When you set your New Year’s resolutions, be sure to set some aspirational goals for your organization, as well. Mary and Susan have three suggestions that you and your Board can discuss early in 2015 to be sure it is a stellar year.
- Define your value proposition – What is it that makes you special, and why should anyone care enough to support you? A short, simple, and memorable answer to this question is critical. Think about what you could say in an impactful 140 character tweet, not an elevator speech.
- Build a cadre of messengers – Are enough people talking about you? Your good news needs to be spread by more people than the Executive Director and the Director of Development. Help your Board and donors know how to help by sharing real life stories with them along the way. You want people to talk behind your back.
- Reach out to your donors – An acknowledgement letter is a given, but what else are you doing? Stay in touch with donors by calling, sending articles, and finding creative ways to say thanks. It is important to engage former board members, too, as they can be great advocates. An excellent article we saw recently lists many simple and effective ways to involve the often-neglected former board member.
