Recently I worked with a nonprofit on lifecycle analysis at a Board retreat. The group was wholly engaged in the
discussion and it helped them clearly focus on things they should be including
in their strategic planning process which they were about to begin. I had been using Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-Based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity
(2002) by Susan Stevens as the resource for
this work for a long time. In
preparation for this retreat, I bought Building Nonprofit Capacity: A Guide to Managing Change Through Organizational Lifecycles
by John Brothers and Anne
Sherman published in October 2011.
This work builds on the Stevens model and presents a new, less
traditional and more modern approach to lifecycle analysis. Each has value and they are complimentary of
each other so I recommend both resources.
(2002) by Susan Stevens as the resource for
this work for a long time. In
preparation for this retreat, I bought Building Nonprofit Capacity: A Guide to Managing Change Through Organizational Lifecycles by John Brothers and Anne
Sherman published in October 2011.
This work builds on the Stevens model and presents a new, less
traditional and more modern approach to lifecycle analysis. Each has value and they are complimentary of
each other so I recommend both resources. 
The Stevens model seems easier to work with in a group and
easier for all to understand the basic concepts. I started out with this model and had each participant
use a red dot to show which stage they thought the organization was at for various capacities. Then we looked at the Brothers/Sherman model
and had a discussion on the phase from that perspective. This model provided an updated picture of
priorities for the infrastructure stage with growth and sustainability as the
focus.
This was an in-depth analysis that worked well with an
engaged Board that is eager to always be
taking the next step and bring their organization to new levels. If you are such a Board or will be working
with one, I suggest you check this out.
Here are the slides from this presentation:
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