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Is Your Organization Ready to Make a Difference?  

Most leaders of foundations want to make a difference for their communities.  The following “Readiness Survey” can give a quick reality check on whether your organization is ready to move ahead.  Some organizations also have found questions such as these useful to stimulate Board and Management discussion on this subject.  After responding to each question, press “Submit” to see your results.

Yes Partly No Don't Know
1. Does the Board have consensus on the organization’s future role in the community?
2. Have we identified the community’s major emerging issues -- and the changes from today’s issues?
3. Can we articulate at least 3 ambitious goals for the organization to achieve by 2005?
4. Do we know which grantees and donors are most essential to achieve our goals?
5. Are we prepared to invest in the talent and other resources needed to achieve our goals?
6. Is the CEO driven for results -- to promote and achieve objectives in the organization and in the community?
7. Does the organization have plans to manage the organizational stresses of growth -- for staffing, systems, controls, and the like?  
8. Do we routinely obtain feedback on our services from donors, grantees, and others? 
9. Do we have methods to measure the outcomes and benefits of our funding initiatives?
10. Are we free of internal obstacles or crises impeding our progress?