With the holiday season upon us, a time of joy and of sharing, this newsletter is specifically about donorship.
It’s at this time of the year that I often reflect on the enormous efforts and the tremendous impact of the nonprofit community, and the donors who support them. Friends and colleagues often ask me how I assess the effectiveness of the nonprofits that I support. I share with them that I have the highest regard for organizations that have:
- Strong leadership, with a bold vision and a solid plan for implementation.
- A clear mission that spells out what the organization seeks to accomplish and why it’s important.
- Transparency regarding finances, governance, program evaluation, outcomes, and impact.
- Robust partnerships with donors, volunteers, other nonprofits, businesses, and government. No matter the size or type of contribution, always take a humble approach to giving. Trusting a nonprofit’s leadership and contributing unrestricted dollars to support their whole mission is a sign of respect. While an organization’s budget may have line items for people and infrastructure separate from program costs, they can’t operate without both. Investing in leadership development — for both staff and board — will make an impact and help sustain and grow the organization.
Nonprofits and their donors become a team when they think of doing “the whole job” together.
- Do you feel like you’re playing on the same team with the nonprofits you support?
- How do you select the nonprofits that you get involved with?
Your Weekly Reminder
Use this form to send yourself the answers to the following questions as a reminder to think about how to improve yourself and your organization.
Do you feel like you’re playing on the same team with the nonprofits you support? Yes No
How do you select the nonprofits that you get involved with?
send