Tools & Resources

Avoiding Group Think

This tool (from Mind Tools) is a face-to-face process for gaining consensus where the group shares and discusses all issues before evaluation, with each group member participating equally in evaluation. It describes strategies for checking the fundamental assumptions behind important decisions, validating the decision-making process, and evaluating the risks involved.

Mind Maps

This tool (from Mind Tools) describes a useful approach to note-taking that can be used during a brainstorming session to help you break large topics down into manageable chunks.

Brainstorming

This tool (from Mind Tools) describes why and how to use brainstorming to generate ideas.

Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work

This tool (from Stanford Social Innovation Review) is a follow up to the popular Collective Impact article by the same authors. Its focus is on answering commonly asked questions: How do we begin? How do we create alignment? How do we sustain the initiative? It can be found in Act on What's Important and Work Together under...

Catalytic Philanthropy

This tool (from Stanford Social Innovation Review) describes what funders can do to sustain community improvement initiatives. 

Putting It All Together: Creating and Working with a Budget Document

This tool (from Community Tool Box) provides guidance that can help you manage finances, including five steps for analyzing and adjusting a budget, and steps for creating a budget document.

How Should I Make a Business Plan?

This tool (from Community Tool Box) provides guidance on developing a business plan, including what it should contain, how it should be written, and how it should be packaged.

Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory

This tool (from Wilder Research) is a free online questionnaire that can help you assess how your coalition is functioning generally.

Find it in Evaluate Actions under Evaluate Your Partnership and Make Changes.

Checklist for Sharing Positions and Other Resources

This tool (from Community Tool Box) can help you evaluate how to share resources, including people, time, technology, facilities, training, technical assistance, and money.

Mind Tools

This website includes a variety of tools and resources to make meetings more effective.