Social Sector

Primary Function

What is the primary function of a World Cup soccer telecast?  One station in the UK found out when it ran an advertisement during England v. USA game.

Apparently there was little sympathy for a poorly timed commercial.  For the TV station the primary function may be about generating revenue.  For the viewers the primary function of the TV station is to provide an uninterrupted live feed of the game.  One of these functions took priority over the other with significant consequences.



I cycle past a real estate sign listing vacant land as part of a regular riding route.  The realtor’s sign had been twisted by the wind and tagged with graffiti.  To my surprise I saw new signs when I passed the lot yesterday.  Across the street was a new listing from a competitor.  The new realtor’s sign was larger and composed of graphics and pictures.

 The sudden appearance of a competitor was a reminder that if you are not attend to your competitive advantage another organization can come along and corner the market.  The realtor with the original listing and the abandon sign was playing catch-up.  The ‘dip’ that the competitor had to cross (as Seth Godin would say) was so small that it took few resources to change the game.  Had the first real estate listing been more active and attended on a regular basis, perhaps it would have made it harder for the new listing to standout.

Tradition Says
“Our organization’s board meets from 3 to 5 pm the second Wednesday of the month- it is tradition.”

Some sacred cows are hard to change.  Customs passed down from one group to the next.  Athletes know that if they do the same workout every time they will get a similar results but not improve.  That is why they add interval training where they increase the exertion over a period of time and then allow for some recovery before repeating.  The next workout might be a distance workout which lasts five times longer than the interval workout but the intensity is much lower.  Variety allows for expanded capacity.


What if your organization’s next board or staff was half as long?  How would that alter the agenda?  What would you email to the participants in advance of the meeting?  Speaking of participants, how would they receive a meeting that ran half as long?


Try it for one or two meetings and see the results.  If this idea appears too radical, try it at the committee level first.  Seth Godin had a great post on this very concept for business.  His challenge was delivered with conviction.

The View from Above

How do you ensure that you have a real perspective on the social sector’s horizon?  How do you get enough altitude to survey the landscape?  Consider the following scenario.


Imagine you are watching the following sporting event on television.  What does the following image reveal?




Perhaps it provides some detail but your ability to understand the game is limited, so we expand the optics. 
 
But even this is confined so we go to the next perspective.
 
Perhaps now you have enough information to consider a variety of viewpoints and develop a plan.  Who in your organization will make sure you take time to consider the aerial view before diving in for the close-up?

Assignment

Could you describe your competitors in detail?  If the idea of competition makes your organization nervous, are there organizations you consider good benchmark’s for your cause?  Do you really understand how many volunteers they engage and the techniques they use to retain donors?  Have you read their annual reports?  Does somebody from your board attend a competitor’s programs?  Do you access their financial returns online or use their compensation structure for benchmarking salaries?


Assign staff, board, volunteers to get to know a competitor better.  Encourage them to assemble a portfolio of information and make a presentation of their findings.


If your organization wants to understand its competitive advantage you need perspective.  Many organizations only engage in competitor analysis once every five or ten years during strategic planning but the opportunity to renew your understanding today only enhances your day-to-day decision making.

Family Foundations

Family foundations are an unique and organic enterprises.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  I have spoken to family foundation directors who share that the grants are awarded based on the board’s assessment of a proposal’s fit with the mission.  I have seen other foundations that agree on the total sum to be distributed and then allow each family member to direct an equal share towards their favorite causes.  Some foundations come very close to the self-dealing threshold where a member of the foundation’s board benefits from a grant by receiving tangible value in recognition of a grant.

Family foundation’s at there best are a shared experience center on achieving a philanthropic intent.  The purpose of the foundation unites the family and the outside directors.

Whatever model you are seeking funding from it is essential to understand the foundation’s (and sometimes family’s) level of functionality.  Grantees need to peek behind the curtain to see if the wizard is real or imagined.  Be willing to ask questions.  Search for information on Guidestar, the Foundation Center, or the Council on Foundations.  Ask past grant recipients about their experience.  Communicate directly with a family member or staff member.  Talk to your local community foundation or nonprofit center to get guidance.  Engage in a dialogue, be informed, and connect.  No two family foundations are the same so enjoy the exploration.