One of the keys to having a successful nonprofit is in
asking pointed questions about your operation and giving truthful answers. In
so doing, a nonprofit can identify what is working and what tactics to take
toward improvement. Revealing flaws is the only way to tackle them, and the
only way to reveal them in the first place is to look for them by asking the
right questions. There may not necessarily be a flaw in a nonprofit’s workings
but a better more efficient way to use resources. There may be a problem that
needs an inventive solution.
The main takeaway is: it’s better to see the problems and
fix them than to bury your head in the sand. The only way to see the problems
is to take a cold hard look by asking questions that serve as prompts. Here are
a few suggested questions a nonprofit might ask:
Are we getting anywhere? Profit and loss statements
notwithstanding, it can be hard to see if a nonprofit is realizing its aims.
Let’s say your nonprofit helps rescue abused pets, or is a car donation
organization like Kars For Kids.
You may be raising a lot of money from donors, but how many pets are you
actually rescuing? How much of the money you raise is going to your
organizations real goals? The only way to know is to set it out in writing:
what are your specific goals within a specific time frame? Keep track of your
organization’s work and revisit to see if you’re meeting your specs. If not,
you may have to change your game plan, or possibly, your goals.
Are we flexible enough to move with the times? Once
upon a time, a nonprofit could depend on a core group of donors who responded
to snail mail requests with sizable checks. But the entire landscape of
nonprofit organizations has changed. Today there is the Internet and dozens of
social media networks just waiting to be plumbed. The technological boom and
the way it has affected our lives cannot be ignored. These communities
represent new ways to engage the public, generate new donors, and tell the
story of your nonprofit. Donations can be made with the click of a mouse. Snail
mail is so yesterday, and so not environmentally sound. Online communities and
the Internet are just some of the changes in our world. Be on the lookout for
new trends and take note.
Are we using our resources to best effect? This may
be about money or it may even be about manpower. It’s certainly about removing
the chaff from the wheat. Are you funding a program that just isn’t doing what
it’s meant to do? Is it the staff? Is there excess spending? Is there a way to
change that program and make it more efficient? Don’t be afraid to use any and
all tools at your disposal and don’t shy away from talk about money. Budget
reviews, for instance. Do you hear those two words and go, “UGH!” You
shouldn’t. Your only concern should be building your nonprofit as best you can.
Moving forward means losing the fear, whatever that may be.
Don’t keep it safe –don’t avoid the hard questions that can make your
organization more efficient. Keeping a finger on the pulse of your nonprofit
means you are always one step ahead of the competition.
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