Your nonprofit has specific functions and processes, as well as regulations it must follow. A weakness in any operational area can negate successes in others.
Your nonprofit has specific functions and processes, as well as regulations it must follow. You spend and control cash, acquire facilities and equipment, hire and train a diverse team, manage information and much more. Sometimes you can fill gaps and create efficiencies by leveraging volunteer expertise, seeking opportunities for collaboration, or sharing back-office operations. All are effective ways to strengthen your nonprofit while reducing administrative costs.
A weakness in any operational area can negate successes in others. Over time, without all the parts functioning well, the entire organization will suffer. Commit to doing "the whole job."
With shifting economic cycles, things happen that can help or hurt an organization. You need to prepare yourself to capitalize on an opportunity (the elevator door opening) regardless of where your nonprofit may be in its lifecycle or in implementing its strategic plan.
Investing in organizational capacity contributes to excellence and impact. Commit to doing “the whole job.”
— Jim Morgan
Investing in organizational capacity contributes to excellence and impact. Commit to doing the whole job.
— Jim Morgan
Conversation Starter
A complete set of conversation starters to accompany the chapter.
Download NowToolkit
A complete set of tools to accompany the chapter.
Download Now
You will never change an organization's culture just by telling employees that the culture needs to change. You must take deliberate action to create and nurture the culture you want.
02To successfully lead a nonprofit you must cultivate a culture of trust and respect. Trust is born of respect, and it is the foundation of all good management.
03Always listen for and seek out signs of trouble. Use porpoising to gather information at all levels of your organization. Bad news is good news if you do something about it.
04In the nonprofit sector, court sense means understanding the environment that impacts your organization. Look up, look forward, and look around to anticipate problems and adjust your strategy.
05Your nonprofit has specific functions and processes, as well as regulations it must follow. A weakness in any operational area can negate successes in others.
06Nonprofit boards and staff teams must prioritize and focus on the most important decisions and tasks. Taking time to plan creates a useful rhythm and routine.
07Planning is essential, but success comes from implementation. Book It and Ship It means making a decision, putting it in motion, and managing the consequences.
08To create a culture of accountability, reinforce individual ownership of problems. Make sure responsibility stays clear and always ask who's got the monkey.