Is Your Organization Ready?
In the face of another Trump presidency and with the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency, the concerns over the future of the HHS, the fear of mass deportations, and many other unsettling possibilities, nonprofit organizations will play an increasingly important role in filling the widening gaps in the social safety net. Donors and supporters are also looking to turn their frustrations or fears into action.
While this is a moment of great challenges, it also has the potential to be transformative for the nonprofit sector. Is your organization prepared to rise to the moment? Check out the recommendations below to see how you stack up.
Clear Articulation of Mission and Impact
With over 1.8 million nonprofits registered in the United States, competition for donor attention and resources is at an all time high. Being able to effectively communicate your impact, with an emphasis on outcomes and measurable data to back it up, is the key to rise above the noise and increase engagement.
Board Participation
Board members should be an organization’s strongest asset, but board participation doesn’t happen automatically. Laying the foundation for strong member engagement starts during the recruitment process, continues during the onboarding experience, and hinges on clear and regular asks that align with individual member skills and strengths.
If your board is not participating to the highest capacity, transformative moments are a great opportunity to reset expectations for existing members and attract new board members.
Operational Systems
While investing in operating costs is never well funded or easy, having the systems in place to handle increased support can be the difference between long-term transformation and a momentary blip. Operational systems aren’t simply technology, but also include a comprehensive strategy and change management plans. Few nonprofit professionals start or join a mission to think about systems and organizational management, but investing time and resources into these areas is critical in an organization’s ability to scale.
Strategy to Scale
In addition to all of the above, having a clear vision for the direction of the organization and alignment with key staff and board members is key to being able to take advantage of transformative moments.
A great example of an organization taking advantage of pivotal moments is DBG. Throughout their history, DGB has spent time on strategic planning and ensuring that the whole organization is aligned, which has allowed them to take advantage of key moments, like their founder being recognized as a CNN Hero and annual participation in an executive development program at Salesforce.
I had the opportunity to work with them while at Salesforce. One of the decisions that impressed me the most during our partnership was when they decided to slow down their tech development to ensure all program staff felt comfortable proceeding with the changes. The short term pause ensured that their long term operations changes were successful and is a clear indicator of strategic versus reactionary leadership. Since 2007, DBG has grown from a small program in Detroit to a national franchise changing the lives of hundreds of students and families per year.
If your organization doesn’t feel confident in any of the areas above, please reach out. DoWell Consulting would love to work with you to ensure you are ready to rise to the many moments that are sure to come in the next four years.
