Institutional Resilience Scorecard

Most organisations that struggle under pressure do not fail because of the disruption. They fail because the disruption reveals something that was already true: the organisation was held together by specific people rather than by systems designed to outlast them. This scorecard assesses institutional resilience across five dimensions — governance, strategy, people and knowledge, financial resilience, and narrative credibility. It produces a profile showing not just where you are strong, but where you are fragile.

Score each statement: 1 = Not in place 2 = Early stage 3 = Partially in place 4 = Substantially in place 5 = Fully embedded

Organisation	Date	Completed by

Dimension 1 — Governance Resilience

Statement	1	2	3	4	5
Our board has clearly defined roles, authority levels, and decision-making protocols
Board succession planning is documented and reviewed annually
Key policies (financial, HR, safeguarding) are documented and current
The board can function effectively without the executive director present
Governance structures are designed to survive leadership transitions

Dimension score /25

Dimension 2 — Strategic Clarity

Statement	1	2	3	4	5
Our strategic plan reflects where the organisation is today, not where it was when written
The strategy is understood and used by staff — not just leadership
We have a clear theory of change connecting activities to intended impact
Strategic priorities guide resource allocation decisions
We review and update our strategy at least every two years

Dimension score /25

Dimension 3 — People & Knowledge

Statement	1	2	3	4	5
Critical institutional knowledge is documented and not held only by individuals
Key processes are described in writing and accessible to relevant staff
We have succession plans for critical roles beyond the executive director
Staff understand the organisation’s history, values, and strategic direction
When senior staff leave, their knowledge and relationships transfer effectively

Dimension score /25

Dimension 4 — Financial Resilience

Statement	1	2	3	4	5
We have at least three months of operating costs in unrestricted reserves
Our funding base is diversified across multiple funders and income streams
We are not dependent on any single funder for more than 40% of income
Financial management systems are robust and not dependent on one person
We have a clear plan for what would happen if our largest funder exited

Dimension score /25

Dimension 5 — Narrative Credibility

Statement	1	2	3	4	5
Our external narrative accurately reflects our actual impact and practice
Our story is consistent across all channels, audiences, and spokespersons
We can describe our impact in terms that satisfy investor and funder scrutiny
Our credibility does not depend primarily on our founder’s personal reputation
Our narrative would survive a change in leadership without significant disruption

Dimension score /25

Resilience Profile Summary

Transfer your dimension scores below. Maximum score: 125. Your profile shows where resilience is strong and where it is fragile.

Dimension	Score /25	Resilience level	Priority action
1. Governance Resilience
2. Strategic Clarity
3. People & Knowledge
4. Financial Resilience
5. Narrative Credibility
Total score /125

What Your Score Tells You

Score band	Interpretation
100–125 Resilient	Your organisation is substantially built to endure. Governance, strategy, knowledge, and finances are systemised rather than personal. The focus now is maintaining this standard through growth and transition.
65–99 Developing	Resilience is present but uneven. Identify your two lowest-scoring dimensions and address them as a governance priority. Even one fragility point is a structural risk.
Below 65 Fragile	The organisation is currently more dependent on people than systems. This is not unusual — many of Africa’s most effective institutions are in this position. The Legacy Question Framework is the right starting point for closing this gap.