21 Things You Must Do To Stay Competitive In The

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

We have seen in the previous article It is a Dog Eat Dog Nonprofit World that the romantic and idealized notion that many of us carry around that the nonprofit world is a better place to be, may be flawed. Instead of cooperation, we encounter competition; instead of collaboration we encounter self-will; and instead of dedication to mission, we find adoption of cut-throat business practices.

There are, however, many ways that a nonprofit can thrive in this environment. It means acknowledging that the resources of philanthropy are a finite amount of money. It entails a commitment to recognize opportunities and develop strategies for turning them into successful projects.

Here is a checklist of stratagems to consider.

1. Fundraise twelve months a year, not just in November and December.

2. Sponsor fundraisers that can be repeated year after year, and which people look forward to.

3. Disarm your competition by joining with them in joint ventures where you all benefit by creating a better overall charitable climate.

4. Start using some proven techniques from the commercial...