21 Things You Must Do To Stay Competitive In The 21st Century

We have seen in the previous article "It is a Dog Eat10. Redo your website to reflect your comfort with
Dog Nonprofit World" that the romantic and idealizedtechnology.
notion that many of us carry around that the nonprofit11. Hold regular meetings with your community to get
world is a better place to be, may be flawed. Insteadtheir observations about how you are doing, and their
of cooperation, we encounter competition; instead ofsuggestions about what other things you could do.
collaboration we encounter self-will; and instead of12. Use technology to network. Join online social
dedication to mission, we find adoption of cut-throatnetworks like LinkedIn and Care2.
business practices.13. Play fair with your competition, and be direct with
There are, however, many ways that a nonprofit canthem when you think they have not played fair with
thrive in this environment. It means acknowledging thatyou.
the resources of philanthropy are a finite amount of14. Position your organization to develop and promote
money. It entails a commitment to recognizeyour brand.
opportunities and develop strategies for turning them15. Develop a short term and a long term strategic plan
into successful projects.that includes a chapter on how you are going to
Here is a checklist of stratagems to consider.survive in this new highly competitive environment for
1. Fundraise twelve months a year, not just innonprofits.
November and December.16. Consider partnering with companies in the
2. Sponsor fundraisers that can be repeated yearcommercial sector for your mutual benefit.
after year, and which people look forward to.17. Re-evaluate how you look at activities which might
3. Disarm your competition by joining with them in jointbe considered unrelated to your specific mission.
ventures where you all benefit by creating a better18. Update your accounting program to allow you to
overall charitable climate.monitor projects, programs, employees, and growth.
4. Start using some proven techniques from the19. Associate your organization with good outside
commercial sector to attract and retain talentedtalent, including accounting and legal.
personnel.20. Be alert to situations which would warrant the
5. Become actively involved in your professionalissuing of a public service announcement for free
associations, whether they are fundraising associations,inclusion in newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and
or "trade" associations.TV.
6. Be the leader in initiating a collaborative meeting of21. Become known as a good citizen by sponsoring
the nonprofits in your market area. Host the firstopen meetings, adopting a section of road, or providing
meeting at your offices, and get commitments fromfree services in the schools.
the attendees to attend regular conferences in theAccording to the Urban Institute, the ranks of
future. Better the devil you know.registered nonprofits have swelled from 1.2 million to 1.4
7. Join fundraising programs that give your organizationmillion, up 17 percent in the last five years. Some of
a unique offering, and provide a needed service tothose new nonprofits have your organization in their
your constituency.sites. Additionally, with the diminution of funding from
8. Try thinking more as if you were in the commercialthe Federal Government, nonprofits have to scramble
sector competing for people, money, sales, recognition,just to stay even. Some may do so at your expense.
and providing superior customer service.That makes it urgent that you look at yourself as
9. Upgrade your office equipment to provide theexisting in a competitive world, and that you make
efficiencies that will allow you to save money byplans to address it.
making everybody's job easier.