What is a diagnostic clinic?

Program Goal

• To train six practicing consultants to conduct diagnostic clinics of nonprofit organizations in the greater Milwaukee area.

Program Outcomes

• 6 consultants trained to analyze organizational capacity
• The Board and staff of 21 organizations have their management and governance strengths and challenges documented
• Up to 21 nonprofits begin to strengthen their organizational infrastructures

Participant Benefits

• Enhance current consulting skills
• Participate in a learning community with your peers
• Add a new service to your consulting repertoire
• Only those certified through the Institute will be able to conduct clinics through the Nonprofit Management Fund

Educational Phase: July - December 2004

• Provide 12 days of training (2 Thursdays per month from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) including: reading assignments, lecture/presentations, review of previous clinic reports, exercises, group project, and homework. The 12 sessions will cover the following topics.

• Review applications from nonprofits for a diagnostic clinic and select three for the participants to shadow the trainer, from the first meeting through the final report.

Observation Phase: December 2004 - March 2005

• Conduct three diagnostic clinics. The Fund Advisor will be the lead with two Institute participants shadowing at each meeting. There will be full participation by all Institute participants in data collection, analysis, writing, report production and presentation.
• Graduate from the Educational and Observation Phases.

Practicum Phase: April - December 2005

• Select 6 nonprofit organizations to receive a clinic during the year.
• Conduct 6 diagnostic clinics with each Institute participant taking the lead in a clinic, with the Fund Advisor providing back-up support.
• Produce 6 reports and present the report to each Board and management team.
• Participate in monthly cohort sessions for 4 hours each to discuss problems encountered and compare analysis with each other.
• Meet regularly with a mentor between cohort sessions.
• Receive certificate for completion of Practicum Phase.

Professional Phase: 2006

• Each graduate will conduct 1-2 diagnostic clinics under the guidance of a mentor and with a grant from the Nonprofit Management Fund. Each consultant must also participate in bi-monthly group meetings to hone their analytic skills.

Faculty

All sessions will be led by an experienced consultant who has conducted over 60 diagnostic clinics for the Nonprofit Management Fund over the past seven years. Guest speakers will reinforce the lectures, exercises and training materials

Patricia Wyzbinski - President of Management Cornerstones Inc., has almost 30 years experience as a management consultant to nonprofit organizations. Her career working with nonprofits began as a student at Michigan State University, where she helped organized and coordinate several student-run volunteer programs. Upon graduation, she moved to Chicago where she established two comprehensive youth service agencies. She was a founding member of the Nonprofit Management Association and has authored numerous publications on nonprofit management, including a 1978 research study, "Technical Assistance in Cook County," that stands as a seminal piece of research on the topic of organizational effectiveness. She also co-founded the Corporation for Cultural ReInvestment, sponsor of Arts Bridge, the nation's first business incubator for the arts. In 1994, Ms. Wyzbinski's firm was engaged by a collaboration of several foundations in Milwaukee to create the Nonprofit Management Fund, including designing the application process, reviewing proposals, gathering evaluative information, and coordinating special initiatives of the Fund.

Program Eligibility Criteria

Nonprofit consultants and local management assistance providers are eligible to apply. A candidate for the Diagnostic Clinic Consultant Institute must possess the following qualifications and personal attributes.

• Committed to dedicating time and attention to increasing training or consulting skills
• Demonstrated experience in consulting to nonprofit organizations
• Strong analytic skills
• Exceptional verbal and written presentation skills
• Ability to apply knowledge and insight to the situation at hand
• Motivation to learn about nonprofit and a commitment to continue consulting in this sector
• Agreement to attend all 12 training events, participate in shadowing, leading and conducting diagnostic clinics through 2006.

Selection Process

• Interested candidates should complete and submit the Diagnostic Clinic Consultant Institute application for admission by 1 June 2004.
• A selection panel will review applications, conduct interviews and recommend candidates to the Committee of the Nonprofit Management Fund for approval.
• The Nonprofit Management Fund will select the final participants and will notify candidates of their selection in late June 2004.

Registration Fee

• Full tuition for the training program is $5,000 per participant, which can be paid in installments.
• Participants will be paid a $3,000 stipend for serving as the lead consultant for a clinic in 2005, and will be paid the full rate of $5,000 for each clinic conducted in 2006.
• All training sessions will be held at the office of Management Cornerstones with free parking available. Lunches, refreshments and all training materials are included in the registration fee.