A Nonprofit Capacity Self-Assessment Workbook
For Rural Community-Based Housing Organizations

© Housing Assistance Council, 2000

Permission is granted ONLY to nonprofit community-based organizations to reproduce and/or adapt this document, and only for their own use.

ISBN 1-58064-110-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.  Introduction
2.  Preparation Steps
   • Worksheet 1.  Capacity Improvement Goals
3.  Phase 1.  Assessing Strategic Planning Capacity
   • Worksheet 2.  Mission Statement
   • Worksheet 3.  Strategies
   • Worksheet 4.  Goals
   • Worksheet 5.  Constituents and Services
   • Worksheet 6.  Assessing Board Skills
   • Worksheet 7.  Assessing Board Structures
4. Phase II .  Assessing Management Capacity
   • Worksheet 8.  Staff Skills Inventory
   • Worksheet 9.  Board and Staff Relations Assessment
   • Worksheet 10.  Written Procedures Inventory
   • Worksheet 11.  Technical Assistance and Training (TA/T) Needs
5. Phase III.  Assessing Financial Capacity
   • Worksheet 12.  Budget Process Assessment
   • Worksheet 13.  Budget Calendar
   • Worksheet 14.  Budget Analysis (Income)
   • Worksheet 15.  Budget Analysis (Borrowing and Spending)
   • Worksheet 16.  Financial Risk Analysis
   • Worksheet 17.  Inventory and Assessment of Facilities
   • Worksheet 18.  Inventory of Facility Repair Needs and Costs
   • Worksheet 19.  Track Record Assessment
6. Phase IV.  Assessing Information Technology (I.T.) Capacity
   • Worksheet 20.   I.T. Systems Outline
   • Worksheet 21.  Computer Systems Inventory (Hardware)
   • Worksheet 22.  Computer Systems Inventory (Software)
   • Worksheet 23.  Overall I.T. Capacity Assessment
7. Conclusion
8. References
9. Appendix A.  Survey: Nonprofit Capacity Self-Assessment Tool Pilot
10. Appendix B.  Technical Assistance Providers
11. Appendix C.  Sample Bylaws Outline
12. Footnotes

This report was prepared by Dr. Amy L. Rose of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC). The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under Cooperative Agreement H-21204 CA with the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ndeye Jackson served as Government Technical Representative. The substance and funding of that work are dedicated to the public. HAC is solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication and such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government.

HAC, founded in 1971, is a nonprofit corporation that supports the development of rural low-income housing nationwide. HAC provides technical housing services, seed money loans from a revolving loan fund, housing program and policy assistance, research and demonstration projects, and training and information services.

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