21 Things You Must Do To Stay Competitive In The 21st Century
We have seen in the previous article “It is a Dog Eat Dog Nonprofit World” that the romantic and idealized notion that many of us carry around that the nonprofit world is a better place to be, may be flawed. Instead of cooperation, we encounter competition; instead of collaboration we encounter self-will; and instead of dedication to mission, we find adoption of cut-throat business practices.
There are, however, many ways that a nonprofit can thrive in this environment. It means acknowledging that the resources of philanthropy are a finite amount of money. It entails a commitment to recognize opportunities and develop strategies for turning them into successful projects.
Here is a checklist of stratagems to consider.
1. Fundraise twelve months a year, not just in November and December.
2. Sponsor fundraisers that can be repeated year after year, and which people look forward to.
3. Disarm your competition by joining with them in joint ventures where you all benefit by creating a better overall charitable climate.
4. Start using some proven techniques from the commercial sector to attract and retain talented personnel.
5. Become actively involved in your professional associations, whether they are fundraising associations, or “trade” associations.
6. Be the leader in initiating a collaborative meeting of the nonprofits in your market area. Host the first meeting at your offices, and get commitments from the attendees to attend regular conferences in the future. Better the devil you know.
7. Join fundraising programs that give your organization a unique offering, and provide a needed service to your constituency.
8. Try thinking more as if you were in the commercial sector competing for people, money, sales, recognition, and providing superior customer service. Continue Reading »