It took me until July 1, but I'm finally getting my New Year's Resolutions going! For the past month, I’ve remembered to drink three bottles of water, floss nightly, and take a daily stretch break – little things that add up to bigger feelings of accomplishment and wellbeing. In all my past attempts/New Year’s Resolutions/promises to my dentist, I’ve never been as consistent as I am right now, and not for lack of trying. I’ve attempted lists, stickers, pre-made printed habit trackers, and even spreadsheets to try and develop a more consistent habit of sticking to my habits.
So, what’s changed? First, I found a system that worked for me – an app that gamifies the habit-tracking experience with a user interface that appealed to me (no pop-up ads, pleasing colors, clear instructions). Second, I found people in my life who were using the same system so that we can encourage each other's progress. Setting up a reliable system and finding collaborators who use the same structure has made it easier for me to stick to and accomplish my goals.
The same can be said for nonprofit work, especially when it comes to fundraising. We all know what it’s like when you’re using Google Docs but your colleague is using an Excel Spreadsheet to track the same information: miscommunications abound and, like so many of the nonprofit staff surveyed in the State of Nonprofit Teams, you end up spending 47% of your workweek tracking people down, sharing information, and waiting for answers or directions, limiting your organization’s ability to confidently meet its mission.
While developing internal processes often takes a backseat to external mission execution, 33% of nonprofit knowledge workers say that they would better accomplish their work if 'all teams at my organization used the same processes to get work done.' Putting effort into aligned workflows and information-sharing processes can transform an organization's ability to support its team members -- and its community. After attending GiveMN’s fundraising coaching designed to enhance board & staff communication, many small-budgeted organizations shared that having an organization-wide understanding of the fundraising process helped mitigate burnout and strengthen their organization's fundraising capabilities.
These transformations don't happen overnight. As with forming daily habits, when it comes to implementing org-wide work systems, it’s important to start with small, attainable goals. Instead of a complete overhaul of your current structures, identify what’s already working for your organization and start with low-effort lifts that can help everyone get on the same page. Maybe that looks like arranging quarterly check-ins between fundraising staff and board members, having everyone on your team provide regular updates on their task lists, or planning out donor communications to ensure everyone knows when and where information is being shared. These consistent systems will help ensure that everyone on your team is on the same page and your organization can move forward in its impactful work with confidence.
For more fundraising insights, check out our latest blog posts on donor stewardship and data hygiene.