top of page

Flying Whale Strategies is a laboratory studying and launching organizations that are ready to solve impossible problems. The least we can do is define the characteristics of organizations with this capacity.

Introducing: The Flying Whale Organizational Maturity Matrix.

This is a tool that tracks progress in our laboratory. Here we are progressively moving toward becoming an organization capable of solving impossible problems. 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Getting by

Finding your stride

Holding your ground

Status Quo

Setting the pace

REDefining the field

Flying Whales

culture

topics to evaluate

leadership

programming

development

operations

Culture

The adopted behaviors that define the quality of an organization’s work.

Our culture is ambiguous--the loudest person sets the culture. An incoherent culture leads to low-quality work, with constant stops and starts driven by internal friction. Staff struggle with prioritization, lack of autonomy, and conversations that erode trust.

Culture Sub-Categories

  1. Collective Liberation

  2. Cultural Commitments

  3. Clarity of the Problem

  4. Autonomy

  5. Strategy

  6. Decision-making

  7. Conversations

  8. Collective Action

  9. Testing/Learning

leadership

The way in which those with positional power interact with everyone else.

We have one dominant leader who reinforces hierarchy. They are anxious, reactive, and unclear about priorities. The board lacks clarity and focus.

Leadership Sub-Categories

  1. Leadership Style

  2. Personal Development

  3. Decision Making

  4. Communications

  5. Conflict

  6. Motivation

  7. Relationship to the Team

  8. Relationship to the Community

  9. Routines

  10. The Role of the Board

  11. Board Health

  12. Board Composition

PROGRAMMING

The product or services delivered in order to meet the organization’s mission.

We have developed a mission statement, but no clear path forward or clarity of impact metrics. We are well-intentioned and eager to get started.

Programming Sub-Categories

  1. Use of Technology

  2. Linear/Exponential

  3. Nature of Impact

  4. Evaluation Protocol

  5. Program Design

  6. Nature of Problem/Solution

DEVELOPMENT

The activity that generates revenue.

Fundraising activity is a scramble to respond to opportunities that present themselves. 

Development Sub-Categories

  1. Strategic Focus

  2. Fundraising Goals

  3. Donor Messaging

  4. Donor Reports

  5. Infrastructure

  6. Major Gifts

  7. Corporate Sponsorships

  8. Grants

  9. Annual Giving

  10. Events

The mechanisms that make programming possible.

OPERATIONS

We have rudimentary systems with no standard operating procedures. This causes inefficiencies, but we have determined operations to be less of a priority than programming or fundraising.

Operations Sub-Categories

  1. Technology

  2. Meetings

  3. Human Resources

  4. Organizational Structure

  5. Division of Labor

  6. Hiring Strategy

  7. Staffing Model

  8. Talent Development

  9. Retention

  10. Project Management

  11. Financial Management

  12. Communications/Marketing

  13. Facilities

bottom of page