Sustaining a nonprofit: The keys to nonprofit sustainability

Sustainability in the context of the three pillars; economic, environmental, and social approaches focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In the nonprofit space, sustainability focuses on strategic planning, financial sustainability, succession planning, structure, and adaptability. In the last article “Strategic Planning: Transforming Your Nonprofit Vision into Reality” we emphasized the importance of strategic planning in turning an organization’s vision into reality. In this article, we will be giving an overview of the concept of nonprofit sustainability.

Nonprofit organizations or otherwise known as third sector organizations are operating in a turbulent season where building sustainable organizations have become a critical need, as a result of this, more nonprofit organizations are aligning themselves with sustainability efforts which will invariably affect the social economy positively. Looking more deeply at the concept of a sustainable nonprofit, it simply highlights organizations that are able to sustain themselves over the long term.

Read Also: How smaller non-profits can manage their fund raising

Sustainable leadership in any nonprofit organization is built upon these seven principles as stipulated by Hargraves and Fink’s in a (2003) report The Seven Principles of Sustainable Leadership, lists the following for the results/purpose of sustainable leadership:

● Sustainable leadership creates and preserves sustaining learning

● Sustainable leadership secures success over time

● Sustainable leadership sustains the leadership of others

● Sustainable leadership addresses issues of social justice

● Sustainable leadership develops rather than depletes human and material resources

● Sustainable leadership develops environmental diversity and capacity

● Sustainable leadership undertakes activist engagement with the environment.

Sustainable leadership in the nonprofit context is built upon the aforementioned principle; in addition, there is a need for result-oriented approaches and flexibility in response to possible changing conditions. It is important to note that the concept of strategic planning plays an important role in the context of nonprofit sustainability.

One question that lurks in the mind of nonprofit managers is how they can create an effective sustainability strategy that is suitable for their nonprofit; well here are a few

1. Leadership Values Equate to Culture- The most important step to note in creating a sustainable nonprofit is that your organizational values serve as a criterion for making decisions and generally the day-to-day running of the organization. Setting the right value system is integral to nonprofit sustainability, the values, norms, and beliefs of the leader will, in turn, set the tone for the organization’s sustainability. In order to build a strong organizational value, the system is integral to nonprofit growth.

2. Community Resource Mapping- This is another important key to nonprofit sustainability, community resource mapping is a process by which data is collected in order to create a map of community assets and resources, such as people, physical structures, organizations, and institutions, within a defined area, and it can be utilized to create a meaningful service project. As a nonprofit leader, having knowledge of businesses and organizations that are delivering the same interventions as yours is detrimental to the sustainability of your organization as it keeps you informed on new developments and how you can measure up in that sector.

3. VMOSA (Vision, Mission, Objectives, and Action Plans)- VMOSA is a practical planning process utilized to help community groups define a vision and develop practical ways to enact change within the community; in essence creating an organizational culture. This planning process helps organizations recognize short-term plans while working towards achieving long-term goals. The vision statement outlines the goals and aspirations that give purpose to the existence of an organization. The mission statement answers the question of ‘how an organization is able to achieve a set goal. Objectives look at measurable outcomes that a nonprofit wants to achieve. Strategies and action plans are guidelines to help the process put in place by the vision, mission, and objectives.

4. Organizational Alignment- This is the fourth key to nonprofit sustainability, probably one of the most important as it focuses on the human factor, hiring the right people, and having the right board members who believe in your vision, mission and the strategic plan of the organization is pivotal to nonprofit sustainability. Organizational alignment is an ongoing process of building cohesion and connections which strengthen the organizational culture. The sustainability of your nonprofit is dependent on the commitment of your workforce to the growth of the organization.

5. Donors Retention- This stage focuses on mastering the art of retaining your donors. Knowing the donor(s) and how donations are allocated assists greatly in creating and implementing a fundraising plan, both are vital to the sustainability of nonprofit organizations.

6. Web Presence- To ensure nonprofit sustainability, there’s a great need to constantly communicate the work your nonprofit is up to as well as stay visible, this will also position your nonprofit to attract support from donors.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that strategic planning invariably supports sustainability and serves as bedrock to the growth and development of any organisation.