Focus is maintained through good strategic planning and ongoing evaluation. Good planning and evaluation start with a written plan developed through a thoughtful planning process that involves the entire board and key staff. This written plan then becomes a tool to ensure that the organization knows why it was founded and where it is going. A written plan moves the organization in a unified direction and is firmly rooted in focus. Research supports the notion that strategic planning is one of the most important jobs for an organization’s board of directors. A strategic plan not only helps board members articulate a clear understanding of their organization’s purpose and values, it describes where the organization is headed. We have found that helping nonprofit boards develop a strategic plan has become the… Read more »

Focus can be measured by establishing that an organization is grounded in its purpose and values. Such grounding is accomplished by showing that every major action or decision directly links to purpose, values, and direction. A nonprofit’s key leaders should be able to articulate the answers to two critical questions – Who are we? and Where are we going? To answer these questions, one must be honest about behavior. Some organizations go so far as to indicate which values an action connects to, or how an action links back to the core purpose. With clear focus, an organization can measure its efforts against its strategic direction and hold itself accountable. The result is better communication with the community, an increased ability to raise money, and a greater opportunity to attract… Read more »

Last week I talked about “focus” being the most important factor in achieving sustainability in your organization. Although focus is critical, the other three sustainability principles must also be in place to have a well-functioning organization. Having the right people – represented by the board and staff working in balance – will always be a factor in the sustainability of an organization, although the skills required for the people themselves may change as the environment changes. Partnerships are essential for a sustainable organization, but partners will change as circumstances change. Unrestricted funds are always needed, but the sources of that support will change as the funding landscape evolves. Organizations that use the lenses – focus, right people, partnerships and unrestricted funds – as a way to view their actions become… Read more »

For an organization to begin its sustainability journey, it must consider how different aspects of sustainability are interrelated. An organization may have the right people, partnerships, and even adequate unrestricted funds, but without focus, it may not have what it needs to keep it on track. Focus is the most important factor – it is an organization’s foundation. An organization’s founding purpose and values are part of its focus. In a sustainable nonprofit, purpose and values don’t change. The focus reflects the passion of the founders, defining what they intended to accomplish and why. Focus serves as the anchor for everything an organization does. It helps provide the answer to the fundamental question: Who are we? The other part of focus is flexibility – it helps an organization stay relevant…. Read more »

The term “nonprofit sustainability” has been a buzzword in the sector for a couple of decades. However, many public and private investors ask potential grantees to demonstrate their sustainability. For many nonprofits, the definition of sustainability is that “We have enough money to get through this budget cycle, and we many have a little reserve in the bank for an emergency.” But sustainability is much more than management and having some money in the bank. Here are some of the organizational behaviors than nonprofits can adopt to be truly sustainable. Knowing who you are and where you are going so you can adapt and change services Seeking and nurturing strategic partnerships to maximize your overall impact Establishing an organizational culture that allows for securing and maintaining the right board and… Read more »

Most nonprofit leaders care about their mission and are concerned about doing good work in their community. They want a user-friendly process to build their organization’s capacity, focus on sustainability, and ultimately, to show that their organization is demonstrating impact for the people they serve. The Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model, although simple, is based on a sophisticated understanding of organizational development. With it, you can identify the four factors that help predict nonprofit sustainability. Those factors are having a clear focus, gathering the right people, developing meaningful partnerships, and having unrestricted funds available. Nonprofit leaders who operate in an environment structured around these factors have lenses to help them take a good look at their organization, weigh decisions, and create clarity for the path forward. How do you see your… Read more »