Executive Service Corps, Aspen Colorado

ESC Targeted Services

Targeted services are focused, short term engagements for a specific issue or problem. These engagements can take many forms depending on the specific needs of the client:

Assessment

An assessment is the initial meeting between ESC and a nonprofit. The primary reasons for the assessment are (1) for ESC to become familiar with the nonprofit, its mission, organizational structure, and operations, and to discuss the nonprofit’s reasons for seeking ESC consulting services; and (2) to allow the nonprofit to become familiar with ESC and the services it offers. Typically, the assessment is held at the client's or ESC's office, lasts 2 hours, and is attended by 1 or 2 ESC consultants and a member of ESC's staff. The nonprofit is represented by its executive director and board chair, but may also include other staff or board members. The outcome of the assessment is a mutual agreement between the nonprofit and ESC as to the consulting services to be provided.

Facilitation

Facilitation is when an ESC consultant, trained as a facilitator, helps lead a meeting among a group of members of a nonprofit to address specific issues. The facilitator typically works with the executive director and board chair of the nonprofit to develop an agenda and a plan to ensure a productive meeting that develops constructive steps for the nonprofit to move forward. Examples are a board or staff retreat, a planning session, or other focused meeting.

Coaching

Coaching involves an individual ESC consultant working one-to-one with the executive director or board chair to help that person be more effective in his/her role at the nonprofit. A typical coaching engagement might be for six months, with a mutual review at three months, including four hours of coaching per month, either by phone or in face-to-face meetings. The coaching relationship is ongoing and provides an opportunity for the person being coached to discuss any and all issues and problems that he or she may face. The outcome is to strengthen and enhance the management and leadership effectiveness of the individual and, as a result, the nonprofit.

Coaching can help improve performance, give a sounding board, provide a silent partner, ensure confidence, set up an environment of accountability, generate a focus on solutions, and provide regular communication. The structure of successful coaching includes regularly scheduled telephone and face-to- face meetings, a contract of confidentiality and commitment, open and honest communication, clear goals for the duration of the coaching, and short-term goals to be achieved between coaching sessions.

Working Sessions

These sessions are one-time working meetings involving one or two ESC consultants and one or two members of a nonprofit to address a specific issue with which the nonprofit needs help. Examples include addressing a marketing problem, developing a financial plan, or examining an organizational development issue.

Workshops

These workshops are 2, 3, or 4 hour classroom-type sessions conducted by ESC consultants or outside experts on relevant topics for nonprofits. Topics may include strategic planning, board development, community relations, marketing, fundraising, website strategies, financial management, grant writing, and endowments. Workshops are attended by representatives of various nonprofits, at a nominal cost.

Convened Conversations

Convened conversations are periodic meetings facilitated by ESC to allow executive directors and other leaders of nonprofits to get together in small groups to discuss common issues. The meetings are informal and are designed to provide nonprofit leaders with an opportunity to share ideas and network among themselves