You want to impact the world and be sure every dollar you spend helps accomplish your mission—that’s understandable. But sometimes the best way to change the world is to invest right back into your organization.
There is a difference between operating as a frugal nonprofit and operating as a cheap one. A frugal organization is willing to spend on overhead that increases their bottom line in the future and makes their work more efficient. A cheap one will avoid costs for the sake of appearing fiscally prudent.
The key to investing wisely in your organization is to consider how you can make significant parts of your organization more efficient and effective. Many nonprofits try to do too much and spread limited resources around on too many things. Or they view something as a “cost” when really it’s an “investment” and there is significant ROI that could be realized. It’s important to understand the difference.
Here are five areas worth your investment.
1. People
This is your nonprofit’s biggest and most important asset. The employees, board members and volunteers that make up your organization should always be a first priority in your organization when it comes to spending money.
2. Education and Self-Development
Go to an AFP conference. Purchase online training for your staff. Train your board in fundraising and outreach. Buy books to create an office library. Invest in things that lead to a more educated, well-developed team.
3. A Blog
This is likely a bigger investment of time than money (unless you want to hire writers), but it’s truly one that will help your nonprofit in the long term. It may take you significant effort to launch it and get it rolling, even for the first few months. But after awhile, you will see the benefits, which can include everything from an SEO boost to positioning yourself as a thought leader in your field.
For the other two tips, check out Firespring.org for the full article >>
