Assessment and Advising Services

Board Development

Advising on nonprofit board governance begins with assessing current board functioning and reviewing the talent pool in the board roster. EVS advisors can assist with many facets of nonprofit board management and development. These topics include but are not limited to the following: 

• Board Recruitment Planning: EVS advisors assist in analyzing the needs, strengths, and gaps within boards and creating an ongoing process for identifying and engaging potential board members. 

• Board Onboarding and Training: EVS offers formats for developing onboarding programs that provide new board members with the history, structure, programs, financial reports, and other data required to understand the organization's strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities. Advisors participate in onboarding to describe board member roles and responsibilities. 

• Board Policies and Procedure: EVS advisors suggest and provide examples of policies recommended for ethical operations.  

• Board Expectations, Roles, and Responsibilities: EVS advisors lead board members through individual and collective performance evaluations. Based on that information, they help them understand best practices of board governance, including ensuring compliance with laws and policies, upholding fiduciary duties, staying informed about the organization's activities, participating in committee work, and contributing to its mission by providing guidance and financial support. Advisors assist executive directors and board chairs in setting expectations of board members during the recruiting process and providing guidelines for managing board members once they are in place.  

• Board Chair Mentoring. EVS advisors who have served as board chairs guide chairs to grasp their roles and responsibilities.  

Evaluation 

If a specialist in designing evaluation programs is available, EVS can advise on creating an evaluation program that tests and helps improve the quality of programming, and demonstrates  your impact in the community to funders.  

Executive Mentoring 

EVS advisors begin mentoring by reviewing organizations' business models. They request and discuss the value proposition, organizational vision, client segments for service and fundraising, communications strategy, and resources. Through hands-on, collaborative advising, advisors guide nonprofit leaders in developing a resilient, thriving organization.  

Executive Director Peer Group

EVS facilitates a peer group meeting for ten nonprofit executive directors, which provides a place for leaders to connect, share ideas, and learn from each other. The group helps leaders address challenges, improve their leadership skills, and expand their networks. The group is not currently accepting new members. If you are interested in joining, please apply here to be added to the waiting list. 

Financial Assessment and Advice

If EVS has access to a financial services volunteer, EVS offers a review of financial outcomes, processes, revenue trends, and spending. 

Fundraising Assessment and Advice

EVS advisors review a detailed breakdown of an organization's current fundraising strategies and outcomes for individuals, grants, the board, foundations, corporations, and events. After comparing the results to industry standards, they suggest areas for growth and ways to diversify and strengthen fundraising. They discuss the board's effectiveness regarding their critical roles in fundraising and can provide training to increase board awareness of their fundraising role.    

Human Resources

If EVS has access to a human resources volunteer, that advisor offers reviews and suggestions on organizational structure, onboarding, performance review processes, and improving employee morale.  

Marketing and Communications

If specialists in marketing and communications are currently volunteering, they can review your marketing and communications program, help you assess the return on investment of your efforts, and advise on ways to reach your targeted audiences.  

Strategic Planning

Using an approach developed by EVS, advisors guide a committee of board and staff members in creating measurable, accountable strategic plans. The process includes reviewing the mission, vision, competitors, and a SWOT analysis (identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Plans detail how organizations will succeed in three critical areas: relevant, impactful programming, sustainable, diversified funding, financial controls, and implementing best practices for board governance and staff performance.  

Technology and IT

If technology experts are currently volunteering, that advisor may review existing software and hardware use and advise on choosing and implementing software.