Marcia's Leadership Q&As: Leading a non-profit?
/
Q. Leading a non-profit, I feel a commitment to both my constituents who we serve, but also my staff who serves them. At the end of the day, there’s little money left to invest in developing my staff. How can I do this on a shoestring budget?
A. There are multiple ways to invest in your staff and your volunteers. Let’s explore some options. Leading your organization does mean investing in your staff, so make it a priority in your annual budget to set aside money to do this. Make it an aim that is essential to operating a healthy organization. Then ask, “By what method/how can we make this happen?” And you probably want to both invest in developing the natural leadership of your staff and their knowledge and skills, and commit to ways to appreciate your staff.
Here are a few ideas: look for Sponsors who can contribute (corporate Community relations departments often look for partners they can support); Your local Community Foundation may supply resources; family foundations look for non-profits to support; state agencies have budgets and deliver funds for development and training; and, Board members and angel investors often contribute to the causes they want to support. Often if you have a concrete plan and need, you can approach an organization or an individual donor and ask them for a contribution for a specific amount for a specific purpose or project.
Also tap in on the ideas of your staff and volunteers. Ask them what they want/need to learn and what resources they believe could be available to them. It may include on-line learning, a facilitated workshop; and an Appreciation & Education Day retreat. You will find that your resources will be varied and abundant. Make your list and your plan to begin approaching the resources who can support you. There are organizations who have the money who want to serve and support others on their journey.
Send your leadership and team questions to Marcia Daszko at md@mdaszko.com. She works with Boards, C-suite leaders and teams to pivot, innovate, accelerate and achieve bold results never before imagined. A provocative keynote & virtual speaker, strategic Deming advisor/consultant for 25+ years, she is the bestselling author of the book “Pivot Disrupt Transform.” www.mdaszko.com
