60 Straight-Talking Insights About Nonprofits (31-45)

As just hit a rather significant birthday, I wanted to share some of the honest, frank, even blunt insights I’ve gained in all my years as a volunteer, staff and board member in a countless number of nonprofits. Posts, stories, perspectives and especially partnerships are all welcome. The third of four installments:

31.       Funding is so scarce and the needs are so great that too many nonprofits are forcing square pegs into round holes to prove their mission fits into funders’ guidelines. It’s the surest way to lose one’s way, and a nonprofit’s soul.

32.       By the same token, in a time of such turbulent and unprecedented change, nonprofits must have the flexibility to develop, shift, and even amend their missions to meet the needs of the populace the organization seeks to serve.

33. An organization’s niche a decade ago may not be the same one it should lay claim to now. Too many nonprofits are terrified of losing long-term funders instead of inviting them to the table for open and honest dialogue about shifting needs and priorities.

34. Moses did not, in fact, carve nonprofit missions into the Ten Commandments. They must remain alive and relevant rather than set in stone.

35. MISSION CREEP ONLY ONLY SERVES TO LOSE ONE’S CENTER OF GRAVITY AND ANTAGONIZE WAY, IN WHICH CASE IT’S NOT MISSION CREEP AT ALL.
                 

36.       When I began my last nonprofit job some 20 years ago, fax machines were on roller paper, everyone in the office was everyone else’s receptionist, the only way to share information between computers was through email, and the entire office had three aol lines we had to share to get online.

37.       While it may appear much progress has been made, one shivers to think what nonprofits 20 years from now will think of our technological acumen today.

 38.       For decades, technology was often considered a distraction from nonprofit work. In fact, I often heard the argument it was merely syphoning money better spend on those we were working to serve. If anyone continues to believe this is the case, they do so at their organization’s peril.

39.      Firewalls, remote server access, content management, data analytics, cloud computing, financial management and – dare I say it – Artificial Intelligence.  Rest assured our opposition is all over it. It’s time for us to start playing catch up. If you’re not sure what these things are, make sure you have an expert in your office who does.

40.    TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THE ENEMY OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN A FUTURE FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITY AND VICTORY.

41.       Without a strategic plan, mission creep is a sure thing.

42.       Driving a nonprofit organization without a strategic plan is like steering a boat without a sail, a rudder, or a compass, If you’re lucky, you’ll only end up crashing into the rocks.

43.       Strategic Plans do not need to be arduous or illicit groans. They do not need to be 50+ pages long, gathering dust on someone’s bookcase. They should be living, breathing documents that nonprofits ENJOY returning to.  Where do we need to recalibrate our work? Where are we beautifully on course? Where do we need to revise the plan?

44.      Show mw a plan that poses the question, “Who are we in the world three years from now?” and I’ll show you a staff, board and donors constantly energized and inspired by what’s been created.

45. STRATEGIC PLANNING IS THE SUREST NONPROFIT TOOL TO INSPIRE TEAMWORK, STAFF EMPOWERMENT AND SANITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Contact Andrew Stern at astern@inheritance-consulting.com and let’s begin!