Observations Amidst Uncertainty
This post is part of our “Nonprofit Strategy Now” series: reflections on nonprofit strategy development in 2020 by Jenny Kramm, Collectivity Senior Consultant, see original post here
What do we know to be true?
The groundswell of uncertainty enveloping us can be paralyzing. Naming (the few things) that we’re certain of can be a strategy for grounding yourself before entering into a strategy discussion where there is a significant amount of uncertainty. For example, at a personal level, naming what I know to be true for me personally has helped guide and shape what uncertainty I care to tackle.
// We are all connected // Life has inherent value // Change is inevitable //
Start by naming what you know to be true for your nonprofit’s mission and community.
What is essential about our mission today?
We’ve seen some of our nonprofit clients that were thriving and growing before the pandemic be facing incredibly difficult decisions to reduce staffing as a result of lost revenue. We’ve seen clients that were struggling to find financial resources for their work before the pandemic suddenly have an influx of individual donations given that the nature of the services and programs they provide resonate with the emergency response needed today. These significant changes and challenges offer up an opportunity to view your organization’s mission in a new way. To really ask what is essential about your work.
Responses to the pandemic have surfaced the word ‘essential’ often. Essential businesses. Essential services.
If you were to boil down the essence of your mission, strip everything away to the core of your work, what is left?
What is truly at the core of what your nonprofit brings to the world?
Framed another way: if your organization was represented in the form of a building, and it was burning down, what are the one or two things you’d run inside to save because it was too important to lose?
That core essence is the foundation on which you can re-frame, re-build and view your current programs, services and activities.
Is this a discussion you’d like to explore with Collectivity’s help?
We facilitate board, staff, and smaller group strategic discussion virtually and in person. Contact us to get the conversation started.
