Working With Me - What a Discovery Audit Looks Like
- Molly Terbovich-Ridenhour
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Not sure where to start? That’s what the Discovery Audit is for.
One of the most common things I hear from nonprofit leaders is: "We know something’s off, but we’re not sure what to fix first."
That’s exactly why I offer a Discovery Audit. A structured, time-bound engagement designed to assess your organization’s current landscape and help you prioritize next steps.
It’s not an overwhelming process. It’s a chance to pause, zoom out, and get a clear picture of what’s working, what’s stuck, and where to go from here.
What is a Discovery Audit?
It’s a 360° snapshot of your organization covering everything from infrastructure to fundraising to governance. Think of it as a diagnostic check-up before jumping into major changes.
Most audits span 15–25 hours over a few weeks and are completely customized to your organization’s size, stage, and priorities.
What’s Included:
Every Discovery Audit is a bit different, but may include:
🔍 Organizational Assessment Review of documents, systems, and internal structures from staffing and operations to communications and role clarity.
👥 Stakeholder Interviews One-on-one or group conversations with leadership, staff, or board members to gather insight, surface challenges, and hear what’s really going on.
📊 Fundraising & Development Review An analysis of your fundraising structure, strategy, and donor engagement from grants and campaigns to board involvement.
📚 Governance Check Assessment of board function, bylaws, and leadership roles with a focus on alignment and sustainability.
✍️ Final Summary & Recommendations A written report that outlines key themes, areas of strength, and prioritized action steps delivered in plain language, not jargon.
Why It Works
This process gives you:
An external, honest perspective
Clarity around what to tackle first
A sense of what kind of support (if any) you actually need
A shared foundation for board, staff, and funders to build on
Many clients use the audit as a first step toward deeper engagements, but it also stands alone as a powerful planning tool.
Final Thought
Sometimes the hardest part of change is knowing where to begin. The Discovery Audit gives you a place to start with insight, structure, and support.
💬 Want to know if this is right for your organization? Let’s set up a time to talk.
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