Resource library · free toolkits, templates and guides
The practical library for people who build nonprofits
211 really practical toolkits, templates and guides for nonprofit and NGO leaders, and the consultants and funders who support them. A mix of the classics and newer methods.
Suggestions are welcome211 resources · 15 topics · 137 publishers · 197 free to use
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- 3.1C028
Boards of Directors and Governance Systems
A practical guide to strengthening NGO boards, first written in Spanish for organisations in Latin America, where board development tools adapted to local culture and language were scarce. The English version followed requests from outside the region. It walks through board roles, structures and governance systems in practical steps, with tools that boards and executive directors can apply to their own organisation.
Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree - 7.1C086
A Practical Guide to Nonprofit Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning
A guide for nonprofits of any size on setting up measurement, evaluation and learning with limited resources. It works through 3 steps: define outcomes and metrics from your theory of change, measure them without overloading staff and clients, and learn and improve through a dashboard and regular data reviews. It also covers when a formal evaluation is worth the cost and how to start without a data team.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 7.1C083
Guide to the MEAL DPro
A sector guide to monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) for development and humanitarian project staff. It explains each of the 4 parts: monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning. The guide is free under a Creative Commons licence and comes in 7 languages, with a short Quick Guide in English. It underpins the MEAL DPro certification exam, offered in 5 languages, which staff take to show competence.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree - 4.3C054
Transiciones de liderazgo en la dirección ejecutiva
A practical Spanish-language guide for Latin American NGOs managing a change of executive director. It covers why transitions matter, preparing in advance, guidance for the outgoing director, key early decisions, a step-by-step hiring process, onboarding, the former director's board role and evaluating the process. It includes editable Word and Excel tools such as a transition plan, communication plan, job description, weighted selection criteria and candidate emails. It is licensed CC BY 4.0.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 6.2C076
Do-It-Yourself Sabbatical Guide for Nonprofits, with Sample Policies
A practical guide for nonprofit executive directors who want to plan a sabbatical without a funded programme. It sets out a timeline from 6 to 12 months before departure through the time away, the return to work and life after sabbatical. It also reproduces staff sabbatical policies from 6 organisations, including Peace Over Violence, CPAF, SAJE and GEO, which boards and HR leads can adapt.
Start hereClassicTool or templateFree - 7.1C084
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
A short toolkit that helps small NGOs set up monitoring, evaluation and learning they can run with few staff and little money. It is one of 5 toolkits from INTRAC's Strengthening Small Organisations with Big Ambitions project for small UK charities working internationally. It comes as a PDF and a lighter online version for slow connections and mobile use, under a Creative Commons licence.
Start hereCurrentKey manual or guideFree - 7.1C085
Understanding Impact
A guide for charities that want to measure their impact. It shows how to turn a theory of change into a measurement plan, names 5 types of data to focus on and explains how to decide what to measure first. 7 mini-guides cover quantitative methods, qualitative data, sampling, evidence standards, research ethics, analysing and using data, and building a learning culture. It follows NPC's Theory of change in ten steps.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree
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