Nonprofits Need to Embrace Innovation

Innovation… it’s a word that generally brings to mind a for-profit corporation such as Apple or FaceBook, not so much a nonprofit organization. But innovation is essential to the success of a nonprofit: creative solutions for challenging problems, timely response to new opportunities and changing community need, creative partnerships, and the urgent need to improve business systems and reduce operating costs. Innovation needs the right Petri dish in which to cultivate; in other words, the right culture and leadership. Elements that create the best climate for innovation include:

• an openness to change by the board of directors and management team and all the messiness that comes with managing change,


• a diversity of thought and perspectives,


• a forum that encourages / invites creative ideas from every corner of the nonprofit (including the front line team, clients and volunteers),


• a willingness to take a calculated risk and fail at times,


• a comfort with involving all constituents and actively communicating with them about challenges and changes, and


• a shift from dependence on strategic planning to strategic thinking. What tools can help you?


• Build a diverse board and continually bring on new board members.


• Establish a consent agenda and move past agendas that focus on reporting on past performance and focus on the future.


• Pursue ongoing professional development for the board and leadership team including team building activities.


• Establish ground rules at planning sessions and new planning approaches that encourage looking at challenges and opportunities in new ways; and encourage breakthrough thinking.


• Use business plans to evaluate new opportunities and ventures and mitigate the risk.


• Understand the complexities of managing change and become very proficient at change management (including the engagement of constituents). You’ll find some great articles, tools and templates for business planning, board/leadership development, strategic thinking and consent agendas in the NorthSky Online Resource Center at http://www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org/resource.php

Navigating a fleet of projects

The bay is starting to look blue (and almost tempting) and I can envision the day (maybe just weeks away) when boats begin to dot the horizon again. As I navigate through my typical work week, it does feel like I have my own private fleet of projects that I'm sailing through an ocean to a final destination. My regatta is made up of various sizes, shapes, and crews but all with one hope: a successful landing with an intact cargo and satisfied passengers.

So is the life of a professional project manager. Constantly planning, launching and bringing in a project. (Hopefully, on budget, on time and meeting the team's expectations.) It's hard to predict the conditions we'll encounter. Sometimes it's smooth sailing the entire way; other projects are not so lucky and are battered by storms and change.

Successful project management is partially a mindset and approach-- knowing how to pull together the specific steps and "to dos" and then walking through a systematic process for each individual step.

It's also an understanding of the tools that are available to help you manage the project. Tools such as flowcharts, worksheets, gantt charts, online meeting scheduling, and document sharing sites. The range of options is impressive and often overwhelming.

The final ingredient is style; understanding the nuances of team facilitation and how to engage, motivate and move a diverse group in a progressive fashion to achieve a shared vision.

Over the next month, we are offering several professional development resources focused on project management. If you missed Robin Grinnell's project management and facilitation sessions on March 17, 2011, you'll find her materials in the NorthSky Resource Center at www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org/resource.php Andy Wolber will be back on April 14 with another technology webinar: Managing Projects with People Beyond Your Walls. Sign up at: www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org.

You'll also find business planning templates in our resource center. Feel free to share any other resources that you've found useful. Happy sailing!

Ah, the world of databases....

Can't live with them, can't live without them. But we all know that our ability to effectively manage the constellation of constituents: clients, donors, volunteers, and staff that comprise our nonprofit's universe, is at the mercy of the database we've chosen and our skills in using it.

This month we have the opportunity to learn more about selecting databases and one in particular, Salesforce. Technology consultant, Andy Wolber, will be leading two webinars on March 10 as part of the NorthSky Professional Development series: www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org

Salesforce is a database we have experience with at NorthSky, having launched it here last fall. It's growing in popularity with nonprofits throughout the country; it's very robust, handling an array of organizational needs -- from marketing and sales, to project management and evaluation. While we don't engage in fundraising here, its fundraising capabilities also appear strong. We've only begun to dig into all of its capabilities but we are excited about the possibilities of having an integrated technology approach that links our website, email marketing and evaluation system together. We'll be launching our new website this Spring so watch for that.

Join us on March 10 to learn more about databases including Salesforce. Anyone else using Salesforce? Anything to share?

It's Always a Good Day When My Technology Works

If I can just successfully log in to my email, catch a cell signal, and launch that web meeting connection, I feel pretty powerful. A true technology master ... and I've barely begun my day.

How did we ever become so dependent on technology? Well, I'm certainly a few steps behind many people, perhaps a little ahead of some. I'm forced through my work at NorthSky to use tools I'd probably never try and to actually lead (good grief) some aspects of our technology development. I've struggled to learn many things that I've felt hopeless to master only to have that energetic rush that occurs from a successful download or set up.

Everyday, I find something new to help me in my work-- some little technology tool or trick. An invaluable resource in my education has been technology expert Andy Wolber who will be launching his 2011 NorthSky technology webinars this month. These are great sessions starting with an "Introduction to Google Aps for Nonprofits" on Feb 10. Check out the schedule at our website: www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org.

Here's hoping you have a good technology day with lightning speed connections and no computer crashes!

A Mouse is Living in My Car

Yes, you read that correctly. A mouse has taken up residence in my glove compartment. I became suspicious after finding shredded Kleenex and napkins lodged there. And although there is no other evidence in the car- nothing running around my feet or nibbling on my lunch- I'm pretty convinced I've had a roommate traveling with me.

So, here's how I picture it. The car is parked outside our home which is located in an isolated wooded area in northern Michigan. The cat, who is queen of everything outside, chased the mouse under the car. In a desperate survival move, the mouse darted up and into my dashboard and voila-- located a perfect, cozy little hideout.

Continuing the story, my mouse becomes an unwitting traveling companion as I hop in and head off, traveling around northern Michigan. In search of food, the mouse ventures out of the car at one of my stops, perhaps at a nonprofit organization in Charlevoix or Suttons Bay, and is left behind; many miles from my home (and his) in Manistee County. He has no clue how he got there or how to get back.

So, why does the mouse in my car remind me of a nonprofit organization? Well, how often have we bolted into a seemingly safe haven in a desperate survival move? Perhaps, agreed to a partnership or funding requirement that truly took us to places we hadn't anticipated or weren't prepared for. Or developed a poorly conceived strategic plan that is more wishful thinking then decisive strategy. How often have we had no clue how to retrace our steps or get back home?

What's the lesson? These are desperate times for many nonprofits. Before dodging into what appears to be a safe haven, it's essential to do your due diligence. Evaluate and plan for that partnership. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of that innovative revenue opportunity. Don't jump into that moving car without a GPS and road map.

You'll find partnership and grant opportunity evaluation tools, as well as business planning and strategic planning tools in the NorthSky Online Resource Center at: www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org

Make sure the next journey you take as a nonprofit is one you planned.

Stand-out Year End Appeals are Harder than Ever

The fall is rapidly fading into early winter and we're making plans for the holidays, kicking us into the high season of fundraising. The economy is still sluggish (and in serious decline in many areas), placing the success of our fundraising activities at risk. Many nonprofits generate more than 50% of their fundraising revenue in the last quarter of the year. What to do? Now, more than ever, it's essential that we adhere to pristine fundraising methods and don't forget the basics.

Those year-end appeals must make a compelling case for support and demonstrate to prospective donors that your organization is professional and worthy of support. And they must accomplish all of this in one page or less. That means a glance at your letter must pull the reader in with a "hook" and hold the reader with an attractive, easy-to-read layout. Your hook might be an invocative first sentence, a quote, or client success story. Don't forget the basics: perfect spelling, grammar, an easy-to-use response card, and accurate mailing list. These elements are far more important than a slick or clever design. To seal the deal, include a signature or note from someone the reader knows-- a board member or volunteer is ideal.

You'll find some great suggestions for conducting a successful direct mail campaign at the Capital Ventures website.
http://www.cvfundraising.com/resources/tip_sheets/direct_mail
http://www.cvfundraising.com/resources/tip_sheets/direct_mail_2

Or join us at the November 18 NorthSky Break for Lunch session, "Developing a Compelling Case Statement," with fundraising expert, Lyn Jenks. You'll find the details at www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org

Can we learn anything from political campaigns?

It's election season and once again we're being bombarded by phone calls, mailings, radio and television ads; all focused on capturing our attention and influencing our vote. With every candidate driving to be successful on November 2. It triggers the question, doesn't it? How do we launch a successful campaign for our own cause or nonprofit organization? How do we borrow the best from political strategists and effectively use their techniques to advance our mission and forward our cause?

Andy Knott, executive director for The Watershed Center, led a great professional development session at NorthSky last week on Grassroots Advocacy. Some tips he shared:

• Build your advocacy network by identifying and recruiting individuals who support your cause and share your passion. How do you find these folks? By going public with your cause --perhaps through an education session, event of some sort, or media story.
• Carefully craft your message and train the members of your network to deliver it. Don't assume that they can convey your message effectively: arm them with materials and train them to deliver the message.
• Communicate with and build relationships with politicians and opinion leaders. Use letter writing campaigns, phone calls and meetings to get to know one another.
• Build coalitions with other organizations who share your mission and support for the cause. List and publicize your coalition partners to gain support from other individuals and organizations.
• Meet with officials at the local, state and federal level. Remember: you'll have more impact if other coalition members and constituents participate. And, develop a print piece that you can leave behind.

Successful grassroots advocacy depends on relationship building and using others to deliver your message over and over again. You need to become an exquisite communicator with the ability to infect others with your passion. It takes time and energy.

Other suggestions to share?