BXM Agency

Communications Health Score

Your Organization's Communications Health Assessment

A free assessment that evaluates your communications function across 6 categories — from strategic infrastructure to digital presence. See your score instantly then book a complimentary Results Review.

This assessment takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Be honest — the value is in the clarity it creates, not in achieving a high score.

THE BXM AGENCY APPROACH

Most audits start with tactics. This one starts with infrastructure. Before any channel or campaign can perform, your organization needs a communications function that is intentionally connected to its strategic plan. That is what we measure first.

Organization Info

Organization Name

Annual Operating Budget

Sector

What type of organization are you?

Select one to continue.

🤝

Nonprofit

Mission-driven, donor-funded

🎓

Higher Education

Universities and colleges

🏛

Civic Organization

Chambers, foundations

◎

Other

Mission-aligned org

Category 1 of 6

Communications Infrastructure

Before tactics come infrastructure. This category measures whether your organization has built the foundation that connects your strategic plan to your communications function.

1.1 — Strategic Alignment

How connected is your communications function to your organization's strategic plan?

1 = Not connected at all / 5 = Communications priorities are directly derived from the strategic plan and reviewed annually

Not ConnectedFully Aligned

1.2 — Communications Planning

Does your organization have a documented annual communications plan?

No plan exists

Informal notes, not documented

Documented but not consistently followed

Documented, resourced, and reviewed regularly

1.3 — Dedicated Capacity

How is your communications function staffed and resourced?

No dedicated staff or budget

Shared responsibility, no dedicated budget

Part-time or contracted support with limited budget

Dedicated staff with an allocated budget

1.4 — Measurable Goals

Do you set measurable communications goals tied to organizational outcomes?

No goals are set

General goals, nothing measurable

Goals set but inconsistently tracked

Documented goals with regular reviews

Category 2 of 6

Brand and Messaging

Assess the clarity, distinctiveness, and consistency of how your organization presents itself and tells its story.

2.1 — Mission Clarity

How clearly can your team articulate the organization's mission in one sentence?

1 = No one agrees on the message / 5 = Crystal clear and consistent across every touchpoint

UnclearVery Clear

2.2 — Positioning

How clearly differentiated is your organization's positioning from others doing similar work?

1 = We sound like everyone else / 5 = Our positioning is distinct, documented, and consistently communicated

UndifferentiatedClearly Distinct

2.3 — Narrative Framework

Do you have a documented messaging guide, case for support, or narrative framework?

Nothing documented

Informal, lives in someone's head

Documented but inconsistently used

Documented and consistently applied across channels

2.4 — Voice Consistency

How consistent is your brand voice and tone across all communications?

1 = No standards exist / 5 = Defined voice guide followed consistently by all who communicate on behalf of the organization

InconsistentFully Consistent

Category 3 of 6

Public Relations and Media

Evaluate your organization's earned media presence, press relationships, and readiness to communicate through external channels.

3.1 — Earned Media

How often does your organization receive earned media coverage?

Never or rarely

A few times a year, usually reactive

Regularly, with some proactive pitching

Consistently, with an active media strategy

3.2 — Press Relationships

How strong are your relationships with journalists, media outlets, and sector publications?

1 = No established relationships / 5 = Strong ongoing relationships with key media contacts in your sector

No RelationshipsStrong Relationships

3.3 — Spokesperson Readiness

Are your organizational spokespeople identified, trained, and ready for media opportunities?

No identified spokespeople

Spokespeople identified but not trained

Some training, not consistently prepared

Trained, media-ready, with talking points documented

3.4 — Crisis Communications

Does your organization have a crisis communications plan?

No plan exists

Informal understanding, not documented

Draft plan, not tested or rehearsed

Documented, tested, and rehearsed plan

Category 4 of 6

Publications and Content

Assess the quality, consistency, and strategic intent of your organization's published materials and content output.

4.1 — Annual and Impact Reports

Does your organization produce an annual report or impact report?

No annual or impact report

Basic financial report only

Narrative report, inconsistently produced

Compelling impact report produced annually

4.2 — Program and Collateral Materials

How professional and on-brand are your program materials, brochures, and collateral?

1 = Outdated or nonexistent / 5 = Professionally designed, on-brand, and current across all materials

OutdatedProfessionally Done

4.3 — Content Cadence

How consistently does your organization publish content across channels?

No plan, we publish when we can

Informal cadence, nothing documented

Basic calendar, inconsistently followed

Documented content calendar consistently executed

4.4 — Donor Communications

How strategic and compelling is your donor-facing communications?

1 = Transactional acknowledgment only / 5 = Strategic, story-driven communications tied to retention and giving

TransactionalStrategic

Category 5 of 6

Digital Presence

Evaluate the effectiveness of your website, email, and social media presence, and your ability to measure what is working.

5.1 — Website

How effective is your website at communicating your value and converting visitors to action?

1 = Outdated with no clear CTA / 5 = Optimized, mobile-friendly, and measurably effective

Not EffectiveHighly Effective

5.2 — Email Communications

How strategic and consistent is your email communication to key audiences?

1 = No email strategy / 5 = Segmented, consistent, and measurable email program

NonexistentFully Optimized

5.3 — Social Media

How consistent and strategic is your social media presence?

1 = Sporadic and reactive / 5 = Planned, on-brand, and tied to communications goals

ReactiveFully Strategic

5.4 — Active Channels

Which digital channels is your organization actively using?

Select all that apply

Facebook

Instagram

X / Twitter

YouTube

TikTok

Email Newsletter

Podcast

None

Category 6 of 6

Stakeholder Communications

Assess how strategically your organization communicates with the people who matter most to your mission and sustainability.

6.1 — Funder Relations

How proactive and strategic is your communications with funders and grant makers?

1 = Reporting only when required / 5 = Proactive touchpoint strategy that strengthens relationships throughout the year

ReactiveProactive

6.2 — Board Communications

How informed and engaged is your board through regular, strategic communications?

1 = Minimal board communications / 5 = Board receives regular, well-designed communications that drive informed engagement

MinimalHighly Engaged

6.3 — Donor Stewardship

Do you have a documented stewardship plan for your key supporters?

No plan exists

Informal acknowledgment only

Basic stewardship, not consistently executed

Documented stewardship calendar followed year-round

6.4 — Internal Alignment

How aligned is your internal team on communications priorities, messages, and calendar?

1 = Everyone operates independently / 5 = Fully aligned with shared messaging and a unified communications calendar

SiloedFully Aligned