals and/or increase effectiveness of services to some extent4. Organization is able to serve many more individuals and/or increase effectiveness of services significantly

Do the partnership(s) advance the mission and goals of both organizations?

1. Most/all partnerships are only tangential to the missions/goals of either organization2. Most/all partnerships clearly advance the mission or goals of the other organization but the relationship to our organization's mission and goals is less direct 3. Most/all partnerships clearly advance our mission and/or goals but the relationship to the other organization's mission and goals is less direct 4. Most/all partnerships clearly align with and advance the mission and goals of both organizations

Comments on current capacity regarding Developing and Nurturing Partnerships

Enhancing Volunteer Recruitment and/or Training

Is the organization's current pool of volunteers big enough to provide needed services?

1. The organization does not currently have any volunteer pool 2. The current pool of volunteers is big enough to provide some services, but there is a significant need to increase the size of the volunteer pool 3. The current pool of volunteers is big enough to provide many needed services but not big enough to meet all volunteer needs 4. The current pool of volunteers is big enough to provide all needed services

Does the diversity of the organization’s current pool of volunteers (e.g. racial/ethnic demographics, socioeconomics, age/life stage, background, skills, time availability, long-term vs. short-term) reflect the diversity of the community served and meet the needs of the program?

1. The current pool of volunteers is not at all diverse in the ways that the community served is diverse and/or the lack of diversity presents a significant barrier to meeting the needs of the program2. The current pool of volunteers is slightly diverse but is not reflective of the diversity of the community served and/or program needs are not adequately being met because more diversity is needed within the volunteer pool3. The current pool of volunteers is somewhat reflective of the diversity of the community served and the diversity of the volunteer pool meets the majority of the needs of the program with some gaps4. The current pool of volunteers reflects the diversity of the community served and the diversity of the volunteer pool meets program needs

Does the organization have a strong pipeline for future volunteer recruitment?

1. The organization has no volunteer pipeline to speak of 2. The organization has a few organizations/agencies it turns to for volunteer recruitment 3. The organization has many organizations/agencies it turns to for volunteer recruitment4. The organization has a wide range of organizations/agencies it turns to for volunteer recruitment

Does the organization have the capacity to effectively train its volunteers?

1. The organization has no staff members able to provide effective volunteer training2. The organization is able to provide very limited training for volunteers 3. The organization is able to provide a basic level of training for volunteers 4. The organization is able to fully train all volunteers

Are the volunteers reliable and/or committed to the organization?

1. Few or no volunteers are reliable and/or committed 2. Some volunteers are reliable and/or committed 3. Many volunteers are reliable and/or committed4. All volunteers are reliable and/or committed

Are current volunteer management strategies and supports based on best practices?

1. No volunteer management strategies are based on best practices 2. Some best practice volunteer management strategies are used 3. Many best practice volunteer management strategies are used 4. All strategies used to manage volunteers are based on best practices

Comments on current capacity regarding Enhancing Volunteer Recruitment and/or Training

Implementing new program-related outreach or fundraising strategies

Are outreach materials and messages (both written and electronic, and for all stakeholders, e.g., donors, volunteers, participants, partners) professional, consistent, and reflective of current programs, activities, and outcomes?

1. No outreach materials, outdated materials, and/or any materials that do exist are unprofessional or informal in presentation. 2. Loose collection of materials used for outreach; generic materials that are not always updated to reflect current programs, activities, and outcomes; and/or materials have a minimal degree of professionalism or consistent look and feel.3. Outreach materials used on a consistent basis; information contained in the materials is up to date and reflects current programs, activities, and outcomes; and materials are reasonably professional in presentation and aligned with established standards for font, color, logo placement, etc.4. Outreach materials are used consistently and easily updated on a regular basis; materials are professional in appearance and appeal to a variety of stakeholders; and all materials consistently adhere to established standards for font, color, logo placement, etc.

Does the program or organization have a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes diverse funding streams?

1. Strong dependence on a few funders, largely of same type (e.g., government, foundations, corporations, or individuals). 2. Multiple types of funding sources with only a few funders in each type, or many funders within only one or two types of funders.3. Solid base of funders from many types of funding sources; some ability to guard against market instabilities (e.g., operating reserves, small endowment) and/or has developed some sustainable revenue-generating activity.4. Highly diversified funding streams; organization insulated from potential market instabilities (e.g., fully developed endowment) and/or has developed sustainable revenue-generating activities.

Comments on current capacity regarding Implementing new program-related outreach or fundraising strategies

Improving Systems for Volunteer Recruitment, Training and/or Management

For the following items, please choose the option that best indicates how fully each item is currently implemented for volunteers in the program(s)/department(s) impacted by the VISTA project

Volunteer Documents and Materials

1. Written volunteer generation plan

2. Volunteer manual

3. Curriculum for volunteers

4. Job descriptions for volunteer involvement

Volunteer Recruitment, Training and Management

1. Formal partnerships for volunteer recruitment

2. Formal screening process for volunteers

3. Matching of volunteers to jobs as a result of screening

4. Formal volunteer orientation

5. Training resources for volunteers

6. Training and/or professional development for volunteers

7. Systematization of volunteer training

8. Training for paid staff on working with volunteers

9. Regular supervision of volunteers

10. Regular communication with volunteers

11. Recognition activities, such as award ceremonies, for volunteers

Volunteer Benefits

1. Liability coverage for volunteers

2. Insurance protection for volunteers

Data Collection and Evaluation

1. Regular collection of information on volunteer involvement

2. Annual measurement of volunteer impact

Comments on current capacity regarding Improving Systems for Volunteer Recruitment, Training and/or Management

Increase/Decrease in Effectiveness

For each key activity listed below, please rate the extent to which your organization is more or less effective as a result of your VISTA member(s)' efforts. "Effectiveness" means your organization is now better able to: Implement new programs activities or systems; Embed best practices or make other improvements to existing programs, activities or systems; Improve outcomes for service recipients; and/or Reduce disparities in outcomes for different groups of recipients.

Choose "N/A" if the key activity was not part of your VISTA project in the past year.

Conducting a Needs Assessment