Opportunity:
The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, CO engaged Canopy to conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment to evaluate its staffing structure, operational model, and strategic alignment. In undertaking this project, The Gardens’ goals were to better understand the internal organizational dynamics, clarify its relationship with The Friends of The Gardens on Spring Creek organization (non-profit fundraising and advocacy partner), and benchmark its capacity and performance against peer institutions. In the process, we also worked together to identify near- and long-term priorities that would strengthen the organization’s impact, sustainability, and leadership position within the region.
Image credit: The Gardens on Spring Creek
Project Highlights:
A Comprehensive Internal Assessment
Canopy conducted one-on-one interviews, group listening sessions, and a confidential stakeholder survey to explore perspectives on staffing, internal communication, organizational culture, and strategic direction. Across all groups, participants expressed a deep commitment to the mission and a desire for clearer systems, more focused priorities, and additional support to sustain The Gardens’ high level of activity and public engagement.
In-Depth Benchmarking and Organizational Profile
The project included a detailed comparison of staffing models, budget allocations, and programmatic scope across peer institutions. The analysis revealed that while The Gardens on Spring Creek performs impressively in program delivery and revenue generation, it operates with leaner staffing than many of its peers — especially in horticulture and operations — highlighting opportunities to better align structure and resources with mission delivery and long-term goals.
Strategic Framing Through SOAR
A final SOAR Analysis (Strengths/Opportunities/Aspirations/Results) synthesized findings into an actionable framework that celebrated The Gardens’ strengths and aspirations while identifying critical opportunities and attainable outcomes. This framework helped clarify strategic priorities and generated a roadmap to help The Gardens advance while addressing foundational challenges.
Result:
The assessment delivered a clear-eyed view of The Gardens on Spring Creek’s current state and future potential. The process surfaced priorities around horticultural staffing, the Friends partnership, and the visitor experience, while also highlighting the organization’s strong community value, passionate staff, and opportunity for regional leadership. With a roadmap spanning immediate, mid-range, and long-term goals, the institution is well-positioned to strengthen its organizational structure, deepen its impact, and continue on its path toward botanical excellence and sustainability.
