The diagnostic
Before recommendations. Before strategy. Before anyone makes a commitment they can't undo. A clear-eyed look at what's actually going on that is calibrated against organizations like yours, so the next moves are the right ones.
When to consider one
— A strategic plan has stalled mid-execution and the path forward isn't clear
— A leadership transition is underway and the inherited operating model needs assessment
— Board confidence in financial reporting or governance is wavering
— Growth has outpaced the operating model or the funding, staff, or program scope has shifted faster than structure
— A specific performance problem keeps surfacing and the root cause hasn't been found
— A funder or board has asked for something the organization isn't structured to produce
— The organization is being asked to restructure and the case for change needs an evidence base
One methodology, four practices
Sagitas applies the same auditor-grade diagnostic discipline across every engagement, whether the subject is finance, operations, organizational design, or team dynamics. Four practices define how the work is done.
— Dual-source corroboration. Every observation is substantiated by at least two independent sources, such as stakeholder testimony, documentary evidence, direct process observation. Findings aren't claims; they're triangulated.
— Peer-benchmarking. Maturity is calibrated against peer nonprofits operating at your scale and complexity, not against aspirational standards that distort the picture.
— Thematic coding. Findings are coded across up to eleven domains for finance or five for organizational maturity so that patterns surface and root causes get isolated.
— Iterative sharing. Observations are shared throughout the engagement, not dropped as a surprise report at the end. By the time recommendations are formalized, there's an audience for them and a much higher likelihood of adoption.
Deliverables
— A validated diagnostic report grounded in evidence, with observations triangulated across sources
— Maturity benchmarking against peer organizations across the relevant domains
— A prioritized roadmap your team can act on is sequenced, risk-assessed, scoped
— Facilitated leadership debriefs and working sessions that build coherent team alignment around the next moves
The arc of an engagement
i.
Scoping conversations with leadership. Establishing the question, the access, the deliverable shape. Setting the timeline.
ii.
Stakeholder interviews, document review, direct observation. Triangulating findings. Coding thematically. Benchmarking against peers.
iii.
Findings shared with leadership and key stakeholders. Refinement based on what's recognized and what's contested. The recommendations take shape with the team, not for the team.
iv.
Final report. Facilitated debriefs. Roadmap built jointly with the people who'll execute it. Adrian stays available for advisory follow-up through implementation.
Download the framework
A walk-through of the methodology — the four practices, the maturity domains, the questions Sagitas asks during an assessment. Useful for boards and leadership teams thinking about whether a diagnostic is the right next step.
Request the framework → Contact