Keen Edge Assessment

Where Clarity Fuels Impact

Assessment Process Overview

The Keen Edge Assessment helps ministries evaluate their current state, strategize better approaches, and equip their teams to present an authentic, unique and compelling story.

The Keen Edge Assessment is our primary tool to evaluate an organization, strategize better approaches, and equip and mobilize a ministry to put those recommendations into practice. The Keen Edge process follows a three-part structure, where each phase builds on the insights of the previous step.

1. Discovery

We begin every engagement with the Discovery Process, which serves as an in-depth evaluation of the ministry’s current state. This phase involves asking a wide range of questions to uncover both strengths and areas of disconnect.

The process begins with a Focus Day, where we meet (either in-person or via Zoom) with a core group of leaders (often board members and senior leadership) to explore nine key categories that help us understand the ministry’s foundational identity and current realities.

From there, we broaden the scope by interviewing people with varying levels of connection to the organization:

  • Highly Connected Individuals: Key volunteers, leadership teams, long-time members (churches), faculty and parents (schools), or donors and participants (nonprofits).

  • Less Connected Individuals: Those who engage with the ministry less frequently or have stepped away.

  • Disconnected Individuals: Community members with no direct connection to the ministry, offering outside perspectives.

Additionally, we review data and demographics related to attendance, participation, giving patterns, and other key indicators. This comprehensive evaluation paints a clear picture of both internal perceptions and external realities.

2. Strategy

With the insights from Discovery in hand, we move into the Strategize Phase, where we apply strategic thinking and planning to align the ministry’s mission and vision with its current context. This often involves reimagining how the ministry communicates its identity both internally and externally. Through collaborative working sessions, we develop a strategic communication and messaging approach that positions the ministry to better engage its community and fulfill its mission.

3. Mobilization

The final phase is where the strategic plans become actionable. We train and mobilize ministry teams to implement the recommended changes. This phase includes coaching, creative recommendations, and practical tools to help the ministry execute its new strategy with confidence. Whether through hands-on guidance or providing templates and resources, the primary goal is to leave the ministry equipped to communicate who they are, what they do, and why their work matters in an authentic and effective way.

Assessment Deliverables

The deliverables are the tangible resources provided to a ministry once the Keen Edge Assessment process is complete.

These materials are essential tools designed to equip the ministry with both strategic insight and practical implementation steps. While the specifics of each deliverable may vary based on the unique needs of the ministry, the primary deliverables include:

  • Discovery Report

    The Discovery Report is a comprehensive summary that highlights the primary areas of strength and disconnect within communication and perception. It consolidates insights gathered from the discovery phase, including interviews, surveys, and data analysis. The report includes strategic recommendations based on these findings and the ministry’s mission, vision, and context. The Discovery Report is provided both as a PDF document and through a live presentation to the core leadership team. This presentation creates an opportunity for dialogue, allowing ministry leaders to ask questions, clarify findings, and begin processing the strategic direction.

  • Ministry Storybook

    The Storybook is a narrative-based communication guide designed to present information about the ministry in a more story-driven approach. It captures the ministry’s history, core vision, and the hope for its future. The Storybook helps frame how the ministry communicates its identity and purpose, using language that resonates with the community it serves. This deliverable also provides clarification on brand strategy, including key messaging points, visual brand elements, and guidelines for consistent communication across platforms. The Storybook is delivered in PDF format, making it easy for the ministry to share and adapt.

  • Implementation Guide

    The Implementation Guide is a practical, step-by-step action plan that outlines how to put strategic recommendations into practice. It breaks down each recommendation into actionable steps with suggested timelines and priorities, making it easier for the ministry to implement changes at a sustainable pace. The guide also includes checklists, resource recommendations, and coaching tips to help the ministry maintain momentum. This deliverable is provided in PDF format, serving as a reference document for ongoing internal use.

These deliverables not only provide strategic direction but also empower ministries to take ownership of their improvement journey with confidence and clarity.

Costs & Fit

While there are no strict prerequisites, we recommend that ministries tied to networks and strategic partners we regularly collaborate with consider this process.

This alignment helps us better understand the ministry’s context and allows us to provide more tailored recommendations.

Investment & Timeframe

Cost & Investment

The cost of the Keen Edge Assessment is based on the size of the organization, the depth of evaluation requested, and any additional services required. We offer a variety of pricing options to make this process accessible to ministries of all sizes.

Timeframe

The minimum timeframe for any Keen Edge Assessment is three months, with most engagements lasting between six months to one year. The process is intentionally paced to allow enough time to gather a broad range of insights, build trust, and ensure meaningful recommendations.

Fit & Philosophy

Fit & Philosophy

The Keen Edge process requires:

  • Trust
  • Vulnerability
  • Teachability
  • A Holistic View of Improvement

If a ministry is solely focused on external solutions without addressing internal dynamics, this process is unlikely to yield lasting impact. In such cases, we refer ministries to trusted partners who specialize in specific areas.

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Keenly is a ministry-driven coaching firm. We are all about intentionality—doing everything on purpose for a kingdom purpose. It’s in the way we work, the way we think, and in the way we help ministries reimagine their impact.

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