Are you a struggling nonprofit?

NOTE: This topic is a departure from my norm in this space. However, I've given a lot of thought to nonprofit organizations lately. Here's more on the matter:

I’ve found analyzing nonprofit performance is easier if they have a strategic plan. Most plans have the elements defined that are easily tracked for healthy operations. If I’m working with a new client I often suggest doing a planning session, so they and I can properly assess their situation.

As a SCORE mentor with decades of strategic planning experience, I offer planning guidance free. My job is to help clients succeed. If they do, they will bring financial strength to their own operations, their beneficiaries, and the local economy. That’s SCORE’s objective. For profit or non, we help organizations thrive.

Nonprofits are usually under the radar of most mentors and coaches. For-profit businesses and nonprofits are similar in operations. Their objectives, though, are different. Nonprofits deliver services to those with specific needs no one else addresses. Usually this is the case because profits are not readily available from such operations. Charities, social services, food banks, and other agencies rely on fundraising to balance their financial results.

Nonprofits still need to break even or run a small profit to build capital that is needed for strong and stable operations. Building reserves is an important goal for both long and short terms. these funds tide the organization over in bad times; or they provide the ability to expand services in good times. If clients have needs, the organization continues to help them.

All organizations share common operating functions. These include financial, marketing, human resources, operations management, technology management to name the biggies. Nonprofits have important differences in some of these areas. Financial management will need to include fundraising programs to balance the balance sheet. Marketing will need to support fundraising and recruitment of volunteers to help ‘staff’ operations. Human Resources needs to recruit, develop and train a board of directors to be certain leadership is readily available to support the organization. And managing volunteers in operations is a field unto itself.

As in all organizations, the most valuable asset of an organization does not appear on the balance sheet. It is the people who support, operate and fund the organization. Recruiting, training and retaining these people is a key ingredient to success, both long-term and short-term.

If all of this sounds familiar to you, perhaps you should contact a SCORE chapter near you for assistance. You will find many mentors with life-skills and career experience that can help you in your specific circumstances.

Meanwhile, carry on with your valuable missions to serve our community and its people. Your efforts are greatly appreciated and needed.

October 11, 2018