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Transform your Non-Profit and NGO Skills capabilities with upleashed Skills Matrix

Implement a skills matrix to discover development opportunities and optimise your Non-Profit and NGO team's effectiveness for greater community impact

Why a Skills Matrix is essential for the ​​​​​​Non-Profit & NGO sector

A well-structured skills matrix in the Non-Profit and NGO sector facilitates the identification and enhancement of essential skills that underpin organisational success.  By focusing on competencies such as project evaluation, fundraising strategies, and partnership development, these organisations can effectively address skill gaps and optimise training efforts.  Continuously updating the matrix ensures that teams are equipped to meet the dynamic challenges of the sector, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and greater community impact.

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Mission-Centric Skills

With a skills matrix you can ensures​ staff are aligned with the organisation's mission and have the necessary skills to deliver impactful results.

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Fundraising & Donor Relations

A skills matrix helps you to​identify​ ​gaps in fundraising capabilities and equips teams with the skills needed to manage donor relations and secure funding.

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Financial Stewardship

A skills matrix helps you to ​assesses the team's understanding of budgeting, grant management, and financial reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.

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Volunteer Coordination

With a skills matrix you can ​ensures the staff can recruit, train, and manage volunteers efficiently, maximising the organisation's capacity to deliver services.

In the dynamic environment of Non-Profits and NGOs, a comprehensive skills matrix serves as a foundation for strategic workforce planning.  It allows organisations to evaluate and develop critical skills related to advocacy, financial management, and stakeholder relations.  By highlighting areas for growth, the matrix supports targeted training initiatives that ensure teams are well-prepared to adapt to changing societal needs and funding opportunities, thus maximising their impact and effectiveness in delivering services.

A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC  Download The Skill Matrix

Benefits of a Skills Matrix in the ​​​​​​Non-Profit & NGO Sector

A skills matrix is an essential tool for Non-Profit and NGO organisations, providing a structured approach to identify and develop key competencies within teams.  By clearly mapping out the skills required for various roles, organisations can ensure that staff are well-equipped to address community challenges effectively.  This tool also facilitates targeted training initiatives and promotes collaboration, helping to enhance overall organisational performance.

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Mission 
Alignment

Ensures staff have the skills and motivation to work effectively towards the organisation’s mission and goals.

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Optimised Fundraising Efforts

Well-trained staff improve donor engagement and fundraising efforts, increasing the organisation’s financial stability.

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Enhanced Programme Impact

Ensures teams are well-prepared to develop and deliver high-quality programmes that drive positive change in communities.

Effective Volunteer Engagement

Helps manage volunteers efficiently, ensuring they are integrated into the organisation and aligned with its goals.

Increased Financial Accountability

Improves the team’s ability to manage funds responsibly, ensuring donor trust and compliance with grant requirements

Stronger Advocacy & Influence

Strengthens the organisation’s voice in policy discussions, equipping teams to advocate for the issues that matter most to their cause.

In the Non-Profit and NGO sectors, where resource optimisation and impact are critical, a skills matrix supports more effective planning and execution of projects.  It highlights key areas for training, ensures compliance with sector-specific regulations, and helps teams work more efficiently.  By mapping skills across the organisation, you enable smarter decision-making and ensure your team remains adaptable in a rapidly changing environment.

  A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC  Download The Skill Matrix

Steps to build capacity with a skills matrix for Non-Profits & NGOs

Implement a skills matrix that supports team development, ensuring staff are well-trained and empowered to create meaningful impact.

Conduct a Skills Assessment

Begin by reviewing the current skill sets of your team, with a focus on areas such as fundraising, programme delivery, and advocacy.

Identify Key Skill Gaps

Compare the existing skills with the organisation’s operational needs and strategic goals, highlighting areas for improvement.

Develop Training Plans

Create customised training programmes that address gaps in essential areas like donor relations, financial management, and volunteer coordination.

Future-Proofing your Teams with upleashed

Adopt a skills matrix to future-proof your Non-Profit and NGO teams, ensuring they're prepared for new challenges and delivering sustainable outcomes.

Continuous Learning Plans

Roll out these programmes, ensuring that staff are engaged in ongoing professional development.

Track and Evaluate Progress

Monitor skills development regularly, ensuring that the training initiatives are driving positive outcomes and building capacity within the organisation

Keep the Matrix Dynamic

Regularly update the skills matrix to reflect newly acquired skills, shifts in organisational priorities, and changes in the external environment.

A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC  Download The Skill Matrix

Key skills matrix features for effective Non-Profit & NGO development

Discover the key skills required to develop a skills matrix that drives success in the Non-Profit and NGO sector.  Our flexible matrix can be customised to address your organisation’s specific needs and objectives.  With expertise in crafting skills matrices that empower teams, we are here to help you enhance workforce performance and fulfil your mission.  Reach us for tailored support and begin strengthening your team’s capabilities today!

Example ​Non-Profit & NGO Skills​Fundraising/Development Officer
Stewardship of donor relationships Storytelling to inspire donations Grassroots fundraising coordination
Major gifts solicitation and Grant writing proficiency Multichannel fundraising campaigns Payment processing systems knowledge
Donor prospecting and identification Event budgeting and ROI calculation ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) fundraising
Crowdfunding strategy execution Acquisition and retention of donors Immersive experience design for donors
Networking with philanthropists CRM software proficiency (e.g. Salesforce) Setting up mobile donation platforms
Corporate sponsorship negotiation  Marketing automation for fundraising Taxation law related to donations
Planned giving programme management Grant prospecting platforms (Foundation Directory) Philanthropic advisory service skills
High-net-worth individual (HNWI) engagement Benchmarking against fundraising peers Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in charity auctions
Donor recognition programme design Lead generation for donor funnels Micro-influencer partnerships for fundraising
Volunteer fundraising engagement Appeals management for large-scale campaigns Sustainability reporting for eco-conscious donors

Assessing key skills is essential for strengthening and managing Non-Profit and NGO services.  By aligning these competencies with your organisation’s mission and strategic direction, you ensure that your team is well-prepared for current challenges and future opportunities.  We’ve compiled a list of the top 100 skills crucial for the non-profit sector.  To further refine skill-building, consider exploring role-specific competencies, sector trends, training programmes, and regular performance feedback.  These resources will help your organisation remain resilient and responsive to changing needs.

A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC  ​Download The TOP 100 Current and 50 
Emerging​ ​​​Non-Profit & NGO Sector Skills
A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC  Download The Skill Matrix

Not Ready to Download the Advanced Skills Matrix Yet?

Don't worry! We've created a completely free matrix for you to use - no email, no credit card, just good old free of charge.  This matrix includes a basic rating system of 1-4 and the ability to add 10 skills/capabilities and 5 employees for your team or project.  It's a great way to rapidly visualise your team's capability as a heat map.

free skills matrix template for non profit and ngo team assessment

Choose your download option.

You won't be asked for any information.  These are completely free Microsoft Excel files that we have created as a proof of concept for our skills matrix.  Enjoy!  Please remember if you like what you see, then please check out the Advanced Skills Matrix here

A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC ​Download the Demo Team Matrix (shown above) A3D8jcllZsKiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC ​​Download a Blank Version to start fresh
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