Thursday, September 11, 2008

Today's Nonprofit Wonder - Sustainability

What is sustainability? How do you continue your programs and projects year after year?

Getting more money to do your good work, right? Well, that is really just a small part of it.

Sustainability really focuses on a number of external and internal factors. Factors that are crucial to the support, growth and eventual integration of the programs and services you provide.

Does your organization have policies and partners that support your efforts? Have you established strong, collaborative relationships with them?

Does your organization provide leadership that is clearly committed to the program? Is staff on board with it as well? Do they support the efforts? Do they have the skill it takes to maintain this program within the organization?

The goal is to have the program synthesized into the organization - it becomes a seamless addition to your services. It becomes part of the mission and the culture. It gets to the point where you see the program and can't imagine it never have been there from the beginning.

So think sustainability. It will serve you and your community well.

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