Last month, we were delivering a strategic plan draft to one of our clients, an executive director of a small nonprofit. As the sole paid employee, supported by dedicated volunteers, she works tirelessly to empower underserved youth to reach their full potential. At one point, tears welled in her eyes. “To see our three-year plan laid out like this for us makes me emotional. It’s been on our list for so long, but with everything I must do to keep the programs on track, I never was able to take the time to get it done!” she said through a sniffle. This is not the first time a nonprofit leader we serve has become emotional and I doubt that it will be the last.
Good Advice: Write it Down!
I started my job with Project Partners in January and am loving being a part of this fabulous team. I quickly learned that even though we are a small company, we maintain a very large project portfolio! One thing that has allowed me to jump right into all of the incredible work with our clients is the fact that our files are robust, well-organized, intuitive, and easy to access. During this era that has been dubbed “the great resignation” it seems that staff turnover feels inevitable. However, encouraging your team (and yourself!) to keep impeccable records can ease the pain of losing someone special, while also shortening the learning curve for anyone new to your staff. Some specific examples to keep in mind:
Does a New Building Seem Like a Good Idea?
Last year, a fledgling nonprofit asked if we would be interested in receiving an RFP to work on a capital campaign. After reviewing their business plan, I responded with the questions below. If you and your board members are contemplating bricks and mortar to fulfill your mission, these questions may be relevant to you, too – especially considering the current funding environment.
Advice from the Fort Worth Chamber, Visit Fort Worth, and United Way
On April 14th, Chris Strayer, Executive Vice President of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar titled “Nonprofit and Community Resources” featuring Leah King, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County and Mitch Whitten, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Visit Fort Worth. We listened in and gleaned these excellent tips and resources for you.
A Little Help is an Email Away
Like you, we're in the midst of moving board and committee meetings to online or phone meetings, rescheduling events, working remotely to accomplish programs of work that serve our community, revamping campaign plans, reaching out to donors and key stakeholders by phone, email, and social media, and more. The causes we advance are too important to delay!