New Year’s Resolutions for Nonprofit Success in 2022
The New Year is here! I know—we’re well into the first month already. But for those of us in the nonprofit realm, the new year is a welcome sight—we’ve just wrapped a flurry of activity related to year-end campaign season. It’s always a blur! The leaders I talk to compare it to riding a very hilly roller coaster that begins in November and continues through to December 31. But with spring appeals just around the bend, January offers only a short flat-road stretch to catch your breath.
Take a few deep ones, nonprofit friends, because reality is, you need to regroup STAT to achieve two main priorities for the year ahead.
PRIORITY #1: YOUR 2022 COMM STRATEGY
What’s that?! Your 2022 comm strategy isn’t in place yet?
Well, your nonprofit isn’t the only one. More often than not, nonprofit leaders come to me because they’ve been flying-by-the-seat-of-their-communications-pants. The plan is nothing more than some advice for how to approach each day. (Usually something like, hold on tight and close your eyes during the scary parts.)
This year can be different with a plan that’s based on a solid case for support, customized for moving each donor group a step further in their experience plan, and executed day-to-day.
PRIORITY #2: YOUR 2022 GOALS
Stats say that only about 41% of Americans make resolutions, and I’m in that set. I love the process of dreaming about what could be and then charting a path to get there.
I find this process to be a big help in my work with nonprofit communicators. Most NP teams are dreaming about how to better serve their constituents by growing donor engagement. What’s often missing, however, is charting of the path to get there.
If you want your NP to do even more good in 2022, here are three non-negotiable resolutions to adopt:
#1 INSPIRE
Without inspired donors, your NP won’t have energy (aka, funds) to get where you need to go in 2022. Successful nonprofits have done their strategic homework, so to speak, with a well-crafted case for support that inspires donors to be passionate about the cause.
>> Do you have a current and active Case for Support? You need one, and this is one of my favorite strategy pieces to develop for clients!
#2 MOTIVATE
Unless donors are motivated by your invitations to get involved (aka, donate), your NP won’t grow in 2022. Successful nonprofits know their donors inside and out, enabling them to craft targeted, custom communications that draw donors to support the mission.
>> Do you have a strategy for communicating specifically to each of your donor groups? You need one, and I can help you define a strategy for each one.
#3 CHOREOGRAPH
Without a well-crafted communications plan for 2022, your NP will feel a bit like a communications circus (or roller coaster). Successful nonprofits have a plan in place that leads donors along their respective experience paths into greater engagement and deeper commitment to the mission.
>> Do you have a plan that covers every step of the donor experience path? You need one, and I can help you set a plan for 2022.
TOP GOAL FOR 2022: DO MORE GOOD
Resolutions like these keep me excited about my work for 2022! Especially because these goals produce more good in the world and for the individuals served by NPs. And really, that’s the top goal, isn’t it? There is more good we can do in the world when we are focused and purposeful and work together.
Let’s do this!
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