10 Questions Every Nonprofit Should Ask

Let’s face it - communities across the world are suffering. Over the last few months we have heard of terrible devastation internationally as well as in our own community.

As a result of these tragic events, there is an increased demand for the work of nonprofits. This demand, however, far outweighs the current capacity of the overall sector. Thus, nonprofits are being torn in different directions and having to adapt fast. Adaptation is not an easy process (anyone who has gone through a merger can attest to this) and this situation has left the sector in a sensitive and exposed state. However, this vulnerability has created an opportunity for evaluation and growth.

Our society’s needs are so great at the moment, that we don’t have time to work on the micro-level. We must THINK BIG and we must ACT BIG. That’s not to say that we don’t need vision, commitment, direction, and action to make a true impact.

This morning’s opening speaker presented 10 questions every nonprofit should ask:

1. What problems are you willing to solve?

2. How do you know when it is solved?

3. What do you do that is different that matters?

4. What proof do you have that it works?

5. What would you do it you had 10 years to make your difference?

6. How much money and resources do you need to succeed over the next 10 years?

7. What are you willing to do to achieve your mission?

8. What is your promise, your commitment, to each stakeholder?

9. What is you new success story?

10. What’s the most important thing for you to accomplish in the next 90 days to ensure your success?

Personally, I think these are very important questions to ask. But the key is not the questions themselves, but the discussion that is sure to evolve.

Engaging in discussion is energizing and amazing ideas can come from conversation. To often, however, nonprofits fail to communicate. They fail to communicate internally (i.e. management/staff/board) or externally (organization/stakeholders/community) and as a result, the organizations become disjointed and disconnected.

By asking these 10 questions, we can stimulate and energize our organizations and create excitement for work we do. The truth is, people want to talk. They want to find opportunities to brainstorm and engage in a conversation about what is possible. They want to create hope for a better life and a better world. There is real power in open and honest dialogue. Dialogue creates ideas and ideas create commitment. This commitment turns into action. Action, after all, is the key to creating impact.

What do you think? Is your organization talking?