Are You Vulnerable?
Vulnerability assessment for nonprofits and faith-based organizations
A pastor is accused of bullying his staff. A web server is hacked and held for ransom. An employee steals funds. A leader goes unchecked and sows toxic power and fear throughout the organization.
The frequency of stories like these seems to indicate crises are on the rise. In a world where smartphones abound and social media beckons, almost anyone can be a threat. As the barriers for communication goes down, organizational vulnerability goes up. Internal and external issues can quickly go from threat to crises if they go unchecked. Knowing your risks and assessing your vulnerability is essential.
What is a vulnerability assessment?
An organization’s reputation is its most valuable asset. Every day, every person and policy influences how others view your organization. Therefore, it’s essential an organization takes the steps necessary to protect itself. A powerful tool for any school, business, church or nonprofit, a vulnerability assessment explores how an organization can be damaged from internal and external factors, such as natural disasters, leadership failures, security threats, cybermobs and poor communication. By considering areas uncovered, a plan of action and communication can be created to minimize the likelihood of a crisis and maximize your ability to handle a crisis, should one emerge.
How to assess vulnerability
The goal of a vulnerability assessment is to uncover a nonprofit’s or faith-based organization's strengths and weaknesses in order to better understand risks, reduce the probability of threats and improve communications with core audiences. This process typically includes:
Interviews with board members and staff.
A poll/survey of a broader group of constituents to get quantitative data.
A review of organizational (internal/external) materials.
A report of findings and analysis.
A presentation of reports and recommendations.
A determination of next steps.
With the help of outside professionals trained to evaluate risks, areas of concern can be more easily identified before a crisis happens. By considering the issues and areas found in an assessment, a plan of action can be created to increase preparedness and decrease the likelihood of a spark becoming a forest fire.