Paradise by the Dashboard Light

Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Registration & Networking: 8:15 - 8:30 a.m.
Program: 8:30 - 10 a.m.
Parkland College, Room D-105
2400 West Bradley Ave., Champaign

Description:
Information is power. Information about how your organization is performing in all areas will improve your decision-making. A dashboard is simply a management report, displaying all of the critical indicators including fundraising, board performance and delivery of services. Once you implement a dashboard, and report your performance to your team, all of your team will focus on the key indicators.

Facilitator Bio:
Larry Johnson is the Director of Not-For-Profit Tax Services of Sikich, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, Springfield office with 26 years of experience. He is involved with a variety of charitable organizations, including the Central Illinois Planned Giving Council and the Sangamon County Community Foundation. Larry is a graduate of Illinois State University, with a Masters of Science in Taxation from Fontbonne College.


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Larry Johnson, CPA gave a great presentation on the use of dashboards for nonprofit organizations.

The following are some important lessons learned by those in attendance that you don't want to miss out on. Larry's presentation and a few additional handouts will be uploaded soon.

Advisory Boards are suggested for bad/old board members
Ask ‘bad board members’ to be in this group… They can do a few things a year.
This also Adds to your list to evangelists

What should a comprehensive Dashboard report?
Input, output, outcome, efficiency

Full detailed logic model:
Priorities should be Mission, Vision, Values

Strategic Plans
Dashboards show you how you’re doing every day/month/year in touch with your plan

Balanced Scorecard Approach:
Strategy leads to...
Financial, Business Processes, Learning & Growth, Customer

If the plan is not actively monitored, goals and outcomes fail to be met…
If you don’t monitor, nothing changes

Purpose of Dashboards:
• Provide on-time info to make better decisions
• Illustrate leading indicators
• Create a stakeholder communication tool
• Make data easy to interpret and consume
• Track board attendance at all meetings

Questions to ask to create Performance Measurement Dashboard:
• Why do we exist?
• What do we stand for?
• Where are we heading?
• How do we get there?
• How do we know we’re making progress?

Memorable Quotes:
• “What gets measured gets done.”
• “Unless you’re keeping score, it’s difficult to see who wins the game.”
• “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will probably end up somewhere else.”
• "Focus on raising revenue, not on lowering costs"
• "The most successful businesses have dashboards that track the things that matter most."

Suggested Readings:
• ‘Good to Great and the Social Sectors’ - Jim Collins (also on YouTube)
• ‘Forces for Good’ - Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant
• ‘Mission’ books - Peter Brickerhoff
• ‘Complete Guide to Planned Giving’ – Deb Ashton
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