I told someone the other day I was a nonprofit consultant and she literally yelled ‘what?!’ into the phone like I had just invented all of those words.
It's not that I don't have moments of self-doubt, but jeez, Joyce - the incredulousness of your confusion certainly didn't boost my confidence. Before I threw myself headfirst down the 'what am I doing with my life' spiral that I typically save for the hours of 4am to 6am, I took a beat. Maybe people really don't know what a nonprofit consultant does.
To me, it’s a smart solution to a significant problem. You see, all nonprofits – whether big or small, experienced or brand new - all face the same universal struggles on their 501c3 journey. So why not share the skills, experiences, and insights I’ve gained from decades of working in nonprofit to support different groups? Nonprofits get the expertise without having to overhaul their budget for fulltime staffing, and I get to work with awesome people doing incredible things to make the world a better place. One day I'm knee-deep in code, helping build a fancy online course, the next I'm doodling ideas on a napkin with someone who's just discovering the magic of the internet. Some folks have a mailing list with more people than my hometown while others are still figuring out which email platform to use.
But one thing remains the same: the common challenges all nonprofits face, from relationship building and telling their unique story, to fundraising and managing volunteers.
Let's explore them, shall we? And we'll start with the issue I see Every. Dang. Time. The age-old chicken and egg conundrum.
It doesn't matter who I'm working with, this question always comes up early on: Who are we really trying to reach? Are we building a website to attract the volunteers who make our mission possible, or is it more about connecting with the people we're trying to help? Do we focus on finding those folks first, or do we build our volunteer army and then figure out who needs us?
In my experience, success often lies in preparing your team to serve before you have a large group of individuals in need. Here's why: People who are passionate about your cause will remain committed, as long as you provide them with the volunteer essentials: tools, time, and thanks.
Okay, maybe I'm channeling my inner James Earl Jones here (RIP, legend!), but there's some truth to the whole "if you build it, they will come" idea, right? If you keep those volunteers engaged and feeling valued, they'll show up whether you're helping one person or a hundred. The trick is to keep them excited even before they've had a chance to jump in. Share stories from the people you're trying to reach, tell them why this mission matters to you, and celebrate their willingness to be part of it all.
So, what do you all think? I’d love your insight, since I’ve still got Joyce’s shriek rattling in my brain. Do you think it’s better to have an army of volunteers ready to propel your mission before your participants that will be served? Or do you make sure you have a solid group needing support before you tackle the recruitment of volunteers? I’d love to learn from you!
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