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This Month's topic: Small Nonprofits
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My New Book on Generation Change Is Available!
 My newest title, Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Your Nonprofit
is available for review and purchase at the Fieldstone Alliance
website. I'm really excited about the reaction to this book, and I know
that the issues covered in it are affecting your nonprofit and will
continue to in the coming years. Check it out.
Here's what people are saying about the book:
“Helpful ideas for immediate action! Great insight into the
different generations in a practical way that lends itself to clear
thinking about how to most effectively engage people. Easy to
understand and engaging—a pleasure to read.”
“An invaluable guide—it will be a frequently consulted resource.
Brinckerhoff’s ‘Six Big Actions’ provide an excellent operational
framework to plan for generational change.”
—Joan M. Twiss, M.A., Executive Director, Center for Civic Partnerships, Sacramento, CA
Take a moment and check out the book--I think you'll see that it applies to your organization.
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| This Month's Topic: Small Nonprofits |
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Sites of the Month
Each month, this area provides with a number of my favorite and most helpful sites regarding the topic of the month.
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Management
Tip of the Month
Each issue, I start with a discussion
of my management perspective on the month's topic, and give you a few hands-on
ideas to consider.
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Recommended Publications
Here, I provide you with my
recommendations on the materials available that can help you
become more mission-capable in the area of Small Nonprofits
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Technology
I provide you with some good ideas for
uses of tech to better your organization in the area of Small Nonprofits
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Marketing
Tip
So much to say, so little space to say
it.....
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Next
Issue
In September, you'll get some great information on Generation Change and Technology
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Past Issues:
You can see the topics of past Mission-Based Management Newsletters, and then view those that are of interest to you, by scrolling to the bottom of the newsletter, or by clicking here. |
Websites of the
Month
Here are my recommendations for websites of interest
on this month's topic: Small Nonprofits
Back to
Top
Management Tip of the Month
Very Small Nonprofits
Quick. Someone says "nonprofit" or "charity." What's the first thing that pops into your mind other than
the organization for which you work or volunteer? Probably a big, "name
brand" nonprofit. Red Cross, Habitat, your local hospital system or
university. Big is visible. Big is recognizable. Big is where the
action is, right?
Not exactly. While there are just under 1.5 million registered nonprofits in
the United States (according to the most recent data from the National Center for Charitable Statistics), nearly 81% have total annual income of less than $100,000.
So, while we may think first about the big 501(c)'s , the playing field
is actually filled with smaller, dedicated, and often invisible organizations. Fine,
you say. Interesting. So?
The rub is that these hundreds of thousands of organizations have their
own set of problems and issues and that are often ignored or at
least not specifically addressed in the literature, research and
publications dedicated to nonprofits. Very Small NonProfits (VSNPs)
need more attention discussion and examination. Full disclosure:
this issue's topic was not the result of me noticing the issue, but rather because
three different VSNP execs took me up on my offer to suggest a topic.
They all contacted me within four weeks of each other, and it went on the
schedule. So, prior to researching this issue, I wasn't ignorant of the problem, but it wasn't on my radar. Silly me.
So what are the characteristics of a very small nonprofit? In the main,
they are more volunteer driven, they are younger in terms of
organizational age, and are often lacking any significant support
infrastructure. On the other hand, the people involved in small
nonprofits are incredibly energetic and passionate about their mission.
Because they are smaller they can be, and usually are, more flexible;
able to turn on a dime if opportunity presents itself. They do a lot
with very little.
The downside of being able to turn on a dime is that often these organizations turn because
of a dime, dollar, or some other financial incentive. Due to their
sometimes precarious financial situation, they have less ability to
have a long term strategy and can get easily distracted by a grant or
funding source that is "sort of" related to what they do. "Mission-creep" is endemic in VSNPs.
So what should a small nonprofit do? In a lot of ways, the same things
that mid-sized organizations should do. It's just harder when you have
less resources:
Focus. Remember both
the first and second rule of nonprofits ("Mission, Mission, Mission"
and "No money, no mission!") Have a three year plan. Focus. Balance
board and staff needs.Keep good records and be transparent. Be good
stewards of their resources. Focus. Don't try to be all things to all
people.
This is NOT easy for a one-person or even all volunteer organization.
But use the resources noted here and take things one step at a time.
Remember that you can't just do mission, even though that's the fun
stuff. You have to do the organizational background and back room work
to enable mission. And that's a challenge when there is not enough of
you to go around.
If
you found this hint helpful, there are lots more management, marketing, and
technology ideas for you in the "Ideas" section at
www.missionbased.com. Check them
out--they're free.
And, remember to take a look at the
Mission-Based Management
Blog.
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Top
Print Resources
My recommendations for texts and other readings on Small Nonprofits.
Planned Giving for Small Nonprofits, by Ronald Jordan & Katelyn Quynn
Great Boards for Small Groups, by Andy Robinson
Grassroots Organizations: A Resource Guide, by Robert Clifton & Alan Dahms
Big Gifts for Small Groups, by Andy Robinson
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Technology Tip
How can Tech help a small nonprofit
I think that for small nonprofits, tech is your best friend. For the
most part it's cheap, flexible and lets you have the same online
presence as the big organizations (you and your local hospital each have one URL, one website,
etc.). It also allows you to be incredibly productive in developing your
user/donor/volunteer network. You can link up volunteers, donors and
staff on social network sites like Ning.com and collaborate with
supporters of your idea all over the world without paying a single long
distance bill or buying an airline ticket.
The ability to have quick visibility and connection cannot be
overvalued.. A laptop and a free wireless access point can keep you in
touch. Many low cost Internet Service Providers (ISP's) can help you
for free or very low costs. For example, Electric Embers
(www.electricembers.net) focuses on nonprofits and worker-owned
enterprises and charge $10 a month to host your site.
Case study: here's a blog posting that advises nonprofits on how to get online for under $60US. And, here's a case study of how one nonprofit teched-up for a low cost, but with a plan.
You can also go after low cost help with your website and other tech issues online. Take a look at this:
www.getafreelancer.com/projects/PHP-Perl-CGI/Transferring-small-nonprofit-website.html.
It's an RFP for a freelance tech person to help
with a site transfer. There are tons of places like this on the web
that can help you with tech,or with logos and graphics, such as www.designoutpost.com
Many nonprofits are going full speed ahead with their tech, even small ones. www.socialcomputingmagazine.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=540 is an excellent article full of ideas on how nonprofits are using Web 2.0.
Finally, remember your best resource for how to use tech in your small
nonprofit is www.techsoup.org. The people at TechSoup have a huge
inventory of resources, how-to articles and other help for you. In
addition, they sell new software at very low cost. Definitely bookmark
them, and visit often. Start, by the way, here www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/databases/page7129.cfm since it's a great article on using tech to track constituents in small and mid-sized organizations.
Tech today can make you more efficient and effective on a very low
budget. You can be visible, stay in touch, and be on the move, all at
the same time. Remember to invest in the tech you need, which is
sometimes different than the tech you may want. You probably don't
really need that new Iphone!
If you found this hint helpful, there are lots more
management, marketing, and technology ideas for you in the "Ideas" section at
www.missionbased.com. Check them
out--they're free.
Back to
Top
Training Schedule for Peter Brinckerhoff
This summer, I'm doing solely private training
and consulting, and not re-starting my public training until the fall.
Below you'll see the date, location, and topics of public training I'm
currently scheduled to do in September and October. For more information
on a particular speaking engagement, get in touch with the contact
person listed in the right hand column, or email me.
For more information on my availability throughout
the next 12-18 months, available topics, sample agendas, and fees go to
www.missionbased.com/training.htm
9/11/07
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Cincinnati |
Generation Change and Recruitment and Retention |
Easter Seals Regional Conference
Jackie Hooper
jhooper@essmichigan.org |
| 9/18/07 |
Minneapolis |
Generation Change |
Fieldstone Alliance/United Way
Becky Andrews
bandrews@fieldstonealliance.org
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| 9/26/07 |
Seattle |
Corporate Structure Options for Rehabilitation Employment |
NISH
Rick Van Hoose
Rvanhoose@nish.org |
| 9/28/07 |
Chicago |
Generation Change |
Management Information Exchange
Patricia Pap
ppap@m-i-e.org |
| 10/03/07 |
Houston |
Nonprofit Stewardship |
Colorado Behavioral Council
Mary Jo Lagesse
mlagesse1234@msn.com |
| 10/06/07 |
Breckenridge, CO |
Generation Change and Nonprofits |
United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast
Beth Tobias
btobias@uwtgc.org |
| 10/09/07 |
Portland, OR |
Generation Change |
TACS
Jennifer Ingham
jb@tacs.org |
| 10/13/07 |
San Francisco |
Generation Change |
BoardSource Leadership Forum
Barb Knoff
Barb@mil3.net
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Marketing Tip
If
you are small, marketing is a big challenge. Tech can help, as our tech
tip shows, but it can't prevent you from being so passionate
about your mission (a common strength of small nonprofits) that
you forget that your job is to give people what they need in ways that they want it. You can't cram any mission, no matter how noble, down people's throats. That's item #1.
Second, remember that crappy marketing material (something in black and
white that looks like it was typed on a 1945 Olivetti) does not send a
message that you are saving money. It sends a message that you are out
of touch. Making good marketing materials is cheap. A laptop, some free
open source software (like Open Office) and a $125 printer, and
you're in business. Remember, too that you can get ink cartridges
refilled now, often at less than half of new cartridges--BIG
savings---at reputable places like Walgreens and Office Max.
Third, from day one (often not too long ago for many small nonprofits)
be thinking of your brand and how you are viewed.Here's a great article
on this for small organizations.
www.gettingattention.org/my_weblog/2006/09/how_a_small_non.html
Finally, the fund raising part of marketing.
One thing that can break your small nonprofit out of the pack is a key
sponsor or donor. Here are some resources for how a small nonprofit can
make a good presentation to a potential long-time sponsor .
www.stevensilvers.com/2007/04/advice_for_a_sm.html
Remember, good
marketing, whether in big organizations or small, is all about
understanding your various customers, who include the people you serve,
your staff (if you have them), your board, and your donors/funders.
Keep asking them what they want, and move toward it, keeping a careful
eye on quality. You'll be fine.
If you found this hint helpful, there are lots more
management, marketing, and technology ideas for you in the "Ideas" section at
www.missionbased.com. Check them
out--they're free.
Back to
Top
Future Topics for
The Mission-Based Management Newsletter....
| September |
Generation Change and Technology |
| October |
Crisis Management |
| November |
Generation Change and Marketing |
| December |
Signs of Organizational Trouble |
| January 2008 |
Reorganizing Your Board of Directors |
| February |
New Communications Tools |
| March |
Generation Change and Finance |
| Send me
your topic suggestions at: peter@missionbased.com |
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You asked, so here they are:
Past Single-Topic Issues of the Mission-Based Management Newsletter...
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Copyright 2007,
Corporate Alternatives, inc.
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