The ‘E’ in CEO stands for ‘excuse me can you spare dime.’
The enterprise that has the most connections and funders wins the war for fundraising success.
Nonprofit organizations tweet, friend, link, blog, post, Evite, refresh, and blast in a constant attempt to gain market share and recognition.
More time is spent reaching out to volunteers, donors, patrons, foundations, politicians than they spend achieving their mission and running key programs.
Resources are frequently shifted in order to make an organization eligible for funding, awards, volunteers, community recognition, grants, facilities. New programs are adopted simply to meet the demands of a third party.
The number one attribute for nominating a new board member- capacity to give.
- Nonprofit organizations spend 90% or more of their time and resources meeting the mission
- Special Events and Gala fundraising events that typically cost 30 cents for every dollar raised become a gathering to report back to the supporters, volunteers, customers, partners, politicians. Exchange ideas, get feedback, engage, build community, connect.
- General operating support should receive the highest deduction from the IRS. The more restrictions of the gift, the less deduction. Allow the board and staff decide what is the best way to use the resources and then provide constant communication and transparency.
- One metric does not fit all nonprofit organizations. There is no perfect Return on Investment formula. Measuring success is an abstract exercise that rests in the liminal.
- FOCUS: Announce your intentions and go do it. The fewer peripheral pieces the better. Stop hiring the best fundraiser as CEO if that is all they bring to the enterprise. Get the best leader, manager, strategic thinker, communicator, advocate, collaborator, visionary, and whatever else you need. Hire for the cause not the funders.
- Be brave: go out and partner, leverage parts of your mission to other organizations that are better positioned to provide a service, share your challenges, be targeted.
Many more ideas to follow in a developing manifesto…what would you suggest to change the social sector? Is it really working?
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