My friend James recently mentioned this sage advice in reference to how we should all seek to live: Strive to be faithful, not successful. His words struck me as supremely important for living a fulfilling life, but they also appealed to me as indispensable advice for nonprofits. More often than not, nonprofits are founded because people are deeply moved by a cause and want to bring about a lasting change.
Often, as time passes and the organizations begin to grow and learn about raising funds, they lose track of their original vision. Suddenly, the nonprofit becomes not about staying faithful to the mission statement, but about pursuing dollar signs and being "successful." Programs, groups, and long term goals are replaced with short term projects tailored toward the latest trendy cause in an effort to appeal to donors. Numbers and statistics become more important than people and communities.
Nonprofits that run their fundraising programs (or their entire organization) based on the latest cause will no doubt experience some short term growth. But they will certainly suffer, and likely fade away, in the long run.
If you want to be successful with your fundraising, then you must stay faithful to your mission.
Take, for example, Food For The Poor, the nation's third-largest international charity. For years, the trend for big organizations has been to join the battle against Aids in Africa. There are a number of reasons for this, namely that governments and donors are offering big money to anyone willing to join the fight. Food For The Poor, however, has resisted the pull to Africa. Not because its leaders don't think that Aids should be eradicated. Not because they don't desire to help. Food For The Poor has resisted moving into Africa simply because that is not part of the organization's vision. Food For The Poor was founded to assist the poorest of the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. And this it has done well -- very well.
Despite the millions of dollars that await organizations working for Aids relief in Africa, Food For The Poor has remained faithful to its mission. And it has continued to see strong growth year after year. The organization's donors know what cause they are working for, and they are committed to its success.
Don't fall into the trap that awaits so many nonprofits. Strive to be faithful, and you will be successful.
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