ONESM Process Overview
Capacity building — actions that build effectiveness and mission-driven impact — is a significant opportunity for non-profits. The ONE (Organizations of Noteworthy Excellence) process, initiated in 2006, is a results-driven, capacity building process that recognizes best practices and provides applicants with actionable opportunities for improvement.
Based on the proven fundamentals of organizational excellence in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria, the ONE V criteria framework provides applicants with a systematic approach to complete an objective organizational self-assessment, receive independent feedback focused on improvement from a team of trained examiners, and potentially receive recognition for exemplary performance based on high standards of excellence.
Award Criteria
The award criteria consist of the Profile and three categories — People, Principles, and Process. The Profile provides the background needed to assess the applicant's response to the criteria questions. The three categories help applicants take an in-depth, objective look at the way they currently address the criteria's key requirements for organizational effectiveness.
How does the process work?
Each applicant develops and submits an eight-page application (two pages for the Profile, and six pages in response to the three Criteria categories) for review by process examiners. Examiners then develop a detailed feedback report identifying key organizational strengths and improvement opportunities for systems, processes and results. Each applicant then receives a site visit from the assigned examiner team to help them refine the specifics of the feedback report. Once completed, the report is submitted to the team of individuals charged with identifying top performing organizations as recipients of recognition based on the high standards of the criteria. Recognition may be achieved in each of the three categories as well as at the organization level. Click here for a diagram that shows the ONE process.
The process doesn't end with the initial application. Many applicants recognize the continuing value of participation in the process as part of their ongoing capacity building strategy.
Who should apply?
The ONE process is targeted to non-profit (501c-3) organizations in the region. What makes the process so meaningful is that it works for organizations of all sizes, missions, and levels of maturity. No matter where the organization is on its development path or growth curve, the criteria provide a dynamic improvement framework.
What does it cost to apply?
Other than the investment of time to complete the application, there is no cost to apply. ROI for organizations is significant based on the benefit received from their self-assessment and the independent feedback.
What impact will it create?
The self-assessment and feedback report provide individual applicants with a detailed description of strengths to be sustained as well as improvement opportunities that must be addressed to build the organization's capacity for greater mission impact. Whether an organization is honored or not, they emerge from the process better equipped to strengthen their performance and impact. The more organizations that use these criteria and take action to improve their organization based on feedback provided, the greater the overall community impact.