What participants say...
"I now have more confidence in having difficult conversations, providing motivation to improve without resorting to threats or being too cold."
"The use of the MBTI tool and the related training really helped staff to get a much better sense of how they personally manage information, space, closure, etc. This was a very strong beginning to what I see as an ongoing process of better working relations."
Current and Recent Participants
Friends of Nevada Wilderness
Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
Sitka Conservation Society
Nevada Wilderness Project
Feel free to contact any of the participating organizations for their comments on the Organizational Effectiveness Program
Organizational Effectiveness Program
Strengthening your organization
This program is designed to help you sustain your organization and staff for the long haul. It offers intensive work with your Board, staff and volunteers to enhance your organization’s core capacities to manage internal and external change, improve governance, and build better systems.
We look at organizations like an ecosystem – all the parts have to be there and be functioning in order to have a healthy, effective organization. TREC will help you tune-up, repair, and enhance the parts that need it. We are activists helping activists – we know the territory, we’ve been where you are, and we are there when you need us most.
What TREC can offer
For organizations accepted into the program, we begin with either a quick, short initial assessment or if you qualify, an in-depth, detailed and comprehensive on-site assessment. The assessment will look at administrative, strategic and programmatic systems and resources.
The assessment contains a wealth of information and suggestions on how to strengthen the capacity of your organization. We then work with you to develop and implement a capacity-building plan. Plans vary in length depending on the services needed and agreed to by both TREC and the organization.
The organizational effectiveness program offers the following services based on your needs:
- Strategic planning
- Fiscal Sustainability and Fundraising
- Governance
- Leadership
- Organizational and Personal Sustainability
- Personnel Management
- Community Engagement
- Coalition Management
- Individual and team coaching
- Team building
What do we expect from you?
Your lead staff and board of directors must be committed to growing as leaders. Your organization must be willing to increase its effectiveness. You and your group must commit significant time to work on developing and implementing your plan.
Your commitment must include:
Depending on the scope of the services we agree to, your commitment may include:
Key staff and board working with a lead TREC associate to help manage the process
Commitment from your staff and board to prioritize working on issues in your organizational capacity-building plan, including planning retreats, if identified as part of your plan
Participation in an intensive three- or four-day organizational assessment process (for first-time participants) at your office with a TREC consultant to determine your organization’s needs and opportunities; based on this assessment, your board and staff will work with the consultant to create your capacity-building plan
Openness to participating in additional feedback exercises for your key staff, board and programs (such as 360-degree leadership evaluations, board effectiveness evaluation, program effectiveness)
Participation in a series of evaluations that will be scheduled throughout the organization effectiveness process, to include a telephone interview and written feedback to the evaluator Working closely with your TREC consultant and others to meet mutually agreed-upon deadlines
What will the program cost?
This program is made possible by generous support from Wilburforce Foundation, which will cover the majority of the costs. The Organizational Effectiveness Program is a partnership between TREC's Organizational Effectiveness Program and your organization – we each commit significant time and resources to the process.
Contact: Jeff DeBonis, Senior Associate, [Jeff at trec.org] (541) 387-2651
TREC Customized Training and Consulting Services
Drawing on our staff and network of top consultants, TREC can provide customized training and consulting services to meet your special needs.
Community Engagement
TREC's newest program, offering highly customized community engagement services to Wilburforce grantees in designated regional conservation initiatives (high priority regions). This service is designed to increase conservation gains "on the ground."
- Focus Groups and Stakeholder Surveys
TREC can help you "listen" to your members, donors or new constituencies to learn their attitudes and perceptions about your organization, conservation or specific issues. The information can assist organizations in evaluating and designing membership outreach, test issues and value messages and identify potential new members, leaders and organizational allies. - Hiring and Mentoring Organizers
TREC can help you develop job descriptions, screen applicants and hire organizers. And TREC can help you develop organizers through on site and telephone mentoring and coaching to conservation organizers with the goal of increasing on the ground organizing effectiveness. TREC’s staff has over thirty years of experience organizing in a variety of settings and campaigns.
Other Custom Services
- Strategic planning
- Fiscal Sustainability and Fundraising
- Governance
- Leadership
- Organizational and Personal Sustainability
- Personnel Management
- Community Engagement
- Coalition Management
- Individual and team coaching
- Team building
Interested in consulting services?
Please fill out the Custom Consulting Letter of Inquiry and mail to Jeff DeBonis, Senior Associate.
Custom Consulting Letter of Inquiry (PDF)
Contact: Jeff DeBonis, Senior Associate, [Jeff at trec.org] (541) 387-2651