Sometimes called a Fishbone or Ishikawa Diagram, this tool helps identify the real reasons why things go wrong. It traces problems back to their roots, showing how people, processes, policies, and culture interact to create friction or failure.
We’ve adapted it for charities to uncover the underlying causes of underperformance, misalignment, or lost fundability, so teams can fix systems rather than symptoms.
Why we like this tool
Charities rarely fail for one reason. They fail because a set of small causes work together to block progress. The Cause & Effect Diagram makes those interconnections visible and gives people a shared language to talk about them honestly.
We use it a lot at Fundraiser In The Room because it:
Turns vague frustration into visible insight by showing how issues connect.
Moves teams from blame to understanding, focusing on systems not individuals.
Highlights the hidden cultural or governance factors that quietly drain energy and trust.
Creates a foundation for better strategy by surfacing what really needs fixing.
Shows donors that you understand and are addressing your internal capability, not just your programme delivery.
It’s the organisational X-ray we use to bring hidden causes into daylight. Once people can see what’s really driving a problem, they stop firefighting and start leading.