Category: Blog

Blog

Mission Critical

PMD

Can you recite your mission ?

Sounds easy enough. If you were asked to state the mission of your nonprofit could you state it clearly, without stumbling, fully and passionately? If you answered yes to this question, part of me thinks you can stop reading.

But another part says “maybe read on” just in case.

Some folks might be thinking “I know our mission, why is this even a question? I mean, every day, I work to make our mission happen”.  But the reality is that every single decision you make must be guided in full by the mission you currently have.  It is a truth in the nonprofit world that almost all bad outcomes can be traced in some way to working outside or tangentially to the stated mission.

Almost always it’s about funding (usually something like a grant or designated gift) that “sort of fits” but in your heart you know it’s really about “we need money, any money” fears.  And that slippery slope of taking money that is not related fully to mission, might feel in the short-term like a solution, but I assure you in the long-term the unintended consequences will be vast.

Another example is something like “there isn’t any money in our mission focus, so we will add on this other thing that is sort of related, but not really, and is more attractive to donors, then we can have some influx of funds to carry our real mission work”.  It’s a lie. I repeat it’s a lie.

When you start thinking like that, or you hear a board member or donor start talking like that.  Stop. And immediately review your mission statement, and possibly your vision statement, your relevance in your community and especially your nonprofits values.  This conversation is critical in all the ways that will keep you on track in your mission work.

I can assist in this conversation.  It is one that should be revisited regularly and can revive commitment and generate ideas that keep your nonprofit on track.  Don’t be afraid to have the conversation, you will be glad you did.

Blog

Why can’t you raise “enough” funds?

PMD

I am going to ask a question, and you might answer it quickly, but after that initial answer, read a bit and then ask yourself again.

Are you currently asking for donations from individuals?

I’m sure when asked this we, myself included, would say a resounding – YES! of course we are asking for donations — we just aren’t getting enough to meet our needs.  So let’s talk a bit about this — and I’m sure you have an idea of where I am going but stay with me anyway.

How are you asking? If your only ask is a direct mail campaign that isn’t meeting your needs, I would put forth you need to review and enhance your efforts.  Okay, this is a bit obvious, but what isn’t obvious is the next question.

Who in your organization likes to ask for money?

I’m not asking this lightly or flippantly.  I truly mean it, who have you identified in your organization who likes to ask for money?  If you can’t say one person, you need to find one, now.

It can be a staff person, the Executive Director and/or Development Director could be the person.  But maybe neither of them actually likes to ask for donations directly from a donor.  You need to find that out right now. And it is okay to find out.  You need to know.

If it isn’t a staff person, it could be a current or past board member.  You need to find them right now.  I’m not talking about your next golf tournament committee chair.  You might need that person too.  But what you really need is the person after the golf tournament who is going to call upon those who attended to get them even more connected (cultivated), so your person can then ask for the donation (solicit), and then others who love your mission but could never ever see themselves asking for a donation can keep your donor appreciated, informed, and part of the family (stewardship).

If you don’t have someone who likes to ask someone directly for a gift you will most likely never feel truly successful in your fundraising efforts.  And, I promise these folks are out there.

You can begin this conversation today.  The key is not to be afraid to fully answer the question – are you currently asking for donations from individuals?

 

Blog

The Truth about Incremental Change

PMD

No one likes to hear about this but here is a truth: change happens over time incrementally. Now if you search your heart and mind you know that is true.  But when you are in the moment nothing can change big enough, fast enough, or, (and you know who you are),  solely based on what “we” think is best.

But in all my years of nonprofit leadership I have come to believe that slow, thoughtful, and yes, even incremental change sticks.  And more importantly, more often than not, you come to the conclusion of the change with the right folks needed to meet the new reality.

Why mention this on a website that by its nature calls nonprofits to move forward and yes, even change?  Because part of our work is to manage expectations within our organizations.  Imagine, you know you need a Development person, and share with the board that once you find the right one all will be perfect and the money will be rolling in.  Or maybe, you look at your Development person now and think “gosh, he’s not that great, he’s been here 2 years and we’ve only moved the income dial up a small notch”.

My question would be how ready, willing and able is your entire organization to be part of a culture of philanthropy? Now if your answer is –” I’m not sure how ready, willing and able we are…” then the next step is to have a conversation about what changes need to happen over time to get you there,  develop a plan, and implement it.

A planning process isn’t as exciting as going through multiple development directors looking for the right one.  Or blaming the chair of fundraising of the board or having the board blame the executive director when the income goals aren’t met.  And,  I say that all tongue in cheek.  Today, we don’t have time or the resources to keep ignoring the changes that need to be made and the longer you wait to make them the longer they will take to stick

 

 

Blog

Starting where you are & moving forward

PMD

My education in social work, while some time ago, leads me to practice my work based on the framework that states that you must start where your client is at.  Not where you or they want to be, but truly how they define where they are currently at.

To me that means asking the questions about current strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats and developing a plan that can be implemented over time to move you forward to the place you want to be.

 

Blog

Research driven & outcome focused

PMD

Everyone has an opinion.  I have lots.  Some of them you might agree with, some not so much.  I also have knowledge that is research based and outlines proven best practices that can inform an organization’s planning process so that it can meet goals and mission.

Maybe even more importantly, sharing this knowledge of best practices within the organization and defining shared language and values around best practice  can set your organization up for a sustainable future.