Rebranding the NonProfit
Rebranding Has Been a Long Time Coming…
While I help people set up a lot of new nonprofts, I also get a lot of phone calls, emails, and tweets from nonprofits who have been struggling for years. The struggles come in all shapes and sizes but the most common struggle is fundraising. Successful fundraising for many nonprofits is an elusive dream that is overshadowed by many failed attemtps. Some in the nonprofit arena even believe the nonprofit market is too saturated and leaves no room for new nonprofits because of their lack of success raising funds for their nonprofit. This can be no farther from the truth and whether you are a new nonprofit start-up or an old one, in just a few simple steps, I can help you get on track to finding the nonprofit funds you need to see successful fundraising. Read on and I will give you some simple steps that you can follow to regain your faith in the nonprofit model.
Rebranding The NonProfit
Over the years, the nonprofit arena has become complicated and just down right confusing to many who are already involved and even more so to those wishing to embark in it. I will not spend a lot of time speculating on why the industry has become so hard to understand, but I will give my two cents. I believe the majority of the confusion has come from an assumption that “it looks difficult, so it is difficult.” Many times new and old nonprofits make it much more difficult than it really is by making it complicated for themselves. You have heard the phrase that “you cannot see the forest for the trees”. I like to help nonprofits rebrand their efforts and focus on the individual trees and then they can stand back and enjoy the forest. Especially when it comes to nonprofit fundraising, simple is the best and once you make it simple it can be down right fun. There are 3 simple steps below.
KISS
(keep it simple, stupid)
When rebranding the nonprofit to make things simple the old adage “Keep it simple, Stupid” reigns supreme for me. Simple works, and helps those that are volunteers, employees and donors follow along easily. By keeping it simple your efforts are easily duplicated by others. When you discover the strategy that works, you simply duplicate it so that others can also do it. Then repeat, repeat and repeat those efforts. There is no need to make it any harder than it has to be. I think that many times those running nonprofits believe they have to keep adding elements to their fundraising efforts until they get so confused they cannot remember what worked in the first place. Let me give you an example that I will take from my article http://oceangrand.org/simple-and-effective-non-profit-fundraising/. There is no substitute for a stable donor base. A stable donor base does not come from grant writing, it comes from having a great story, building relationships with donors and retaining those donors month in and month out. Grant writing has its place, but not until you have the simplest form of support and that is individual donors and corporations that have a great relationship with you and your nonprofit. They are the ones that will come through for you time and time again. You build that loyalty in donors by cultivating real and genuine relationships with them. Building relationships with people + keeping them involved in your nonprofit work + them giving time and finances to your nonprofit= simple, stable and effective fundraising. If it sounds too simple it is because you have convinced yourself that funding your nonprofit has to be complicated and difficult.
Forget the Competition
Forget what the competition does to attempt success; instead do the things that you know will work. By trying to duplicate another nonprofit’s efforts, especially if theirs is complicated, you are setting yourself up for a complex matrix of activities. Instead stay simple in your efforts and focus on your nonprofit, your donors and your program.
Overrated Activities
Grant writing is overrated for most nonprofits, and instead of spending hours and hours trying to find a grant, capitalize on that time by building relationships with the people the other nonprofits forgot and left in the dust. Many very capable donors are left in the dust of the flurry the nonprofit makes in trying to find the “big money.” There is not a ton of competition in building relationships with donors. With a little effort you may be able to build genuine relationships with individuals, long forgotten by other nonprofits, who would love to donate more than any grant would provide. All grant funding organizations are run and founded by individuals, most of whom would enjoy finding a nonprofit who valued their relationship as much as their money. You never know where a solidly build relationship with a donor may lead. It is possible his best friend runs a successful grant funding foundation. Relationship building is one of those simple activities that most nonprofits forget. However, they are the key to great success when it comes to the continual success of a nonprofit.
Does your nonprofit need rebranding?
Whether you are just starting out in the nonprofit world or you have been at it for ages, nonprofit fundraising and work does not have to be complicated. My advice for anyone in any business would be if you do not have fun at it, find something that you can enjoy. Nonprofit work can be some of the most satisfying work (or play) you have ever done, but I believe simplicity is the key. Look at everything surrounding your nonprofit: administration, bookkeeping, fundraising, and programs. If the processes are too complicated, simplify them or outsource them. Make your nonprofit activities simple and straightforward and they will be fun. It’s the reason I switched to a Mac computer- it simplified my life and made sitting at a computer fun again. Above all, relationships are your most important asset. When all the “cards are down,” if you have good stable relationships, you will be ok. Have a blast living your nonprofit dream, and if you need some help getting back to simple, let me know.
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[...] Ocean Grand 19 Feb 2009 | 10:58 am | Category: Uncategorized unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptForget what the competition does to [...]