Make Your Nonprofit STRONG!

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  When your org is really in flow, it’s because…

  • A.
    Everyone on the team and board is crystal clear about what we’re all working towards and why.
  • B.
    Our revenue streams feel consistent, reliable, and sustainable - NOT feast or famine.
  • C.
    Everyone on the team knows their lane and takes full ownership.
  • D.
    Our team, board, and partners are all rowing in the same direction.
  • E.
    Our board has solid oversight structures and policies that keep things ordered and accountable.
  • F.
    We have strong systems and tools that make everything easier.
• 2.
  Our biggest challenge right now is...

  • A.
    We're operating too much in isolation... We don't have any advisors and/or can't maintain strong partnerships
  • B.
    Our funding feels fragile... It's lumpy and uncertain
  • C.
    The team/ board doesn't seem clear about our strategic direction, priorities or goals
  • D.
    Our internal systems are outdated or non-existent
  • E.
    Decision bottlenecks, team friction, and too many balls dropping on the team
  • F.
    Real concerns about the ability of my board to step up and into their governance role
• 3.
  How much did you raise from all sources in the last year?

  • A.
    Less than $500K
  • B.
    $500K - $750K
  • C.
    $750K - $999K
  • D.
    $1M - $2M
  • E.
    $2M +
• 4.
  Which statement feels MOST true for your org?

  • A.
    We’re always reinventing the wheel with our work - we don't have SOPs, policies, or strong systems.
  • B.
    Our growth is outpacing our revenue
  • C.
    We’re overdue for a board refresh and it's costing us
  • D.
    We have exciting goals, but we don’t have a clear roadmap that everyone understands and/or buys into
  • E.
    We have strong programs, but not enough infrastrcture support to sustain them or expand them
  • F.
    Too few people hold too many decisions. There are real bottlenecks
• 5.
  When you think about growing your org’s impact, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

  • A.
    Aligning our strategy with the work we’re actually doing.
  • B.
    Creating strong internal operations to make it easier for our team to work together
  • C.
    Building more predictable income.
  • D.
    Making sure our organization is funder- and audit-ready.
  • E.
    Distributing leadership and ownership more effectively.
  • F.
    Building stronger networks throughout our broader ecosystem

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  FOCUS ON INCREASING THE CLARITY OF YOUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION

  Strategic clarity is your organization’s blueprint. Without it, every decision — from hiring to fundraising — becomes reactive. This pillar is about having a clear theory of change, strategic priorities, and annual plans that guide how you scale with purpose.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGA well-articulated theory of change that links strategy to missionDefined 3-year strategic priorities that guide what to pursue (and what to ignore for now!)An annual work plan that connects team roles to shared organizational outcomesClear team-wide OKRs (Outcomes & Key Results) that guide strategic alignment and decision-makingQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLARCan everyone on my team and board explain our core theory of change? Does everyone on the team and board understand and buy-into our strategic priorities?Does everyone on the team and board understand their role in helping us achieve our goals? Do our fundraising and hiring strategies clearly connect to our strategic vision, priorities, and goals?Do we have an annual plan with clear ownership and measurable goals?YOUR BEST NEXT STEPS...Apply to the Next Level Nonprofit.NLNP is my intensive redesign program for fast-scaling orgs ready for hands-on support restructuring their operations, leadership, and fundraising.APPLY & BOOK A STRATEGY CALLWant something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit: Self-Facilitated Strategic Planning BundleCreate or refresh your strategic plan so that it can be the powerful fundraising and operational guidance tool your organization needs! Aligned Anchor BundleMake sure your strategic plan and annual budget are telling the same story to funders and donors!Post-It Planning Annual Planning ToolkitClarify your annual priorities, set aligned quarterly goals, and craft powerful monthly plans to get where you want to go.ELEVATE: Get Your Complete Nonprofit Growth PlanScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.
• 2.
  FOCUS ON BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEVERAGING TOOLS

  Your infrastructure determines how efficiently your team can execute. From decision-making systems to project management and data tools, this pillar is the internal engine of organizational performance.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGDocumented workflows and SOPs across departmentsHigh- and low-tech systems for communication and decision-makingAutomations and tools that reduce manual effort and bottlenecksQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLARDoes the staff know how and when decisions get made?Are repeatable tasks documented and shared?Do we have shared project management systems that facilitate information sharing and decision-making throughout the team? Does our tech stack support — or slow down — our mission delivery?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS... Apply for Next Level NonprofitIt's my intensive organizational redesign program for fast-scaling orgs ready for hands-on support restructuring and leveling-up their operations, leadership, and fundraising.APPLY & BOOK A STRATEGY CALL Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit: Resilience Ready ToolkitAssess and shore-up your current resilience infrastructure, including model policies, board discussion guides, and risk planning toolsHR Policy Bundle: HR In A Box Everything you need to streamline the building and strengthening of your HR infrastructure! ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.
• 3.
  FOCUS ON CREATING A STRONG FUNDRAISING AND FINANCE SYSTEM

  A resilient nonprofit isn’t just raising money — it’s generating steady, sustainable revenue. This pillar focuses on aligning fundraising, finance, and strategy so that growth isn’t just possible — it’s predictable.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGStrategic plan, fundraising strategy, and budget are alignedClear definition and indicators of financial health that guide decision-makingFundraising systems designed for consistency and recurring revenueQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLAR Do our fundraising goals reflect our strategic priorities and the true cost of our work?Do we have a clear definition of financial health?Are we centering general operating and multi-year support in our fundraising? Do we track financial health beyond just our cash balance?Are our revenue sources diversified and consistent?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS...Apply for Next Level NonprofitIt's my intensive organizational redesign program for fast-scaling orgs ready for hands-on support restructuring and leveling-up their operations, leadership, and fundraising.APPLY & BOOK A STRATEGY CALL Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit: Build Your Individual Donor ProgramA complete, step-by-step system for activating your first (or next!) 100 donors!Foundation Fundraising SystemA concrete guide to help you build a strong and consistent system for raising money from foundations! ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.
• 4.
  FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING TEAM-WIDE OWNERSHIP

  Shared leadership isn’t optional when you want to have impact at scale. This pillar is about defining roles, delegating responsibility, and creating a culture of accountability so your ED or founder doesn’t become the bottleneck.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGClear ownership for key functions, outcomes, and decisionsDelegation frameworks that match authority with accountabilityA team culture where autonomy and support go hand-in-handQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLAR Is it clear who makes which decisions? Is it documented?Are all team members empowered to lead within their lanes?Does the leadership team or Executive Director carry the bulk of strategic and operational weight?Do we have clear Outcomes and Key Results (OKRs) for the full team? YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS...Apply for Next Level NonprofitIt's my intensive organizational redesign program for fast-scaling orgs ready for hands-on support restructuring and leveling-up their operations, leadership, and fundraising.APPLY & BOOK A STRATEGY CALL Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit:Building A High-Performance Team ToolkitAll the tools you need to build, manage, and empower your nonprofit team! ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.
• 5.
  FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING YOUR NETWORKED CAPACITY

  Your impact doesn’t scale alone. This pillar is about building aligned relationships across your board, team, and external ecosystem — and designing them intentionally to increase your reach, credibility, and resilience.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKING The organization has structured relationships with people in its broader ecosystem, including advisors, mentors, partners, and ambassadorsThe board, team, and advisors are all clear about, and aligned around, the organization's strategic directionThe organization has cultivated a broad network of allies who can advocate for the work and impact if neededQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLAR Do we work in partnership with people, organizations, and institutions that can help us execute our mission and have more impact?Do we have relationships with ambassadors who are spreading the word about about our work in their networks and communities? Do we have relationships with advisors whose expertise and perspectives we can leverage as needed? Have we cultivated a community that is able and willing to stand up for us in a crisis?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS... Apply for Next Level NonprofitIt's my intensive organizational redesign program for fast-scaling orgs ready for hands-on support restructuring and leveling-up their operations, leadership, and fundraising.APPLY & BOOK A STRATEGY CALLWant something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit:Leveraged Network Mapping WorksheetThis simple visualization of a leveraged network will help you think through how to apply this in your own organization. ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.
• 6.
  FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING YOUR GOVERNANCE & OVERSIGHT STRUCTURES

  Resilience requires meaningful oversight. That's where governance comes in. Governance isn’t just about bylaws or compliance — it’s about building the mechanisms that protect your mission and reputation, even in moments of scrutiny or crisis.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKING Board understands and executes fiduciary responsibilitiesRegular policy, compliance, and risk reviewsBoard members who do more than just come to meetings Active governance members or committee that assesses and prepares to respond for risk QUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLARAre our bylaws up to date? Our our internal controls and policies up to date and reviewed annually?Does the board truly understand its legal and fiduciary responsibilities?Do we conduct board or governance assessments regularly?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS... Apply for Next Level NonprofitIt's my intensive organizational redesign program for fast-scaling orgs ready for hands-on support restructuring and leveling-up their operations, leadership, and fundraising.APPLY & BOOK A STRATEGY CALL Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit:Board Activation Private PodcastA 3-part audio training about how to activate your board to be true ambassadors and partners.Year In A Day Board Planning ToolkitPlan your entire year of board engagement activities - from check-ins to board meeting agendas - in less than one day! High Impact Board Bundle Everything you need to build and manage a high-impact, engaged, governance board.ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.
• 7.
  YOUR FOCUS: STRATEGIC CLARITY

  Strategic clarity is your organization’s blueprint. Without it, every decision — from hiring to fundraising — becomes reactive. This pillar is about having a clear theory of change, strategic priorities, and annual plans that guide how you scale with purpose.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGA well-articulated theory of change that links strategy to missionDefined 3-year strategic priorities that guide what to pursue (and what to ignore for now!)An annual work plan that connects team roles to shared organizational outcomesClear team-wide OKRs (Outcomes & Key Results) that guide strategic alignment and decision-makingQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLARCan everyone on my team and board explain our core theory of change? Does everyone on the team and board understand and buy-into our strategic priorities?Does everyone on the team and board understand their role in helping us achieve our goals? Do our fundraising and hiring strategies clearly connect to our strategic vision, priorities, and goals?Do we have an annual plan with clear ownership and measurable goals?YOUR BEST NEXT STEPS...ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit: Self-Facilitated Strategic Planning BundleCreate or refresh your strategic plan so that it can be the powerful fundraising and operational guidance tool your organization needs! Aligned Anchor BundleMake sure your strategic plan and annual budget are telling the same story to funders and donors!Post-It Planning Annual Planning ToolkitClarify your annual priorities, set aligned quarterly goals, and craft powerful monthly plans to get where you want to go.
• 8.
  YOUR FOCUS: INFRASTRUCTURE & TOOLS

  Your infrastructure determines how efficiently your team can execute. From decision-making systems to project management and data tools, this pillar is the internal engine of organizational performance.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGDocumented workflows and SOPs across departmentsHigh- and low-tech systems for communication and decision-makingAutomations and tools that reduce manual effort and bottlenecksQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLARDoes the staff know how and when decisions get made?Are repeatable tasks documented and shared?Do we have shared project management systems that facilitate information sharing and decision-making throughout the team? Does our tech stack support — or slow down — our mission delivery?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS... ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout. Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit: Resilience Ready ToolkitAssess and shore-up your current resilience infrastructure, including model policies, board discussion guides, and risk planning toolsHR Policy Bundle: HR In A Box Everything you need to streamline the building and strengthening of your HR infrastructure!
• 9.
  YOUR FOCUS: BUILD YOUR FUNDRAISING SYSTEMS

  A resilient nonprofit isn’t just raising money — it’s generating steady, sustainable revenue. This pillar focuses on aligning fundraising, finance, and strategy so that growth isn’t just possible — it’s predictable.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGStrategic plan, fundraising strategy, and budget are alignedClear definition and indicators of financial health that guide decision-makingFundraising systems designed for consistency and recurring revenueQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLAR Do our fundraising goals reflect our strategic priorities and the true cost of our work?Do we have a clear definition of financial health?Are we centering general operating and multi-year support in our fundraising? Do we track financial health beyond just our cash balance?Are our revenue sources diversified and consistent?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS...ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout. Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit: Build Your Individual Donor ProgramA complete, step-by-step system for activating your first (or next!) 100 donors!Foundation Fundraising SystemA concrete guide to help you build a strong and consistent system for raising money from foundations!
• 10.
  YOUR FOCUS: BUILD A STRONG TEAM

  Shared leadership isn’t optional when you want to have impact at scale. This pillar is about defining roles, delegating responsibility, and creating a culture of accountability so your ED or founder doesn’t become the bottleneck.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKINGClear ownership for key functions, outcomes, and decisionsDelegation frameworks that match authority with accountabilityA team culture where autonomy and support go hand-in-handQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLAR Is it clear who makes which decisions? Is it documented?Are all team members empowered to lead within their lanes?Does the leadership team or Executive Director carry the bulk of strategic and operational weight?Do we have clear Outcomes and Key Results (OKRs) for the full team? YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS...ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout. Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit:Building A High-Performance Team ToolkitAll the tools you need to build, manage, and empower your nonprofit team!
• 11.
  YOUR FOCUS: EXPANDING YOUR NETWORKED CAPACITY

  Your impact doesn’t scale alone. This pillar is about building aligned relationships across your board, team, and external ecosystem — and designing them intentionally to increase your reach, credibility, and resilience.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKING The organization has structured relationships with people in its broader ecosystem, including advisors, mentors, partners, and ambassadorsThe board, team, and advisors are all clear about, and aligned around, the organization's strategic directionThe organization has cultivated a broad network of allies who can advocate for the work and impact if neededQUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLAR Do we work in partnership with people, organizations, and institutions that can help us execute our mission and have more impact?Do we have relationships with ambassadors who are spreading the word about about our work in their networks and communities? Do we have relationships with advisors whose expertise and perspectives we can leverage as needed? Have we cultivated a community that is able and willing to stand up for us in a crisis?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS... ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout.Want something less comprehensive? This resource will be a good fit:Leveraged Network Mapping WorksheetThis simple visualization of a leveraged network will help you think through how to apply this in your own organization.
• 12.
  YOUR FOCUS: BUILD & STRENGTHEN YOUR BOARD

  Resilience requires meaningful oversight. That's where governance comes in. Governance isn’t just about bylaws or compliance — it’s about building the mechanisms that protect your mission and reputation, even in moments of scrutiny or crisis.WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S WORKING Board understands and executes fiduciary responsibilitiesRegular policy, compliance, and risk reviewsBoard members who do more than just come to meetings Active governance members or committee that assesses and prepares to respond for risk QUESTIONS TO AUDIT THIS PILLARAre our bylaws up to date? Our our internal controls and policies up to date and reviewed annually?Does the board truly understand its legal and fiduciary responsibilities?Do we conduct board or governance assessments regularly?YOUR NEXT BEST STEPS... ELEVATE: The Complete Nonprofit Growth SystemScale your nonprofit with systems, support, and a little AI magic —so you can fundraise, lead, and grow without burnout. Want something less comprehensive? These resources will be a good fit:Board Activation Private PodcastA 3-part audio training about how to activate your board to be true ambassadors and partners.Year In A Day Board Planning ToolkitPlan your entire year of board engagement activities - from check-ins to board meeting agendas - in less than one day! High Impact Board Bundle Everything you need to build and manage a high-impact, engaged, governance board.