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.

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211 resources · 15 topics · 137 publishers · 197 free to use

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6 resources found

  • Search: organisational culture
  • 5.3C070

    Awake to Woke to Work

    A publication from Equity in the Center, developed with more than 120 DEI and race equity practitioners, on building a race equity culture inside an organisation. It sets out the Race Equity Cycle, a set of stages from awake to woke to work, and the organisational levers that move an organisation through them. It gives tactics and practices for shifting culture. Free companion tools include an action plan form, a glossary and a pulse check.

    Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree with sign-up
  • 5.4C074

    Understanding effective safeguarding culture

    A discussion tool from Bond, the UK network for international development organisations, for talking about what a positive safeguarding culture looks like. It describes behaviours that show whether a culture follows good safeguarding practice across 6 areas: policies and procedures, safer programming, a survivor-centred approach, awareness raising, safer recruitment and reporting. Staff at all levels use it in workshops, alongside a separate Bond tool for leaders.

    CurrentTool or templateFree
  • 5.3C071

    Creating Cultures and Practices for Racial Equity

    A toolbox from Race Forward for arts and cultural organisations working on racial equity. It opens with a glossary and steps for building equity into culture and practice, then gives 5 tools: an organisational equity impacts and outcomes assessment, a choice points worksheet, DreamYard's Equity Prime, the R.A.C.E. Lens and a values-based equity tool. Teams use the worksheets to review policies, programmes, grantmaking, contracts and budgets.

    CurrentTool or templateFree
  • 1.5C214

    Nonprofit Lifecycles

    A short book that sets out seven stages a nonprofit can pass through: idea, start-up, growth, maturity, decline, turnaround and terminal. For each stage it describes what programmes, management, governance, resources and systems typically look like. Leaders, boards, funders and consultants use it to place an organisation on the curve, spot the area that lags behind the others and plan capacity work that fits the stage. Copies are sold through the Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute and partners such as SaskCulture.

    Start hereClassicKey manual or guideBook
  • 5.4C073

    A Change Management & Deep Equity Primer

    A primer by Sheryl Petty, co-released by GEO, on leading organisational change with equity at the core. It introduces Equity-Embedded Change Management and covers readiness, assessment, buy-in, consultant and client challenges, communication, implementation, getting unstuck, what progress means and leaders' inner work. It ends with a glossary, resources and a framework for deep equity capacity building. Staff, boards, consultants and funders use it to plan equity change.

    Start hereCurrentShort readFree
  • 7.3C095

    Organizational Learning Self-Assessment Tool

    An 18-question self-assessment that nonprofits and grantmakers use to gauge their learning culture in 5 to 10 minutes. Items are rated 1 to 5 across 3 areas: organisational habits and behaviours, leadership and strategic direction, and capacity and resources. Each area suggests 5, 15 or 30 minute actions and further resources. Teams use it to start a discussion, and can share it with funders or partners.

    CurrentTool or templateFree

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