Core Capacity Assessment Tool

Mission is the bottom-line for the nonprofit sector.  The fundamental goal of building the organizational capacity of nonprofit agencies is to, in the end, strengthen their ability to realize that mission, whether it is to protect the vulnerable, enrich our communities, provide education and resources, respond to critical events and issues, or sustain our environment.

In order to achieve its mission, a nonprofit needs to develop a strong, effective and efficient organization.  But what do strong organizations look like? 

The Core Capacity Assessment Tool:

Answers the question: “Where are we?”  It provides a snapshot of the organization’s strengths and weaknesses at one
Is completed independently by multiple leaders of an organization. 
Uses randomized questions, a rating system, and an external analysis.  Consequently, it provides a more objective picture of an organization’s strengths and weaknesses.
Includes a report that helps organizations prioritize which areas to work on first.
Allows an organization to measure its progress over time and to compare itself to other organizations of similar size and focus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Core Capacity Assessment Tool? 
The Core Capacity Assessment Tool (“CCAT”) is an assessment instrument developed by TCC Group of Philadelphia in partnership with the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits. It is the most comprehensive online survey of its kind and allows for a truly anonymous and confidential self-assessment of an organization’s core capacities.  The CCAT report provides an analysis of an organization’s current status in the Four Core Capacities that TCC believes are crucial for organizational effectiveness.  The CCAT is intended to help a nonprofit organization determine its strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Who should use it? 
The CCAT was created to assess nonprofit organizations.  Foundations, corporate funders, and management support organizations (MSOs) may purchase access to the CCAT as a service for their grantees or as a tool for determining the need for long-term capacity-building services.  However, the CCAT is not intended to be used by funders as a “screening tool” to determine which organizations to support.

What does the CCAT assess and analyze?
The CCAT assesses and allows an organization to analyze its Four Core Capacities, organizational culture, and where it is in terms of its organizational lifecycle.  It provides users with a report analyzing their strengths and providing recommendations for future growth and change within each capacity area (Leadership, Adaptive, Management and Technical), including sub-categories that provide deeper insight into each core capacity.  The lifecycle score can be used to provide a status report in terms of accomplishments to date and to predict hurdles in an organization’s future.  The lifecycle score can also serve as a benchmark to confirm that a nonprofit is continuing to grow successfully.

Who takes it? 
The CCAT is generally taken by all senior staff and at least two to three board members possessing an intimate knowledge of the organization.

How do I take it? 
The CCAT is administered electronically and consists of 146 multiple-choice questions covering a range of operational topics. Answers are then analyzed to determine the organization’s capacity to achieve its mission.

How much time is needed to take the survey? 
It takes about 45 minutes to complete the survey.

How do I get started? 
The organization must identify a key contact person who will enter the list of names and e-mail addresses for all the individuals taking the CCAT and enter background information about the organization into the survey. 

How do the participants log in to take the survey?
Once the background information is provide, the individuals taking the survey will receive an e-mail notice providing them with a password. Using the assigned password, participants log into TCC Group’s website – at their convenience – and take the survey.

When do organizations get the results?
As soon as everyone participating has taken the survey, results are immediately available to the key contact person. 

What is in the report?
Your CCAT Report provides a snapshot of your organization’s strengths and challenges based on first-hand experience and anonymous answers.  It includes information on interpreting the results, as well as graphic depictions of your scores for each capacity area, basic comparative data with organizations nationwide, and recommendations of activities that can strengthen each specific core capacity.  The CCAT report also includes an organizational life cycle score and a set of computer generated, prioritized capacity-building recommendations based on the organization’s life cycle stage.  To see an example of the CCAT final report, click here, or view a sample page.

How can I use the CCAT Report?
The CCAT Report can be used as a:
•    Starting point for conversations
•    Suggested checklist for changes
•    Barometer for comparison to similar organizations
•    Way to track organizational growth and development
•    Method for involving board members in discussing organizational capacities

How do organizations decipher the results?
It is recommended that organizational leaders take part in a group or individualized session to prepare for taking the survey and discuss best strategies for using the results going forward. NHCN provides group sessions throughout the year or can arrange for a trained consultant to visit your individual board room to help you interpret the results and explore ways to utilize the information to support your organization’s continued growth and success.

How do I prepare my organization to take the survey?
It is recommended that organization leaders take part in either the group orientation sessions or individualized sessions offered by NHCN to learn about the survey, the process and the four core capacity model.

What is the cost to take the CCAT?
The cost to take the CCAT depends upon the format you choose.  NH Center for Nonprofits highly recommends using the survey in one of the two following formats.

The Group Seminars - In the two-part Group Seminars, you come together with staff and board members of other organizations to learn about the Four Core Capacity Model, take the easy 45-minute electronic survey, receive your comprehensive report on the strengths, challenges, lifecycle and culture within your organization, and receive coaching on how to interpret and use your results to your best advantage. 

The Individualized Program - In the Individualized Program, a CCAT Consultant from NH Center for Nonprofits works individually with your board and staff to provide information on the Four Core Capacity model, describe the latest research on organizational capacity and prepare the organization to take the survey.  Once you’ve received your results, the consultant returns to help you interpret your results, use the information to generate great discussions, inform strategic planning, and share your results with the community, funders and stakeholders. 

In both of the above formats we will also provide an overview of our NEW Best Practice Guide that complements the CCAT results and provides strategies for strengthening and moving your organization from one lifecycle stage to another to sustain quality through years of growth and change.

Scholarships Available! Due to the generosity of the Endowment for Health and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, we have scholarships available to take the Core Capacity Assessment Survey. Please call our office at 225-1947 to find out more!

Organizations may also take the survey on their own.  Please call NHCN for more information on the CCAT, Best Practice Guide and pricing for Members and Not-Yet-Members.