Business Planning for Nonprofits: 3 Tips You Can Use to Create a Better Nonprofit

​Many people assume that because an organization is called a “nonprofit”, it doesn’t have to worry about a business plan, but that could not be further from the truth. While a nonprofit is structured differently than for-profit companies, especially when it comes to their finances, nonprofits still face many of the same challenges as other companies, including staffing and marketing.

​Having said that, there are also some key differences between business planning for nonprofits and business planning for a for-profit organization. So, whether you’ve just started your nonprofit or you’re thinking of starting one, here are some tips you can use to start business planning for your nonprofit.

Set Your Priorities

There’s a reason most companies write out a mission statement and/or vision statement for their company very early on in the process of starting and running their company. It’s because that mission statement/vision statement serves as a kind of compass, directing every effort the company makes from that point forward.

​A key part of this is identifying your priorities. Why did you start your nonprofit organization? What are you hoping to achieve through business planning for your nonprofit organization? Once you understand your priorities, every other business decision you make for your nonprofit organization will be that much easier.

​Set Up Your Systems and Processes

​If you’re just starting out, you need to identify and implement the best systems and processes to keep your nonprofit running smoothly. This includes everything from promoting and raising money for your nonprofit to recruiting and training staff and volunteers.

​If your nonprofit organization has been in business for a while, it’s always a good idea to go over the systems and processes you already have in place and take a look at what’s benefiting you and what is no longer serving the organization. Which systems/processes could be improved? Which ones need to be replaced? What new systems/processes could you implement that would make running your nonprofit organization that much easier and more effective?

​Measure Your Results

​Measuring the results of your efforts is something you should do on a regular basis. Just because something is working for you now, or worked in the past when you first implemented it, does not mean it’s what your company will need in the future. Regardless of whether you’re new to business planning for nonprofits or your nonprofit organization has been in business for a while and you’ve been revising existing systems and processes, it’s always a good idea to regularly check in with what you’re doing to make sure it’s still working. If it’s no longer serving you, it’s time to try something new.

Whether you’re starting a new nonprofit or restrategizing an existing nonprofit, it’s always a good idea to have a Strategy Rockstar on your side. Helping people with their business planning for nonprofits is not only one of my strong suits, it’s also one of my passions. If you’d like to hear more about how I help nonprofit organizations get the most out of their resources, schedule a call now so we can chat.