Strategic Design Planning
Certification and consulting for the non-profit world

As competition for funding between non-profits continues to increase, an opportunity is created for an organization to provide certification and consulting to help NGOs prove and maximize their effectiveness.

Process

Larry Keeley, president of Dobin, charged us with creating an organization that would help non-profits secure funding by providing both a proof of efficacy score as well as strategic consulting.

The team created a series of parameters that, when compared to a company's current performance, would result in a “Certified Assessment.” This assessment is then combined with a proof of efficacy scored (based on efficient use of resources) and reputation among peers to create an organizations overall Impact Score. This score, not unlike an ISO or LEED certification, could then be used to help an NGO prove its level of effect when securing funding.

The design plan included a suite of assessment and consulting tools, as well as internal and external implementation plans and a business model.

Download the full report: [PDF, 2.3 MB]

  • Date: Spring 06
  • Timeframe: 7 weeks
  • Credits: Classwide project

fig 1. Areas of excellence

fig 2. Self-assessment tools

fig 3. The Impact Score

fig 3. Implementation plan