Are you considering starting a nonprofit organization? While this can be a very rewarding endeavor, experience in the business world doesn’t necessarily prepare you for these issues.
Understanding this sector’s potential trials and tribulations will prepare you for your own Non-Profit Organizations journey. So before you get started,
Take a look at these top 5 challenges for Non-Profit Organizations;
1. Attracting Qualified Staff (Paid & Unpaid)
NPOs badly need the services of people with degrees in psychology and social work. Sadly, it can be hard to entice such graduates to work there. But while nonprofit organizations don’t necessarily offer the best-paying MSW jobs, these posts are rewarding in other ways.
The sense of personal accomplishment and of helping to meet society’s needs can be just as enriching as a great remuneration package. Despite this, attracting staff (whether paid or unpaid) is one of the biggest challenges an Non-Profit Organizations can face.
Learning how to attract top talent can be as useful to an Non-Profit Organizations as any business. While this challenge is not easily fixed, it will be a lot less daunting with the services of a PR consultant. And don’t overlook the role that social media job boards can play in finding the staff you need.
2. Performance Pressures
The corporate world is not the only results-driven environment. It may be easy to rally the public behind your cause on National Nonprofit Day, but how do you fare the rest of the year? The pressure to perform is just as real in a nonprofit organization as in a for-profit one.
This affects an NPO’s ability to consistently raise funds, as well as its reputation in the community. And unless they are in a very specialized niche, most Non-Profit Organizations causes have stiff competition. This makes the pressure from donors and other vested interests to succeed, even more crucial.
Develop a broader view of the situation. Chances are, you’ll be one of many organizations raising awareness and funds for a particular cause. Ditching the competitive spirit, and partnering with like-minded organizations, maybe the key to addressing this particular challenge.
3. Meeting Societal Demands
Not only is there tremendous pressure to perform, but also the drive to meet societal demands. Non-Profit Organizations leaders often feel frustrated that they aren’t coping with meeting the needs of their community. This is more about the pressure they put on themselves than outside pressures.
There will always be some form of injustice, or some need in society, that you’ll want to do something about. And while this can provide great motivation to raise awareness, it can also lead to severe stress and eventual burnout.
Meet this challenge head-on. Speak to a time-management consultant or a life coach about ways to deal with self-imposed stress. This will benefit both you and your Non-Profit Organizations as a whole, in the long term. Being realistic about your goals, and not tackling more than one campaign at a time, will bring better results.
4. Raising Funds
When trying to attract corporate sponsorships, you can convince companies that it will boost their public image. But, it can be harder to convince an average individual to part with their hard-earned cash, let alone a corporation.
Fundraising is vital to the success of any NPO. Whether you’re working to address animal protection, children’s welfare, or environmental causes, you’ll need money to make a difference. And no matter if you rely on private donations, corporate sponsorships, or government grants, it takes a lot of work to organize.
This is where someone with experience and expertise in fundraising or finances, in general, is helpful. The challenge of raising adequate funds for an Non-Profit Organizations is an ongoing one. So make the necessary investment in learning how to do this.
5. Lack Of Business Savvy
Although a nonprofit organization is not profit-driven like other organizations, it still needs business-savvy people at the helm. Because, like all businesses, it has to attract top talent, process lots of data, and keep financial records. But many Non-Profit Organizations’s lack this business know-how.
Even though they may be exempt from paying income taxes, Non-Profit Organizations still have to file tax returns. So if you are serious about making your nonprofit organization a success, consider enlisting the services of a qualified accountant to help with the financial and bookkeeping tasks.
This does not necessarily have to be a paid position. Big accounting firms may be willing to help in this way for the publicity you can offer them. And new professionals starting their careers may appreciate the boost, too.
