NEWS AND INSIGHTS

From the 100-year old charity to the start-up organization, effective nonprofits are constantly reinventing themselves.  Nimble nonprofits continue to live their mission and meet the needs of their target audience even when those needs, other available services and the economy are changing around them.

Masters of reinvention, these leaders infuse their organizations with new ideas and energy.  They take action, but not without taking time for pause and reflection.  In our work with nonprofits we have noticed five things that these adept leaders do to continuously adapt.  Although this list is not a recipe for success, certainly these habits support reinvention that keeps a nonprofit relevant and effective.                                  

Diagnose the problem and create an action plan
Formulaic as it may sound, every organization needs a strategic plan for a clear understanding of the problems it faces and how to solve them.  A dynamic plan is the foundation for action that consistently drives a nonprofit towards its mission.

Beware of blind spots
What are the threats throughout the reinvention process?  Blind spots, or hidden threats, are always easier to see in hindsight, but they can be pre-empted by learning from other organizations’ experiences.  Leaders develop this super-vision by convening regularly with their peers, with funders and stakeholders to listen, ask probing questions and reflect.

Understand the risk and the resistance
What is the risk in change?  Understanding what will be lost often frees a leader to let it go.  Still, having embraced the risk, many organizations bump up against resistance.  This can be internal resistance to change, trouble getting collaborators and partners on board, or resistance from funders.   Assuming there will be resistance, the nonprofit clearly articulates what it offers from all perspectives, for all stakeholders. Reinvention is a process for everyone affected.   

Rally!
Behind every successful reinvention is a champion – often a skillful leader with the power of persuasion.  The call to rally cements key players to the cause, attracting financial and operational support, and multiplying the number of champions.  Change becomes inevitable.   

Bridge to donors
Grantmakers (and everyone else really) respond to well-told stories.   Securing a grant and building support depend on how well the applicant communicates its own compelling tale of growth and impact.  Successful grantees have a keen understanding of how their own goals overlap with those of potential funders, and they skillfully weave their stories together.

At a recent NPO Conversation here at GMA, nonprofit leaders shared tales of challenges and success in bringing about change to achieve their goals.  Despite the uncertainty, frustration and risk, most of these organizations grew stronger through reinvention.

Mo Reed-McNally is a Program Officer at GMA Foundations.  Contact: mreedmcnally@gmafoundations.com