Let’s jump in:
1. Strategic Planning and Long-Term Thinking
Every nonprofit or social impact organization needs a vision and a roadmap for achieving it. That’s what strategic planning is all about.
Social change doesn’t happen overnight, and a solid plan helps break down large goals into manageable steps. But it’s not just a best practice – having a strategic plan is directly tied to nonprofit success. According to the Journal of Management Studies, organizations with written plans grow 30% faster. And in another report featured on NonprofitPro noted that 86% of nonprofit respondents said having a strategic plan improved their ability to get funding!
Quick Tip: Haven’t got a strategic plan yet? Start by surveying your community to ask for their feedback on your mission and needs.
2. Board Governance
Your board of directors plays a crucial role in your organization’s governance. Effective board governance involves establishing clear processes for recruiting, training, and empowering board members.
Poor board governance is a big problem, leading to financial oversight issues, fundraising challenges, and delays in delivering programs.
Wondering if your Board is effective? I made this video checklist to figure that out. Let me know what you think!
Quick Tip: Good board governance starts with a strong Board Chair. Think ahead to consider who might be a good candidate for a mission-oriented, collaborative Chair with experience to lead the board and support your organization’s goals.
3. Human Resources & People Management
Did you know? Poor staff management can lead to high turnover, and losing staff can be an expensive proposition that impedes your ability to achieve your mission. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, it can cost up to 6-9 months of an employee’s salary 😨 to replace them.
Quick Tip: Treat salaries, professional development, and a positive work culture as investments (because they are!). Research and establish competitive salaries and training to retain talent as much as possible.
4. Volunteer Management
Volunteers are vital, but – just like staff – turnover can negatively impact your mission. The Stanford Social Innovation Review found that poor volunteer management leads to about one-third of volunteers not returning the following year.
Quick Tip: Start excellent volunteer management with setting expectations for volunteer roles. Create detailed volunteer job descriptions that match roles with your organization’s goals to underscore how the volunteer makes an impact for your cause.
5. Collaboration & Partnerships
Collaboration is essential in the interconnected world of nonprofits. Effective and properly supported partnerships can open doors to new resources, increase credibility, and expand your reach (and the data backs this up).
Quick Tip: Before you partner with another organization, clearly define roles and responsibilities with partners to avoid misunderstandings. A top reason partnerships don’t succeed is a lack of clarity around who does what!
6. Fundraising & Donor Stewardship
Fundraising is scary. I get it. But it’s one of the most important roles of a nonprofit leader. After all, you can’t achieve your organization’s goals without resources!
Many people assume fundraising is just about asking for money, but that’s probably the smallest part of it. It’s actually mostly about building and maintaining relationships. Relationships lead to more donors retained year over year – which is great, because improving your donor retention by just 10% can double the lifetime value of your donor database, according to Bloomerang’s Dr. Adrian Sargeant.
Quick Tip: Focus on storytelling and engagement to build relationships before making the ask. Share a story about someone impacted by your cause or impact data, at least quarterly!
7. Legal & Financial Management
Understanding the legal and financial aspects of running a nonprofit is crucial. Nonprofits must comply with strict regulations, and failing to do so can lead to penalties or even shutdowns. And if a compliance issues forces you to close your doors, well, you can’t help all those people you want to help.
Quick Tip: Educate yourself on compliance basics. Inventory what you don’t know, and seek experts in your community who can talk to you or offer training for your team.
8. Technology & Online Presence
You can’t get by these days without proper investment in technology and a solid website for your nonprofit. A well-designed website (and active social media, too) make your organization more accessible to supporters. Conversely, a poorly designed website turns donors and volunteers away.
Quick Tip: If tech isn’t your strong suit, consider tapping into university internship programs or recruiting skilled volunteers to help develop your online presence.
9. Marketing & Public Relations
If a nonprofit has a compelling mission, but nobody knows it exists, does it get the support it needs to help its community?
(It’s not really rhetorical question. The answer is No.)
McKinsey talks about how marketing budgets are usually the first to be cut in challenging times. But, as they say, that can be short-sighted. After all, it’s effective marketing that attracts donors, volunteers, and partners, sustaining your organization in the short AND long-term.
Quick Tip: If you haven’t already, clearly define your core messages and write them out in a Key Messages and Talking Points document including your mission, top goals, and facts about your cause. Share that document with your entire Board, staff, and core volunteers.
Final Thoughts
There you have it!
I’m curious – Which of these skills do you feel you’re excelling in? Which ones give you nightmares? Hit reply and let me know what you think. 🙂
