Tales from the Michigan Nonprofit Superconference

I attended the Michigan Nonprofit Superconference in Lansing last weekend.  It was very well attended and a valuable two-day event.  In between the workshops were insightful speeches and inspiring performances. 

Some of my favorite "take-aways" are as follows - words to live by for nonprofit organizations:

Donor Appreciation:  Donors appreciate being contacted throughout the year for reasons other than "asks".  Sending a hand-written note, a birthday card, or an invitation to a free event were just some of the many ideas.

Board Member Input:  Exit interviews are important when a Board member resigns or retires.  Board and nonprofit leadership often make the mistake of appearing to want input from the Board members, when in reality the decisions on issues presented to the Board membership have already been made "behind the scenes".  Board members' most common complaint about participating is that their opinions and input appear to really have little value, and therefore their time is wasted by participating. 

Generational Gaps:  Much was discussed about working with millenials.  This generation of twenty-somethings is all about change, new experiences, keeping it real, and collaboration.  The work ethic and style of millenials often clashes with senior management who are more likely to want to make all the decisions with less collaboration and more structure.

Advocacy:  Advocacy is the fastest way to accomplish your organizational goals.  Changing governmental processes can unlock funding streams and create efficiencies.

Leveraging Volunteers:  Creative use of volunteers can have a dramatic impact on your service potential.  Running government funded programs with volunteers can allow your organizational dollars to be reinvested elsewhere for more impact.

Keeping it Fun!:  Volunteers are looking for a rewarding experience that is also fun!  Especially the millenials!  Keeping things fun and stress-free will increase volunteer satisfaction and help spread the word about your organization.

Word of Mouth:  One speaker cited a study that one volunteer telling two people a great story about your organization is worth a $500 advertisement.  Getting volunteers engaged and keeping them happy is valuable!

Vision...Engage...Adjust...Attack:  Governor Snyder laid out this four step approach to individual engagement in the community - be it a small business entrepreneur or a nonprofit founder.  The message is that we should stop planning and start doing!  The days of planning and procrastination are hopefully giving way to more spontaneous productivity!  It's OK to jump in feet first, and make adjustments along the way.  My only "caveat" to this call to action as it relates to nonprofit founders is to do a bit of homework on your "competition" as the first step in Engage.  Before setting up your own nonprofit - ask yourself is there another nonprofit organization already operating in this space that may be interested in partnering with you to add a program or service, before you start out on your own? 

Board vs. Staff Roles:  There is a lot of confusion among nonprofits regarding who is to do what.  The Board has the primary responsibility to Control (overseeing officers), and Foster (strategic planning).  Day-to-day duties should be left to staff.  Your organization should delve into your Bylaws to understand the roles, and work with your attorney if the roles are not well-defined in your Bylaws to avoid confusion. 

Change - Baby Steps:  Small, seemingly disconnected steps at an individual level can add-up to real change for a community. "If you want change, you have to be the change" chanted Kresge Fellow Invincible.

I hope these pearls of wisdom from the conference can serve as a health "check-up" for your nonprofit organization.