A 2013 Checklist

1. A 2013 Checklist Presented by Don Chalmers President SparrowHawk Consulting (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

2. Happy New Year! (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

3. Ups and Downs The economic rebound is a good sign, but a rebound in private sector funding is likely to lag well behind. For example foundations use a three year rolling average to calculate their grant budgets. (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

4. Now’s a Good Time to Take Stock… • How ready is your organization? (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

5. The Key is Sustainability (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

6. Complete Your Own Checklist: • Involve Board, Staff and Other Volunteers • Other Stakeholders (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

7. Strategic Plan Checklist • We have a contemporary plan and know where it is-- Mission, Vision, Goals, Objectives and Action Plans • Our plan includes sub-plans like marketing, technology and resource development • Our plan includes individual work plans that help ensure accountability • Evaluation of our plan is a part of our board agenda at least on a quarterly basis • Our plan is renewed on an annual basis (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

8. Q. Why was a recent grant denied? (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

9. A. The Funder found a disconnect between the grant request and the organization’s strategic plan! (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

10. Board Development Checklist • Our Board of Directors is reflective of the communities we serve • Our Board recruitment process includes a careful assessment of our current board and identifies characteristics of prospective board members who should be added as vacancies occur • We always orient our new Board members • Our board meets at least quarterly with attendance about 85% (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

11. Q. Why was a recent grant denied? (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

12. A. Board attendance hovered around 60%! (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

13. Board Education and Training (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

14. Board Education and Training Checklist • Developing our board training program has active board involvement • Our board training program affords participants an opportunity to evaluate each presentation • Or board training program provides an opportunity for the board and staff to assess changes that are needed based on the presentation (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

15. Partnerships are favored • We are aware/familiar with organizations doing similar work in our area or region? • We have created partnerships where such collaboration will benefit our clients and those of our partners • We have included funders and prospective funders in our partnership discussions (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

16. Shared agendas open doors • More and more funders are discouraging or not accepting unsolicited proposals. Checklist: • We are finding ways for our Board and staff to meet and get to know funder’s boards and staff members. • We are telling our story in such a way as to encourage funders to solicit a proposal from us. (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

17. 10 “Emerging Forces” for 2013 • Government in Crisis • Strains in the Safety Net • A Full-Court Press for Modest Gifts • Improving Grants Outlook • A Weakened Charity Work Force • A Sharpened Eye on Charity Pay • Rising Donor-Charity Tensions • Proving Charity Works • Volunteerism Become Cool (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

18. Thanks! SparrowHawk Consulting, your full service consulting firm serving non-profits, Tribes and tribal organizations don@sparrowhawkco.com 800-398-9048 (c) 2012 SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.