Most non-profit organizations walk a fine line between hope and despair, despite the fact that they always perform amazing work. However, I often find them feeling stressed and completely constrained due to resources, with exhausted employees and low wages. One of the mistakes of these organizations is falling into financial constraints and feeling insecure, which creates an undue focus on money and adopting the wrong measures.

However, when you focus on money, you devote most of your time to boosting donations, membership, and attendance, in addition to proposing new plans to attract more to each mission separately. In the meantime, you don’t care who donates, joins, or attends, as long as those numbers are moving in the right direction for them.

You need to look at ways to achieve sustainability from a perspective other than the one you know, starting with the value in the positive circle of successful organizations that do not consider money as their primary goal, because value attracts money, which in turn creates the capacity that creates even more value.

Additionally, the social dimension of sustainability is a complex, important, and multifaceted issue because community program planning strengthens social ties among residents, reduces levels of social segregation, and increases social interaction and cultural exchange among residents through increasing the percentage of meetings between them. It does not end with social voids at the social level, which represent a key point in strengthening bonds. This type of planning also pays attention to improving future planning for projects and programs.

You need to ask yourself: What impact do I want?

How will the world be better if I succeed?

Who will benefit directly and immediately?

And who will benefit indirectly or over time?

How can I measure true success?

Once you have a clear and focused sense of the impact you want, you need to know who cares about your organization or one of its branches: This is where the money comes from?

What companies, institutions, and individuals are aligned with my cause and/or its beneficiaries?

Who wants to be connected to my cause in the future?

How does my cause contribute to their mission, passions, or responsibilities?

How can I turn their interest into giving?

How can I engage them so that they are eager to contribute their time, money, status, and connections?

However, when you think you’ve found a strong link between your cause and revenue sources, remember that no organization exists in isolation. Partnerships can greatly enhance your ability to achieve the impact you want, and always remember that value is what attracts money.

What other organizations share your cause or have a similar purpose?

What other organizations are dedicated to helping the same beneficiaries?

How can you benefit from these intersections?

Who has been on the path you are about to traverse?

For example, if you want to help girls share a lifestyle filled with opportunities, and even look like strong citizens, why not work with an organization like the Girl Scouts?

If scientific advancement is your mission, why not engage in higher education with organizations like the Science Museum?

Step out of your cocoon and look for win-win deals!

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