organizational development (OD) & capacity-Strengthening
VESTEDin™ INTRODUCES S.T.E.M.S. AND S.E.E.D.S.
VESTEDin™ specializes in organizational and capacity development for mission-driven organizations. We combine human-centered design principles with our STEMS and SEED developmental framework to partner with organizations seeking to enhance their impact, growth potential, and innovation agility.
This unique approach helps organizations gain clarity and direction while determining key priorities. Recognizing each organization's developmental stage, we create tailored strategies that address its unique challenges and opportunities. This allows our clients to navigate their growth trajectory more effectively and sustainably.
Our comprehensive Nonprofit Organizational Development Framework illuminates the holistic ecosystem of nonprofits in five domains (Strategy, Technology, External Relations, Money, and Servant Leadership) encompassing 24 interconnected operational areas. The framework serves as a continuous improvement developmental tool and roadmap for technical assistance and capacity-strengthening interventions, equipping organizations of any tenure, type, or size with tools to cultivate long-term health, resilience, and impact.
Nonprofit Puzzle: Understanding Organizational Development
Improving Organizational Health & Impact, Piece by Piece
To understand Nonprofit Organizational Development (OD), envision your nonprofit organization as a complete puzzle. Just as a doctor must comprehend human anatomy and development stages to provide proper medical care, we must understand how all organizational pieces fit together to create a healthy, functioning whole.
Like a puzzle, where each piece connects to and supports others, organizations are not collections of isolated departments and functions. They are complex, interconnected ecosystems where every piece plays a vital role. When one piece is missing or weak, it affects the entire picture – as our framework demonstrates through interlocking elements like governance, operations, financial management, and community engagement.
Recognizing that organizations develop through distinct phases helps us identify which pieces (24 operational areas) need strengthening at different times. Some pieces, like strategic planning or volunteer engagement, might require immediate attention, while others, like innovative technologies or public policy engagement, may become priorities as the organization matures. This developmental understanding enables us to meet organizations where they are – whether they're establishing foundational pieces or enhancing more advanced aspects of their organizational 'puzzle.'
Moreover, just as a puzzle requires a systematic approach to assembly, methodical capacity-strengthening work is paramount. It demands careful attention to how each organizational piece fits into the larger picture, ensuring all pieces work together seamlessly to create a complete and sustainable picture of organizational health and impact.
There are 24 operational areas within the five S.T.E.M.S. domains.
Nonprofit Developmental Maturity
S.E.E.D.S. for Nonprofit Development
Adapted from Susan K. Stevens' "The Nonprofit Lifecycles," the S.E.E.D.S. development model offers a simple yet powerful way to understand organizational growth and change. Nonprofits journey through various developmental stages—some struggle to mature, others grow quickly, and a few need to reinvent themselves.
CAPACITY-STRENGTHENING SERVICES
Discovery
Individual Activities
Group Activities
Establishing a solid foundation for organizational growth by aligning understanding and expectations, identifying current capacities and needs, designing relevant content, and determining how success will be defined.
1. Orientation
2. Capacity- Strengthening Assessment
3. Curriculum Co-Design
4. Capacity-Strengthening Plan
Group Activities
Individual Activities
Group Activities
Integrating intensive leadership mentoring, hands-on practical skill-building, and peer learning networks to cultivate organizational growth through shared knowledge and best practices.
1. Bite-Sized Leadership Development & Sustainability Mentorship Convenings (3-4 )
2. Experiential Workshops (4-5 )
3. Peer-to-Peer Learning (2-3 )
Individual Activities
Individual Activities
Individual Activities
Combining personalized coaching, self-paced 'targeted' online learning, resource access, bridgework and reflective documentation, and structured knowledge-sharing with teams to ensure sustainable skill development and organizational impact.
1. 1:1 Coaching & Bridgework
2. Flexible Online Learning
3. Resource Portal
4. Journaling & Reporting
5. Knowledge Transfer with Staff Team
Building Sustainable Impact
Individual Activities
Individual Activities
Focusing on consolidating learning, ensuring knowledge transfer, and creating sustainable systems for continued organizational development beyond the program period.
1. Best Practice Reflections
2. Systematic Knowledge Transfer Plan
3. Roadmap of Digital Resources
4. After-Action Capacity-Strengthening Success Metrics
5. Celebrate Program Successes (Graduation)
The Harris County Public Health Capacity-Strengthening Team
VESTEDin™ Consulting Group, LLC brings together a powerhouse team of seasoned professionals dedicated to strengthening the capacity of community-based organizations and driving positive change. Our collective expertise spans decades of hands-on experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, capacity-strengthening, and community development, with combined skills covering all of the business domains of mission-driven work.
Led by Founder Bridget Y. Samuel and team members Kelli King-Jackson and Emelda Douglas, our approach to this work centers on people, equity, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities. We're committed to working closely with each organization to reach their full potential and create lasting impact.