Everyone makes mistakes, right? Right! In my work with nonprofits, I see five common mistakes that can negatively impact your work in the community, the impression that funders and donors have of the organization and even how clients and stakeholders feel about the organization.
Start 2016 off with an effort to correct your mistakes. As a result, the organization or ministry will be stronger and more effective for your work.
One of the biggest mistakes being made by nonprofits is in the area of their missions. The mission and vision of the organization are its two most vital assets, they need to be protected at all costs. It is important to not allow mission drift to creep in. This is an area where your organization might be struggling; according to some reports, 95% of all Christian organization leaders struggle with mission drift.
Another mistake being made by organizations is in the area of board roles and responsibilities. Who does what and why? It is very difficult to move an organization forward when no one is sure what they are supposed to be doing.
The third mistake being made by nonprofits is failing to plan strategically. Instead, too many organizations are spending their time looking back. To move forward, organizations must look at where they want to be and strategically plan to get there.
Organizations are also making mistakes in the area of fundraising and revenue diversification. Too often, ministries have “put all of their eggs in one basket.” Diversification in funding is a good thing! A blend of grant funding, individual donors, special events and passive income can strengthen the organization’s bottom line.
Finally, the fifth mistake many nonprofit organizations is making is in the area of leader growth and development. Organizations can only be as strong as their leaders, so why not invest in them.
These mistakes are not written in any order, but all are big areas of concern for organizations that want to grow and serve their targeted audiences. Join us for our upcoming FREE webinar where we will be talking about “The Top Five Mistakes” and strategies to overcome them to serve more effectively and be poised for growth in 2016.
