From Here's Kate on flickr

The piercing cry of the shofar from the final moments of Yom Kippur has all but faded. Leaves have turned from green to bright reds and yellows, and the air is getting crisper. In fact, in Minneapolis where I live, I’ve even watched snowflakes fall on my sukkah in some years! As we embark on the year 5772, now is the perfect time to reflect and ask ourselves as leaders, “What can we do to make our work have even greater impact?”

Here is an organizational assessment tool from The Society for Nonprofit Organizations to help you focus your energies in responding to this question. While the tool is not targeted specifically to Jewish organizations or synagogues, you’ll see several areas of organizational development that are worth reviewing as a team with volunteer leaders and professional staff.

In particular, you might want to begin with any of the following sections: Strategic Planning (pp. 2-6), Board Development (pp. 12-15), Marketing (pp. 19-21) and Volunteer Involvement (pp. 35-39). Start by tackling the section where you believe your organization has the most room for improvement.

After you complete your chosen assessment(s), you will have identified some specific indicators of organizational development that you will want to work on in the new year. If you would like help reviewing the results and creating a plan for moving forward, please contact us for a free initial consultation.

The fall holidays are ending…let a new and exciting year for your organization begin!

Hag Sameach,

Rabbi Hayim Herring