Nonprofit New Year’s Resolutions

By Kevin Bailey, CEO

I love the end of the year and the start of a new one. My social media timelines are full of: ‘Best of 2022’ lists that have me reflecting on what I might do or change as we enter into 2023.  ​

I also confess, that I’m a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions (just don’t ask me what my success rate is!). So, as we enter 2023, I thought: what could some nonprofit sector New Year’s Resolutions look like for organizations around our state? In my opinion, these seven are great to strive for this year and beyond. 

1. Share with your donors and funders how inflation and wage pressures are affecting your organization and ASK them if they would consider upping their contributions.  

A national partner of ours recently informally surveyed several foundations and found that granting officers WANT to hear about real circumstances on the ground, even if it’s difficult news. There’s no guarantee that funders can increase their giving, but we won’t know unless we ASK. 
 
2. Create a policy/advocacy committee on your board.  

According to our State of the Sector report, donors are more likely to give to nonprofits with a solid cause or issue the donor cares about. How can you align your work as part of a larger cause that will change the future of your community?  
 
Advocacy at its most basic level is: how can I educate my community and stakeholders on issues that are important to the success of my nonprofit’s mission? And if you’d like a thought partner or help with developing an advocacy structure on your board, reach out to our Help Center and we can chat! 

3. Give some serious thought to what you need to thrive as a leader and as a team.   ​

One of the biggest takeaways I’ve learned as CEO of the Center is that nonprofits thrive when their leaders are thriving (and by extension their team). This may sound like common sense, but burnout is one of the top reasons our sector faces in losing talented leaders at all levels of an organization.  

This concept, and many more, is illustrated in The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this book is the most impactful book I read last year. 

4. 2023 is a great time to renew (or start) a strategic plan.  

We had such a meaningful and successful strategic planning process at the end of 2021. I cannot speak highly enough about the process of creating an organizational roadmap. No matter your nonprofit’s size or mission, it will be worthwhile.   

My caveat: the strategic plan will only be effective if it is treated as a dynamic, living document. It requires you and your leadership team going back to it to update, tweak, and pivot at least quarterly. Otherwise, it’s just an expensive document on the shelf. 

5. Look at your operations to see if there is something that is primed for being outsourced.  

Most nonprofits in Idaho have less than 15 staff members which means you probably don’t have HR, IT, or even finance professionals on your staff. Is there something that you are asking your staff to do that would be more efficiently and effectively handled by a third party professional?  

Send us a note in the Help Center and we’d be glad to help you find a solution, whether it’s a bookkeeper, payroll coordination, or remote IT support. 

6. Spent quality time communicating your 2022 accomplishments and use that as a platform to build future support.  

High-quality, impactful marketing collateral is 110% worth the investment in building long term, engaged support for your organization. Invest in telling your story! 

7. Finally, give yourself permission to ask the big, tough questions in 2023 and aim high.  

Our communities need us to bring the big ideas! Put the spotlight on your steep, overall goals and give them the power of collective voice. Our future as a sector and as a state depends on nonprofits and their leaders achieving great things. 

Together, let’s step out, be bold, and show Idaho that in 2023 and beyond, Idaho runs on nonprofits. ​