Good human resource function ensures that an organization is successful in selecting and developing people so that they have what it takes to give their best to the organization and thus help it fulfill its strategic objectives.

Our Human Resources Capacity Assessment helps you:

• Understand where you currently are in terms of HR capacity
• Identify and prioritize which areas of HR you can improve for maximum strategic impact
• Make decisions about where you should dedicate resources to improving HR long-term

As organizations grow or change, many find that their human resource function struggles to keep pace; by the time they address one HR problem another one emerges. We understand how difficult this can be, so our HR Capacity Assessment addresses both an organization’s current HR issues and its overall HR capacity. This approach allows our teams to guide an organization’s approach to dealing with the challenges at hand, as well as to develop strategies to build human resource capacity for sustained HR performance.

The impact of each project varies, but you can expect to:

• Integrate your HR goals with your strategic objectives
• Reconcile varying viewpoints within your organization on current HR function
• Establish the foundation upon which you can measurably build long-term improvement of HR

• Discovery interviews with a range of your staff
• A comprehensive assessment of current HR capacity including analysis of the following HR functions:
  • Employee Relations (i.e., internal communications, interpersonal skills)
  • Administration
  • Hiring
  • Organizational Design
  • Benefits & Compensation
  • Performance management
  • Training & Development
  • Board Recruitment
  • Volunteers (i.e., recruitment, retention)
• Analysis of current HR function against strategic goals
• A set of priorities for improving HR
• An action plan which outlines execution and resource allocation strategies for building HR capacity

Our HR Capacity Assessment is most likely to be successful under certain circumstances. We recommend you apply if your organization has met the following requirements:

• A strategic plan and an annual operating plan that reflects current thinking and practice
• An Executive Director or HR Director who are strongly committed to this project
• An employee manual outlining organizational workplace policies
• Basic HR systems which manage performance evaluation, hiring and recruiting, and benefits and compensation
• Staff that can invest the necessary time to make the project succeed:
  • Executive Director: 2-3 hours each week
  • Human Resources Director: 2-3 hours each week
  • Managers (2-3): 10-15 hours over the course of the project
  • Selection of board members, volunteers, employees: 2-3 hours each over the course of the project

Your Taproot Foundation team will be staffed by human resources experts who have made a personal commitment to strengthening the nonprofit sector. Visit our volunteer roles page for additional information about HR volunteer roles.

If this project appeals to your organization and you have the recommended items in place, please review our grant process and criteria, and then apply. If you have questions about the grant or your eligibility, please contact us.