If I were to ask you what you are looking forward to for your nonprofit in 2024, I hope you’d have several exciting things to share. Opportunities, events, new ventures, or the continuation of ongoing projects there’s a wealth of work ahead that you’re enthusiastic about tackling!
As we all know, this vital work doesn’t just happen. It requires deliberate consideration, strategic planning, and the collaborative efforts of many dedicated individuals.
The success of tomorrow is built upon the foundation laid today.
To plan and prepare for a successful year in your nonprofit starts with gaining a clear understanding of where you are right NOW. In fact, before you even begin to plan for the next year, I would urge you to thoroughly assess the current state of your organization.
Let’s take stock!
As you reflect on the work of your nonprofit, here are some guiding questions to get you started:
GENERAL:
- What went well this year?
- What were your greatest successes? What factors contributed to that success?
- What did not go as well this year? What factors contributed to these setbacks?
- What goals/areas of growth would you like to focus on in the coming year?
INTERNAL ORGANIZATION:
- Are all important roles/responsibilities appropriately filled?
- Are all team members equipped to perform tasks of their job?
- How regular and effective is communication between team members?
FUNDERS/PARTNER RELATIONS:
- Do your outcomes for this year align with the goals and commitments to funders/grantors and donors?
- How well did you communicate with your funders/program partners?
- Are there opportunities for involving program partners more strategically in your work?
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS:
- What are you currently doing to share the work of your organization regularly?
- What platforms are you using to communicate with stakeholders and community members? (i.e. social media, email, video, etc.) Is that where they go to get information?
- What creative assets do you have at your disposal? (i.e. photos, videos, interviews, etc.)
Alright, now that we’ve outlined what kind of information you’ll want to gather and evaluate, the question becomes, “WHERE do we get this data?”
Three simple words: ASK YOUR PEOPLE.
The men and women you work with day in and day out, have the most valuable insights to offer! This includes your team members, program partners, funders, and especially the clientele your nonprofit serves.
Don’t forget to ask.
This information can be gathered in a few different ways, including:
- A Google Form. Send a link to each team member letting them know what you’re trying to learn and how you will use the information. They are an important part of your success. (TIP: You can use the questions listed above to create your survey.)
- Small group learning session in which you unpack some (or all) of these questions. (TIP: Learning means listening and capturing feedback. Watch out for the tendency to explain “why” something did or didn’t work.)
- One-on-one interviews with team members or stakeholders. You can involve team members in this process.
If you’d like help gathering or synthesizing your nonprofit data, The SandBoxx team can help!
We are ready to come alongside you throughout the data collection, evaluation, and planning process.
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
