All About OCATs at SVP

Why do we do what we do, and how? We here at SVP Vancouver are passionate about helping to improve the way nonprofits operate and helping them accelerate their growth, with the wider aim of helping children across B.C.

So, how do Investee organizations get started with SVP? Using an organizational capacity assessment tool, or OCAT, helps our Investee and Alumni organizations to reflect on their capacity building areas with SVP’s assistance. Caitlin McBride, Development Manager with West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation says of the OCAT process, “Being in a small nonprofit, the phrase that always comes to mind is ‘building the plane while flying it,’ just trying to put pieces together while still maintaining operations. So to have this privilege to actually look at our capacity with a co-pilot or co-engineer is just huge.” 

For us at SVP, our OCAT also helps us to tell the story of our impact and celebrate the growth and successes of the organizations we work with.

What is our OCAT?

There are many ways to assess an organization’s capacity. At SVP Vancouver, we use an OCAT to help each organization evaluate and assess their own resources, needs, and strengths. We conduct an OCAT at the beginning, middle, and end of every funding relationship. The OCAT is also available to Alumni. 

What do OCATs help us do?

An OCAT leads to a focused discussion about the resources and practices an organization has in place, and those it will need to accomplish its goals. It is a learning tool that addresses nine critical areas of capacity that are at the foundation of healthy organizations. The OCAT helps us collectively identify priority areas for our capacity building work with Investees. 

A team member from CityHive says, “The OCAT was very interesting to me in two ways: first, I was surprised at how well I thought we were doing.” Another team member added, “This process highlighted what I know a lot about, and what I don’t.”

How does it work?

Members of each Investee organization complete an online form in which they are asked to reflect on different aspects of the organization, like management and leadership, fundraising, and technology. The Investee organization, SVP team members, and Lead Partners then discuss the results and come up with next steps. 

OCATs are a learning tool, and they are meant for Investees to use as they see fit. They may use them for their goal and priority setting, or they may inform where they choose to focus their relationship(s) with SVP. These decisions are entirely up to each Investee organization; while SVP is here to help, we are not here to dictate the direction Investees choose to take.

Shannon Hartwig from West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation says, “Filling in the OCAT felt really cathartic to me. We’ve been working so hard over the last five years and we’ve done so much, but having a place to be like ‘here’s where we need help’ and to have someone say, ‘We’re going to respond to where you need help’ feels like an amazing, beautiful thing and exactly why we wanted to be part of SVP.” 

What our new Investees are looking forward to

Since February, we completed Year 1 OCATs with our five new Investees. Here’s what they’re excited about:

• West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation is looking forward to accessing the New School of Fundraising’s resources and workshops.
• CityHive is excited about working with SVP to find coaching and advisory opportunities in areas like financial management.
• Dalai Lama Center for Education is working on their strategic plan with SVP’s help
• New West Family Place is looking forward to working with SVP’s Strategy and Impact Coach Karen Gelb
• Deaf Children’s Society of BC is planning to work on HR and recruitment.

We look forward to sharing more about each Investee and what they are focusing on  – stay tuned for more news in our upcoming Impact Snapshots and on our site!