What shape are you in The Balance Wheel

About TCFN provides a platform for the exchange of experience and expertise among community foundations on both sides of the Atlantic. TCFN is organized by Bertelsmann Stiftung with support and advice of the C. S. Mott Foundation. The Balance Wheel was created by the TCFN Organizational Development and Effectiveness Working Group © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Advancing community foundation effectiveness § How do we assess our own effectiveness? § What questions should we ask? § What will we do with the answers to the questions we ask ourselves? § Isn’t assessment and evaluation an expensive and time-consuming exercise? § What will we do if we don’t agree with the results? © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

The Balance Wheel Gauge perceptions about your community foundation’s effectiveness in six key areas: § Governance § Management § Community leadership § Grants/programs/projects § Visibility § Fund development Note: key areas can be translated into any language © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

The Balance Wheel A quick, easy and informative tool § Interactive and intuitive § Generates memorable visuals § Includes discussion questions § Links to resources about the six key areas § Can be adapted to work in any culture on any topic © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Getting started 1. Download the Microsoft® Excel tool 2. Open the file 3. Follow the onscreen instructions Download file at www. tcfn. efc. be © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Gaining input Distribute Rating Form to key stakeholders: § Board § Staff § Committees

Consolidate and view results § Enter data from Rating Forms § View and print aggregate data and visuals Sample outputs What shape are you in? © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

The ideal shape Effectiveness is a function of progress in each of the six areas and a balance of effectiveness between the six areas © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Discussing the results Community Foundation A Basic Chart © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network

Discussing the results Community Foundation A Detailed Chart Average Lowest Highest © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung § Look at the overall graphic, and consider the length of the spokes as they move outward from the center. What shape are we in? § What does the overall shape of the chart tell us? Any surprises? § Consider the spokes of the chart. Which spoke shall we start with? § What criteria did we use to form our perceptions (i. e. , why did we rate things as we did)? § Why do we have discrepancies in our ratings?

Discussing the results (continued) Community Foundation A Detailed Chart Average Lowest Highest © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung § What do we have to do to move to a “ 5” in an area? § What are the indicators of success (achieved a “ 5” in each area)? § Repeat the discussion for each spoke. § How will we prioritize the identified actions? § What are our next steps? Use tool annually to assess progress and to identify areas of focus.

Case study: The Winnipeg Foundation Going Deeper Using The Balance Wheel to measure perceptions on areas of the foundation’s strategic plan © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Case study: The Winnipeg Foundation Areas of Study § Community Leadership § Supporting Community Needs § Decision Making Processes § Endowment Building § Financial Oversight § Strategic Positioning © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Case study: The Winnipeg Foundation Areas of Study © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network

Case study: The Winnipeg Foundation Measuring additional perceptions in each area Example: Community Leadership © 1. Our grants effectively respond to and support community led projects 2. Projects initiated by the Foundation target the most critical issues 3. We educate our donors appropriately about philanthropic opportunities 4. We convene and collaborate around critical issues effectively 5. Documenting our experience enables us to influence others and public policy 6. We incorporate diverse experience and perspectives into our processes 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung

Case study: The Winnipeg Foundation “ The Balance Wheel helped us get a snapshot of how we are doing with our strategic plan. This tool makes it so easy to gather perceptions that our Board is going to use it annually to help monitor our progress. “ Rick Frost CEO, The Winnipeg Foundation (Canada) © 2005 Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)/Bertelsmann Stiftung