Next Year Never Comes For Nonprofits

Why do what needs to be done now when you can just do it next year?

Next year we will be able to raise more money. Next year we will be able to put that in the budget. Next year we will start an annual fund. Next year we will build better relationships with our major gift donors. Next year we will hire the fundraiser that we need.

Any of that sound familiar?

As I talk with hundreds of non-profits a month, I hear often that next year we will be able to obtain the resources we truly need to raiser more money, better fulfill our mission, and provide a much more efficient foundation for success going forward. I talked to a group the other day that they are finally going to make the commitment to strengthen donor relationships with a Donor CRM database by putting the expense in the 2016 budget…..

In my experience, next year never comes. Paralyzed but indecision and lack of understand of true return of investment and cost justification, many nonprofits are unable or unwilling to create success by making good decisions now that will truly invest in their success in the coming months.

A questions I enjoy asking is this, ‘where do you envision your non-profit being one year from right now?’ Do you envision:

1. Raising more money?

The old adage is true: it takes money to make money. In the non-profit world, many times investment in tools that allow you and your staff to be more efficient, better communicate with donors, strengthen relationships, and leverage technology takes an investment with the understand that a year from now the cost can easily be justified.

2. Retaining more donors?

You must have a tool that will help analyze and interpret your data to putter retain donors. Using Excel to record a gift and send a year end thank you note will not be helpful in truly seeing incredible success in your retaining of donors (increases of thousands of dollars is possible!). But, hey, Excel is not costing us anything so we will make the decision to buy retention focused fundraising database software next year.

3. Strengthening relationships with your major gift donors and prospects?

Tools to help you determine WHO are your major gift donors are and the POTENTIAL they have to give are essential to any major gift program. Finding or approaching two or three prospects who can give or will increase their gift will easily pay for this investment and bring in more dollars for your mission…but, we will start doing that next year.

4. Improving your own company culture?

Investment in tools that will help ensure success next year improves your non-profits internal culture! Keeps your employee retention high! Attracts the high energy successful fundraisers! Creates a culture that is innovative and brings fresh prospective. ‘Putting it in next year’s budget’ will mean more of your current employees resumes will be updated…

P.S.: Board members need to understand this as well!

I usually love working with boards because most are filled with successful business people who understand that many of the same principles they used to create a successful profit business are the same principles for a non-profit venture!

Next year never comes…..will you be putting in the needed innovative resources in next years budget or take the steps now to reap the success of your decision NOW!

[Photo Credit: Anthony Quintano]

Next Year Never Comes For Nonprofits