Learn how to make your organization resilient to change with a technology infrastructure you actually understand how to use. Even if you have all the right technology systems in place, they won’t do any good if you don’t know how to use them or if they all operate in silos! Our three amazing guests in Season 4, Episode 2 were Blake Stockard from Kumwe Systems, Alicia Bell from Graceworks Ministries, and Nick Bicknell from Little Green Light.
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HERE IS THIS WEEK'S CHECKLIST:
☑️ Make sure your people aren’t siloed.
The staff working with donors need to understand how the organization’s programs work, and the staff on your program side also need to know how fundraisers interact with donors. Siloed systems lead to miscommunication and inefficiencies between staff, volunteers, board members, and other stakeholders.
☑️ Make sure your technology systems aren’t siloed.
Just like the people in your organization, your technology systems should work together. Your donor management, volunteer management, surveys, email newsletter, and other technology systems should be integrated with one another. This will save you time, money, and stress.
☑️ Instead of trying to predict the future, work on problem solving.
It’s impossible to predict whether a funding source will dissolve, which staff members will need to leave, and other future issues you may face. Instead, focus on building an organization which can solve problems and be adaptable to changes. If your organization can face small, everyday challenges now, you’re more likely to be resilient to huge issues in the future.
☑️ Practice listening and building trust.
The most resilient organizations have systems in place to build relationships and a healthy culture. (Subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss our upcoming episode on a healthy workplace culture!) When your staff feel like you want to hear about their small successes, daily challenges, and current needs, they are more likely to stick around when your organization goes through a rough patch.
☑️ Get to know your new systems right away.
When you invest in any type of system (especially technology systems), you have to recognize that a system won’t do all the work for you; it’s a set of tools that makes your work easier. Make sure you set aside time to figure out how to properly use your systems. For example, watch the intro webinars about your donor management system so you can understand how to tag, filter, and sync up your constituent information.
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Nonprofit Jenni is currently accepting new clients who need consulting or coaching in the areas of Engagement, Communications, and Marketing strategy.
I also cover a wide range of topics related to nonprofit management on my podcast, including board development, program creation, and grant writing.