Are you a trend setter or a follower? 

Do you follow individual trends or institutional trends?

Are you a conformist or nonconformist? 

Do you follow the norm or create the norm?

Do you question authority or comply with authority?

One should not always blindly follow trends, whether they are set by individuals or institutions. Integrate trends into your mission when it best suits the health of the organization.  However, it is not always clear if a change is a trend or a shift in thinking that is permanent.  Time will be the ultimate measure to whether something is a trend or permanent change.

Effective communication to an individual will ultimately provide the means of successfully raising support for the nonprofit.

Face to face while labor intensive is the best approach for increasing current individual supporters to become major donors.  Remember that ten percent of the individual donors give up to 80 percent of the money.  This is the area that Management and the Board should being spending their time when dealing with fund raising directly.

There are four basic means for the individuals to make a donation and make a difference for the nonprofit.

1. Give Cash
2. Donate items for an auction or donate items on nonprofit need list
3. Provide in-kind support such as pro bono work or cover costs of an event or initiative.
4. Be a volunteer or provide employees to volunteer

Remember when an individual says NO it may really mean maybe or later.   You at least got to talk to the person.  That is a good beginning.

Invite the individual to tour the programs and see the impact of the nonprofit.  In a face to face do not overwhelm the Individual with people.  It is best to consider only bringing one other person.

Building relationships is not about treating everyone the same.  It is about sustaining nurtured friends and creating a sense of community.

TV and the Web have become the natural leader, role model and gospel of truth for most people.  Yes, that’s right electronic machines are what people depend upon for setting their beliefs, priorities and actions.  The initial reaction to any information is that every thing is true.  The problem is that if a statement or action is not true, the harm is already done.   Today, information flow is immediate and so is the reaction.  Leaders of nonprofits have to understand how to use these channels of communication to maximize its impact, promote and protect its message.  There may be a time where leadership may have to be sacrificed to save the nonprofit organization even when it is not fair. 

A Man Said to the Universe

A man said to the universe:

“Sir, I exist!”

“However,” replied the universe,

“The fact has not created in me

A sense of obligation.”

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)

A nonprofit or non governmental organization is only as strong as its leadership. A nonprofit organization’s quality is only as good as its employees. When recruiting from the for-profit sector remember its not the compensation that should be the first draw to your organization but the organization’s mission and vision. The attitudes and expectations set by the leadership ultimately set the tone of accountability of any organization, including government. The type of incorporation does not create leaders. Recently the election process would seem to have recognized everyone. True leaders will continue to recognize those they serve even after they get the job.

Does a company’s type of incorporation define whether it should do no harm?

Should the goals of a company be for the greater good of the public?

Should the goals of a company be for the greater good of the community?

Should the goals of a company be for the greater good of the world?

The success of any organization requires that it be responsible to its financial well being as well as is mission. The merging of non-profit and for-profit ideas and best practices can bring social responsibility and social media to the forefront.

Does your nonprofit board or leadership feel tired and frustrated? Have you found the government has grown tired of supporting your efforts. Does your organization feel it has strength to continue to carry the burden of government shortages, failures or inaction? For a nonprofit to carry its mission it is important for the organization to be clear and consistent in its mission?

It is OK for a nonprofit to be revolution in its ideas on how to accomplish its mission, its goals and objectives. In promoting change and a message remember that symbols can have a different meaning to individuals than you intended. When symbols carry too much of a distraction, it is best to adjust.

Whether it is youth, children, environment, elderly, arts, families, animals, education or any other focus; the outcome will measure whether the means was worth it. Leading in a different direction than those who lead before you does not mean that your a radical leader. Not accepting past practices as the only way to accomplish the organizations goals does not mean that your nonprofit organization is wrong. Being the first nonprofit to accept a new practice or state a new means to accomplish a goal does not mean your organization is advocating throwing out all past practices. It is OK to take risks. It is OK to be first. Invention and evolution comes with revolutionary ideas. An individual or nonprofit organization should expect to become a leader whom will be able to stand the time when their country or community or a group needs that extra effort to hold them together during a time of change. Asking for help is not admitting defeat. It takes a wise leader to know when to ask for help. One great example is the The Mozilla Foundation which can be found at mozilla.org. You might have heard of Mozilla Firefox, the open source browser.

As individuals or organizations seek to reach their ultimate goals there are constant barriers and obstacles placed on them before they can achieve their goals.  The overcoming of these barriers and obstacles requires strategically planning where to place the time, effort, will and money to secure the release of those circumstances that have handcuffed ones achievement of their goals.  Government in passing regulations does not  conduct a due diligence to see if it conflicts with another regulation.  Government does not pass laws to be clear and concise.  Religion is very much like government in that it too has conflicting rules and interpretations. 

• The USA wants immigration but needs to scapegoat someone for problems.
• The USA says it does not discriminate but there is not enough of the pie for everyone to share.
• Nonprofits say they are helping where government does not but depend on government to fund many of their programs. 
• Soldiers serve the USA regardless of the conflict and fight for the benefits they were promised. 

Success is more likely to occur when an individual or nonprofit places its faith in their beliefs, vision and actions.  Success is more likely to open the gate to greener pastures and unshackle your efforts when the individual or nonprofit has a thought out plan. 

By wrapping oneself under the rules of the Constitution which come with the American flag there is almost no goal that is not achievable.  It is people who create obstacles.  It is leaders whom willingly and knowingly challenge the barriers and obstacles for the betterment of all that make change. 

Are many of us prevented from truly helping a child because society has stuck children in societies bubble. Has parental rights and government policy shackled children to a life of methodical control where they have no rights. Time after time we read and hear of actions that seem more based on property rights or the dollar then whats best for a child.

To unshackled children from the restricted boundaries of society and increase opportunities for maximizing children to succeed I would advocate giving children a true voice. Set into regulation where parental rights are terminated the automatic appointment of a court appointed advocate for child under 13. Those 13 and above should be part of a Service Team and be given the opportunity to be part of the planning and decision making of their treatment plan.

There should be a child advocate who ’s only responsibility is what is in the best interest of the child.

There has been lots of talk during 2008 of a movement towards people being more socially responsible. However, is it more talk then action when view among the whole population. Part of the lack of social responsibility is the ease to which a person can participate. The ways that the media controls what information reaches a person places smaller organizations at a disadvantage.  The media market is about who  pays more.  The same happens with Google searches.  By nature most people want convenience, this includes obtaining information.  Nonprofits should take the initiative to send their message to their community on how people can easily participate. Do not leave it to the Ad Hoc Media to brand your message or get the word out.  Giving back does not have to only be in money. Let people see how they can participate. Let people hear how they can participate. State how a persons participation will create a difference.

Ignoring ones community only creates opportunities for negative results. Remember the media loves to report the bad and rarely the good. Generation Next is reaching out looking for a means to be socially responsiblity but needs motivation. The presidential race has provided many with an outlet. The media has been flirting with whether it is a fad or long term.  It is time for nonprofits to formalize their outreach to youth and young adults. Banks invest in reaching these individuals because the statistics show they are more likely to be with them for life and buy more products later. Colleges constantly reach out to their Alumni and the results show why. A nonprofit needs to invest in building their future donors and keeping those whom have been associated with the nonprofit in the past a part of the organization.

Remember this phrase:  “Out of sight, out of mind”

How does your brand effect your nonprofits’s ability to reach Donors? What level of trust has your organization created for the donor? How well known is your brand in the community you serve? When branding include the logo and motto of your organization.