Next Year Never Comes For Nonprofits

Why do what needs to be done now when you can just do it next year?

Next year we will be able to raise more money. Next year we will be able to put that in the budget. Next year we will start an annual fund. Next year we will build better relationships with our major gift donors. Next year we will hire the fundraiser that we need.

Any of that sound familiar?

As I talk with hundreds of nonprofits a month, I hear often that next year we will be able to obtain the resources we truly need to raise more money, better fulfill our mission and provide a much more efficient foundation for success going forward. I talked to a group the other day that is finally going to make the commitment to strengthen donor relationships with a Donor CRM database by putting the expense in the 2016 budget…

In my experience, next year never comes. Paralyzed by indecision and lack of understanding of true return on investment and cost justification, many nonprofits are unable or unwilling to create success by making good decisions now that will truly invest in their success in the coming months.

A questions I enjoy asking is this, ‘where do you envision your nonprofit being one year from right now?’ Do you envision:

The old adage is true: It takes money to make money. In the nonprofit world, many times investment in tools that allow you and your staff to be more efficient, better communicate with donors, strengthen relationships and leverage technology takes an investment with the understanding that a year from now the cost can easily be justified.

You must have a tool that will help analyze and interpret your data to retain donors. Using a simple spreadsheet to record a gift and send a year-end thank you note will not be helpful in truly seeing incredible success in your retaining of donors (increases of thousands of dollars is possible!). But, hey, that method is not costing us anything so we will make the decision to buy retention-focused fundraising database software next year.

Tools to help you determine WHO your major gift donors are and the POTENTIAL they have to give are essential to any major gift program. Finding or approaching two or three prospects who can give or will increase their gift will easily pay for this investment and bring in more dollars for your mission … but, we will start doing that next year.

Investment in tools that will help ensure success next year improves your nonprofit’s internal culture! Keeps your employee retention high! Attracts the high-energy, successful fundraisers! Creates a culture that is innovative and brings fresh prospective. “Putting it in next year’s budget” will mean more of your current employees resumes will be updated…

I usually love working with boards because most are filled with successful business people who understand that many of the same principles they used to create a successful for-profit business are the same principles for a nonprofit venture!

Next year never comes … Will you be putting in the needed innovative resources in next year’s budget or take the steps to reap the success of your decision NOW?