A framework to assess the development and capacity of non-profit agencies

• Published in: Evaluation and program planning 2006-05, Vol.29 (2), p.171-179
• Main Authors: Schuh, Russell G., Leviton, Laura C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0149-7189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2005.12.001

In this article, we present a framework to assess non-profit agencies' levels of development and capacity. The framework is useful for evaluation because it helps to predict and explain program implementation. The framework is useful for program planning because planners must select organizations that are suitable to implement programs, and sometimes they must build organizations' capacity to do the work. A scoring rubric called the stages of organizational change measures development and capacity, using the maturity modeling approach. Maturity modeling is a technique that emerged from the worlds of business and technology. ‘Maturity’ does not imply value judgments about organizations; rather, the level of development and capacity should fit the services to be delivered. The scoring rubric has good reliability and validity and has been applied in three ways: (1) to assess agency capacity at a single time point; (2) to describe capacity development; and (3) to evaluate capacity building initiatives.