Breaking news: nonprofits face challenges all the time. They are not going to go away. Leading or working for a nonprofit doesn’t make you exempt from challenges. And what’s worse, they take all forms. You might have a cash flow challenge one month and next month the challenge is with personnel, or programming, or an unexpected repair bill. People quit. Funding resources diminish. There are lurking environmental challenges such as changes in demographics, the economy, housing, and funding from the foundations, the state, corporations, and the federal government. Challenges are everywhere: what sets you apart is how you face them.
Moving from challenge to solution requires you to keep your eyes, ears, heart, and mind open. You need to be aware, and you want to hear from others, to see what is really going on, and to be open to solutions they may offer. An open heart creates an atmosphere where others can feel comfortable bringing things to your attention and reduces the fear of being seen as the problem for mentioning there are challenges. You want to focus on creating solutions and implementing them, not finger-pointing. Having challenges isn’t the challenge; it’s persisting and unaddressed challenges that cause concern.
Before you jump into action, make sure you are not working alone. Always work with a team of people you trust. Share the challenge. Ask for your team members’ thoughts. Check to see if your challenge is really the challenge you need to address, or an aspect of another “deeper” challenge.
Ten steps to a solution. Here are ten things that can help you move from challenges to solutions. Start with open lines of communication; don’t keep everything to yourself. Define the challenge and appropriately share information and updates with others. Talk with others and ensure you have an up-to-date understanding of your organization/institution and how it operates. Identify people with expertise from within the organization – or outside of it – to help map out a solution. Refer to your data and reports as you define the nature of the challenge and build a process for measuring the effectiveness of your solution(s). Work with realistic expectations, openly share concerns and responsibilities, and recognize and acknowledge those who bring both the challenges and potential solutions to the table. Finally, don’t let things linger. Identify the challenges and seek solutions. Put your plan into action and evaluate.
Your goal is to build a “can-do” culture within your organization. It can be a “challenge” to recognize that addressing challenges is part of everyday life. Think about it, most nonprofits are organically solution-oriented. Your very reason for being is to address a challenge and create a solution. There will be challenges along the way, and at times you may have to redefine and change your solution, but it’s all part of the process. Those organizations acclaimed as successful have plenty of challenges: what they are best known for is how they address them. You’re up to the challenge; we’re all depending on you. God protect America and the world we live in together.
Copyright 2025 – Mel and Pearl Shaw of Saad&Shaw-Comprehensive Fund Development Services, providing fundraising coaching, planning, case for support services, and more. www.saadandshaw.com. Virtual services and consultations always available.