David Wagner’s Post

Ready to Amplify your NPO’s Impact? We’re Listening… At Executive Arm, we understand the overwhelming nature of managing a business. It can be challenging to pinpoint the exact areas that need attention and support. That's why our initial meeting is designed to alleviate these burdens. We take the time to listen, really listen. This first meeting is all about learning—learning about your operations, staff, goals, mission statement, board, donors, and your organization's unique story. Our approach is rooted in empathy and genuine curiosity. We want to hear about your challenges and aspirations, so we can tailor our support to suit your specific needs. This initial meeting is just the beginning of a three-step process. We often notice common themes during these discussions: - It seems like everyone is wearing many hats, but productivity is suffering. - There are crucial tasks that no one on the staff can handle effectively. - Some roles lack clear job descriptions, leading to confusion and inefficiency. - The quality and quantity of work being produced is falling short of expectations. - There are noticeable gaps in skills or job training within the organization. - Tasks are not aligned with staff members' strengths, resulting in sub-optimal performance. Every nonprofit has its own structure, needs, and DNA. Our goal is to help you uncover and harness your organization's unique strengths and address its challenges effectively. Ready to uncover the true potential of your organization? Reach out with questions or comments below. Check back here to find out what it's like to be a fly on the wall during our 2nd and 3rd meetings...

Mid-Year Check-Ins are the secret to Year-End success—especially for (but not limited to) nonprofits! ⏰ Have you had yours and/or facilitated them for your team and organization? At Beyond Advisers, we love the Mid-Year Check-In. No matter the size, purpose, or focus of your organization, you need one. Yes, YOU! 🫵 If you think you are the exception, you are missing out on a Beyond Simple step that can re-energize you and help you ensure success with your year-end goals. Without that endless enthusiasm and clarity from the start of the New Year, we wouldn’t be able to design, build, implement, and scale your social impact work in the first place! Here are 3 areas to revisit right now in your organization to make sure the rest of 2023 stays on track: 👥 Board. Have you planned or scheduled board meeting #3 of the year? Hint: Success looks like one meeting per quarter! ✏️ Human Resources. Are your Mid-Year Reviews (or your “lite” version, a.k.a. the Mid-Year Touch Base) in progress? This is the time! 📚 Storytelling. How is your brand-defining Impact Story coming along? Ideally, it’s in full development by now. That annual report and/or donor communication task is right around the corner! It really is that simple—so get to it! Check the comments for link to a super helpful blog post from Zayneb Shaikley on this topic! #SocialImpact #ImpactBeyondBelief #NonProfitLeadership #GoalSetting #Board #HumanResources #HR #Storytelling #Consulting

Mid-Year Matters! Your mid-year priorities and practices are critical to setting you, your organization, and your initiatives up for year-end success (and Beyond)! Be sure your mid-year HR, Board, and Inpact Storytelling are on track during these important summer months! And check out the referenced blog post by our own Zayneb Shaikley for more on the “how” of excellent mid-year reviews (link in comments below)!

“Was that about us?” It’s been interesting how many messages I've gotten from people who read my post about defining my purpose and wondered if their organization was the stale organization I referenced. In short, probably. 😊 I have seen many organizations serving vastly different missions and at different scale lose relevance. The commonality is that when mission-focused organizations don’t define direction, what fills the void is usually REPETITION. Exacerbating this is that there is usually a long institutional memory of when the organization was most relevant and clear in purpose. But when organizations don’t regularly, systematically and transparently articulate where they are headed, the result is usually treading water. Being stuck impacts all aspects of an organization and usually manifests in common ways. The board and staff might believe strongly in the mission, but it’s likely been a while since they checked to see that they are fulfilling it in the ways that best serve their community. They rely on loyal, longstanding supporters — all of whom are giving a little less each year, no longer seeing the compelling nature of the work — and are attracting very few new donors. The organization probably does a lot — but they don’t have much to show for it in outcomes. They aren’t measuring much and haven’t really articulated what success as an organization entails or they did so so long ago that it’s no longer relevant. Many operational decisions are also remnants of previous decision-making, legacy practices developed when conditions were radically different. This directly impacts staff morale and success. Without clear direction, staff are left focusing on tasks rather than an endpoint. They have little room to innovate because their focus is on doing what they know to do rather than achieving a bigger end that might have various potential paths to success. Staff feel less engaged and inspired because the work is not rooted in purpose and doesn’t allow for autonomy. Exacerbating this is that if the organization has already started to lose the interest of funders, they are probably navigating all of this with fewer people to get the work done, leaving staff little time to look up out of the day to day to seize opportunities. This is a common path for many organizations, but it is not an inevitability. In the example I shared, there was actually a happy ending beyond the state I described. I worked with the organization to bring in new voices and develop a new vision reflecting who the organization is today and who they are seeking to serve, and they have set out on a new path with significantly new ways of doing business. It’s a story of caution, but also one of possibility. So if you are wondering if it’s your organization I was describing – misaligned, out of touch, and with waning impact -- perhaps so, but more importantly, it does not have to be. The first step is to choose to engage in deciding who you want to become.

Do you use Robert's Rules of Order in your boardroom? Did you know you can pick and choose which Rules to use so that your meetings are engaging and effective? When it comes to Robert’s Rules, nonprofit leaders have choices to make. Learn more in this month's letter from Laurie:

Are you a small business owner in Arizona? With the record-breaking heat this summer, I know you have to be feeling the strain not only on your body but your bottom line. Reducing your energy, water, waste, and transportation costs can help you be more environmentally and financially sustainable! The Local First Green Business Bootcamp (formerly known as SCALE UP) emerged as a strategy to assist business owners in understanding the unique environmental challenges of doing business in Arizona and in developing projects that improve their sustainability. In the Bootcamp, business owners attend six courses over six weeks and learn the fundamentals of the energy, water, waste, and transportation challenges and how to develop business solutions and projects that reduce any of those categories (or a combination of them) by a minimum of 20% to generate significant reductions in their resource consumption and cost. An industry professional leads each week's discussion to get you plugged-in with the experts as you develop your plan! Upcoming Cohort Information Duration: Augst 29th to October 6th Frequency: Every Tuesday, and then the final Friday Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM with Office Hours from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM Location: Virtual (Google Meets) Program fees depend on your number of employees, so be sure to check the top of the application for those details! A curriculum outline and application can be found at https://lnkd.in/g7Teg43U My team and I are available for consultations to clarify any questions and prepare you for the Orientation session on August 29th, so just reach out to sustainability@localfirstaz.com to let us know you're interested and what your availability is, and we will send a virtual invite! We look forward to helping your business build more resilient practices so you can put more resources toward your mission and what matters most to you! 🌵♻️🌱 #smallbusiness #azsmallbusiness #sustainablebusiness #GreenBusinessBootcamp #GreenBusiness

Want to strengthen your #nonprofit #socent focus on collaboration, transparency and impact movement? Regularly creating an impact report can achieve all of these things! https://loom.ly/4IbwLn4 B Lab #bthechange PLUS more from us on Impact Reports https://loom.ly/N0cdWEQ

Wednesday’s May 8, 2024 From: Dr. Richard Francis Viktor Hogan Setting measurable objectives in nonprofit strategy is crucial for achieving organizational goals. Remember that strategic planning is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor progress, adjust plans, and ensure that your nonprofit remains aligned with its mission and objectives. Here are some best practices to consider: — SMART Goals Framework: • For nonprofits, using the SMART framework is highly effective: • Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve and how you plan to do it. • Measurable: Identify the data you’ll collect to determine success. • Achievable: Ensure the goal is realistic and possible to achieve. • Relevant: Align the goal with your nonprofit’s mission and strategic direction. • Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving the goal. — Objectives: • Objectives are specific, measurable actions that contribute to achieving your goals. — When creating objectives: • State them in quantifiable terms. • Focus on outcomes, not just processes. • Make them time-bound. • Ensure alignment with your overall goals. — Engage Stakeholders: • Involve staff, board members, and other stakeholders in the goal-setting process. • Tie strategic initiatives to board meeting agendas to keep everyone engaged. • Regularly revisit and adapt the strategy as internal and external environments change. -30-

🌟 FREE End-of-Year Strategic Check-In for Social Purpose Organizations 🌟 As the calendar year draws to a close and the fiscal year-end gets closer,  it's the perfect time for social purpose organizations to reflect on their achievements and set the course for an even more impactful year ahead. 📈 At Roots & Rivers, we understand the vital role social purpose organizations play in our communities. That's why we're thrilled to offer FREE End-of-Year Strategic Check-Ins for 5 organizations to help your organization assess and fine-tune your strategic plans and kick-start your impact for 2024. 🔍 What's Included? In this 1hr session, we will take on the following components: ✅ Goal Assessment: We'll review your goals and objectives to ensure they align with your mission and are achievable. ✅ Impact Evaluation: We’ll review how you’re measuring your impact and using those insights to make decisions. ✅ Team Engagement:  We’ll review how your team is engaged with the strategic plan to support its long-term success. 🤝 Why Choose Us? We’ve worked with over 70 clients in the social purpose space and have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities you face. Our dedicated team is committed to helping organizations like yours thrive. To book your free End-of-Year Strategic Check-In, simply email connect@rootsandrivers.ca with the subject line “End-of-Year Strategic Check-In”. The first 5 submissions will be contacted. 📩 Please share with any organizations you think would benefit from this offering. #NonProfits #StrategicPlanning #Impact #MissionDriven #MakingADifference #FreeConsultation #EndOfYearReview

Your mission statement should be more than words on paper; it should be a calling card for action. Many organizations craft mission statements that sound lofty and impressive. But if they don't inspire action or resonate deeply with the very people you aim to engage, they're merely decorative prose. A mission should be a guiding light, a powerful motivator, and a call to arms, all wrapped in one. How can nonprofit leaders ensure their mission statement holds this transformative power? 1. Simplicity is Strength: While it might be tempting to use grandiose language, clarity and conciseness will make your mission memorable and compelling. Aim for brevity without sacrificing depth. 2. Stakeholder Involvement: Involve staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and even donors in crafting or refining the statement. Diverse perspectives can add richness and authenticity. 3. Be Outcome-Oriented: Rather than a broad, sweeping statement, focus on the tangible impact you aim to achieve. What change are you championing? 4. Regularly Revisit: As the landscape changes, so might your mission's nuances. Make it a habit to revisit and refine, ensuring it always aligns with your current goals and the needs of those you serve. 5. Live It Out Loud: Embed the mission in every piece of communication, every project, and every interaction. Let it be the touchstone against which all decisions are measured. Remember, a mission statement isn't just an introductory sentence in your annual report or a header on your website. It’s the heartbeat ❤️ of your organization, the rallying cry that draws people to your cause and propels collective action. Let your mission be the spark that ignites, the call that mobilizes, and the promise that unites.