The term “representation” gets thrown around a lot by nonprofit boards and teams as they prepare for strategic planning. But what does representation really mean? And how can organizations with a diverse range of stakeholders ever hope to achieve it? There are actually two types of representation that are critical to successful nonprofit strategic planning. […] The post The Importance Of Representation In Strategic Planning (And A Few Ideas on How to Achieve It) appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

When you think of making financial decisions on behalf of your nonprofit, who do you picture? While your mind might go to your finance committee or CFO—who are certainly key players in the decision-making process—involving a variety of internal and external stakeholders can bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the table. As a result, you […] The post Nonprofit Financial Decisions: Who Should be Involved? appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

Despite the ubiquitous presence of strategic plans in the nonprofit sector, there remains a veil of mystery surrounding what exactly constitutes an effective, actionable strategic plan. In this comprehensive guide, we aim to demystify what belongs in your organization’s strategic plan, breaking down the key components you should aim to create during your strategic planning […] The post What Is a Strategic Plan? A Back to Basics Guide. appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

When nonprofits share power with their beneficiaries, they become more equitable and more effective, and better nonprofits build a better world. But what does it actually take to become a Shared Power Nonprofit? We’ve explored this question with dozens of organizations in a range of mission areas over the last several years, and we’ve identified […] The post Four things shared power nonprofits do differently appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

Donor stewardship is one of the most important priorities nonprofits include in their strategic plans. Stewardship entails upholding relationships with donors beyond the transactions of their gifts, leading to more engaged, passionate supporters long-term. No matter your nonprofit’s area of expertise, it’s essential to make donors feel appreciated and welcomed into your organization as individuals—not […] The post How to Use Donor Data to Build a Stewardship Strategy appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

Picture this:  That is the magic of content strategy—your secret weapon to attracting new audience members and converting them into dedicated supporters. With a strong digital content strategy in place, you too can connect with individuals who are interested in your cause and are eager to assist you in driving greater impact for your beneficiaries.  […] The post Creating a Strong Digital Content Strategy for Your Nonprofit appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

I came across a couple of statistics that stopped me in my tracks this week. According to BoardSource’s most recent Leading with Intent study (a survey of more than 800 public charity CEOs and board chairs), only a third of boards (32 percent) place a high priority on “knowledge of the community served,” and even […] The post Three Reasons to Include Beneficiaries in Your Nonprofit’s Board appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

Sharing power with your nonprofit’s stakeholders is both a noble aspiration and a formidable challenge. While the essence of nonprofit work revolves around serving the community and addressing societal needs, the dynamics of power within many organizations often present significant hurdles to achieving genuine collaboration with beneficiaries and other stakeholders, not to mention empowering those […] The post Four Reasons Why Sharing Power is Hard for Nonprofits (and What to Do About It) appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.  The most effective, influential nonprofits are those that share the power to shape their strategies and approaches with their stakeholders, especially the people who benefit directly from their programs and services (their beneficiaries). They’re also the organizations that recognize that sharing power doesn’t have to […] The post Sharing Power With Your Nonprofit’s Stakeholders Doesn’t Have to Be an All-or-Nothing Pursuit: The Shared Power Spectrum appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more

Imagine communication that doesn’t dwell on deficits, but celebrates capabilities. That highlights resilience instead of vulnerabilities. This is the essence of strength-based communication – a deliberate choice to focus communications on an individual or community’s strengths, resources and opportunities for growth.  Strength-based communications or strength-based messaging moves beyond the “problem-centric” approach, recognizing that people should […] The post Strength-based Communication and Related Disciplines appeared first on Prosper Strategies ..read more