The Key to Scaling and Growing Your Nonprofit: Embrace an Out-of-the-Box Perspective
When I started my business over 10 years ago, I don’t think I realized where I would be in 2023. Of course, anyone who starts a business has predefined goals—at least they should! I knew what I wanted to accomplish and the steps it would take to get there. Yet, things can sometimes get a tad bit cloudy on a normally-sunny day. (More on that in a minute.)
First, what brought me to right now—something I really got to revisit in my recent conversation with Agata (Aggie) Chydzinski and Cristy O'Connor, hosts of The Badass Women in Business Podcast.
I Wanted to Bust the Corporate vs. Nonprofit Myth
Here’s the story. Before I started my business, I came from the corporate world—which some people think is the “opposite” of the nonprofit sector. In fact, the two have multiple commonalities. Namely, scaling and growing. How can we take the passion, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of founders and get to a level of revenue that makes a difference in an organization’s upward trajectory?
My approach to scaling and growing nonprofit organizations wasn’t all that different from the corporate environment, especially when we face the fact that “fundraising” isn’t all about hosting galas or 5k races, or golf tournaments. It goes much, much deeper than activity-based events. There needs to be a concerted effort (and strategy) to focus on investing in the organization.
Any business leader knows you have to invest to create a return on investment. Much of that involves investing in foundational components of the organization. Things like staff training and making sure your board has all the tools they need to elicit donors’ best gifts every single time.
It also includes running an overall annual fundraising approach that aligns dollars with hours. Are you raising enough to fund the organization in a way that progresses strategic goals? Nonprofits have been held to unhealthy standards for too long. We know that relying solely on programming and not investing in the overall health of the organization is like running up a hill with a cannon ball tied to your leg.
The same rings true in the corporate world. Think how stunted a company would be if they’re putting their focus into only one part of the business. For example, narrowing in on sales and neglecting all of the other critical elements that comprise business operations (e.g. human resources, marketing, IT). It’s no different in the nonprofit space. This does not mean we ignore the mission; it just becomes one of those three key elements in which we invest.
When nonprofit leaders trust me to consult from this out-of-the-box view, we see both short-term and long-term gains. Honestly, when nonprofits raise to their organization’s real financial need, they raise more money. To be clear, there’s no secret sauce here. Nonprofit leaders still have to do the work. It just occurs from a different mindset and an investment-level perspective.
Which brings me to my opening statements…
At Year Ten of My On Business, I Needed an Out-of-the Box Perspective, Too
My business had grown steadily over the first six or so years. Then, something changed. I witnessed a “hockey stick” uptick. The reason? I realized (or came to realize) that I, too, needed an external perspective in the form of coaching.
Whether you’re a solopreneur or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, we all need objectivity in our business operations. You can have success and still be stagnant when it comes to your vision. That is, unless you invest in YOU.
I love investing in myself and my business. It helps me be a better consultant to the clients I serve. Taking and embracing the insights of my coaches helps me ask better questions. I have a clearer view of what we need to do to generate success.
Coaching has also given me the gift of permission to say “no.” When you’re just starting a business, it’s super tempting to accept any and all business that comes your way. In the end, that’s not the ideal way to run your company. The same could be true for fundraising. Just because it makes money doesn’t mean you should do it.
Saying no opens up the door for greater opportunities, especially if the no prevents you from investing in your business the “wrong” way. That is, giving over extra energy, time, blood, sweat, and tears to something that’s outside of your zone of genius.
This isn’t an advertisement for coaching, necessarily (well, maybe it is). I felt inclined to share because it has helped me, and my clients, tremendously. As my good friend and colleague Ilene Rosenthal always says, “It’s hard to see the label when you’re inside the jar.”
[Make sure to give the podcast episode a listen to get my full story and how I help nonprofits scale their general operating revenue!]
Now . . . What About You?
If you think your nonprofit could benefit from an outside perspective, I’m happy to have a conversation about your goals. In the meantime, here are some resources that might be of help.
Whenever you’re ready, here are THREE things you can do next:
👣 Follow me on LinkedIn where I share the same lessons I teach my clients about attracting larger gen-ops dollars so they can scale.
🍎 Read my GUIDE! THE TRUTH ABOUT GIVE/GETS :: Top 5 Reasons Your Board’s Give/Get Is Leaving Thousands (Sometimes Millions) on the Table. See how limiting board members to the Give/Get model keeps your staff from reaching their full fundraising potential. Here to get it.
📈 Work with me to fund your organization’s Strategic Plan and scale your budget by 2 - 5X // If you’re a business-minded CEO already raising MILLIONS but still need more general-operating revenue to invest in growth, you can apply to work with me here.
