The Foraker Group

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 staff
• Securing unrestricted funds for both emergencies and opportunities
• Seeking restricted grants only when they align to your mission and direction
• Staying rooted in strategic thinking, rather than historical review
• Embracing planning, including establishing annual priorities

How many of these behaviors has your organization embraced? Share with our readers examples of behaviors that you have been wildly successful with or those that have been challenging to implement.

–Dennis

Dennis McMillian, president of The Foraker Group, a capacity building organization based in Alaska, and the author of Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit’s Journey.