Let’s check-in with what’s going on at your organization to help you stay on track and elevate your mission!
It's sometimes hard to see the big picture at your organization. As a non-profit pro, you have a million things on your plate and it feels like all of them are vital to meeting your mission. You know that you can and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
In reality, your "whatever it takes" attitude is burning you out. AND the truth is that by taking somethings off of your plate, you can gain focus and perspective.
By learning to prioritize a few small things at a time you can evaluate your board, funding, programs, marketing, strategic planning, and everything else that need to run smoothly at your organization.
Your whole organization will benefit and you will gradually lose that feeling of being overwhelmed.
You might be wondering, "Where do I even start?"
Good question. First, take a breath and imagine all of your dream goals for your organization this year. Write them down and think about what it would feel like to accomplish them.
Now, you start with the end in mind.
State your mission. This mission is at the heart of how your organization changes the world. It will center all other aspects of your organization. Then prepare to audit the following elements:
People
The people in your organization are responsible for decision-making and the day-to-day activities that serve your mission. When reviewing how people interact with your organization it is important to consider volunteers, staff, leadership, etc. If you see gaps in engagement, clear leader responsibility, and succession planning, you may want to invest in strengthening the people who make your mission possible.
Money
Understanding financial standing is imperative. Consider who in your organization is active in reviewing financial statements, budgets, building cash reserve, and pursuing fundraising efforts. Establishing consistent responsibilities around money and fundraising can go a long way in decision-making for your organization.
Programs
Make sure each program or activity your organization does is mission-centric. Also consider how you know that a program is successful. Collecting metrics from programs can greatly increase your ability to better serve in more efficient ways. Understanding how programs serve your mission and how they can be implemented better can save you time and energy so that you can focus on what matters.
Marketing
Most important to marketing is a clear and consistent message. This means that anyone who engages with your organization will immediately be able to recognize who you are and what you do. This can help you in creating brand ambassadors for your cause and draw people in to your organization. You should also consider how this message is communicated - what plan is in place, what platforms are leveraged, and how that message serves your mission.
Strategy
Think about your big goals for this year. Consider how they were developed and identify if they are S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).
Once you have carefully considered these elements. Identify which 2-3 areas would impact the others. For example, it can be difficult to establish consistent financial practices without clear leadership responsibilities. But by focusing on leadership, it becomes easier to define financial accountability.
Only 2-3 should become your top priority. Otherwise, you will find yourself overwhelmed again. Right back where you started.
To help you in your audit, download our organizational assessment for a guided series of questions designed to help you see the big picture so that you can save time a maximize your impact!