Founded in 1947 in the settlement house tradition, Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center (LSNC) serves the Amsterdam Houses and surrounding community on the Upper West Side with a variety of services to children, youth, families and seniors. The organization supports 2,700 individuals and 1,250 families annually.
THE CHALLENGE
LSNC was an excellent candidate to “Beta Test” the newly-developed Organizational Assessment Program which includes a comprehensive questionnaire and a number of hours of consulting time, in which, NESC consultants assist the organization’s staff in working through the questionnaire, perform the analytical work necessary to prioritize needs, arrive at solutions and take action.
A new Executive Director at LSNC recognized a number of challenges facing the organization. National Executive Service Corps was engaged to assist LSNC in focusing on issues and prioritizing future tasks.
THE SOLUTION
The Executive Director of LSNC spent considerable time and effort on our organizational assessment framework. The follow-up sessions with her and the senior staff opened up discussions by focusing on doable and achievable tasks. Skills transfer included:
- How to identify competition
- Scope out the size/potential size of programs
- Seek ways to “monetize” existing assets
The staff was able to take ownership, which created excitement in implementing changes, as well as respect and admiration among peers.
NESC consultants Sergio Sedita and Paul O’Neill describe the project as “a two-way street.” Sergio states that the questionnaire and meetings “not only enabled LSNC’s Executive Director to refine her needs for NESC assistance in directions she had not previously planned, but also provided us valuable feedback.” Paul indicates that her suggestions did not alter the content of the program, but enabled NESC to tweak its organization and presentation.
