The Center for Ethics, Governance, & Accountability
Dedicated to Serving the Non-Profit Sector
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- May 17, 2012There continues to be confusion among non-profit organizations about what the term “not-for-profit” really means and how to best conduct the “business...
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- February 04, 2012There is perhaps no greater right granted under our Constitution than freedom of speech. As we go about our daily lives, we hear and read ridiculous...
- January 27, 2012Author’s Note: I had a strong desire to write this article several years ago and started outlining it in my mind over and over. My outline was pretty...
Is Your Non-Profit Off to a Good Start in 2011?
In previous articles, I have suggested various proactive steps that non-profit organizations (NPOs) can take to reinvigorate the performance of their missions. Examples have included merging, changing board membership, and a checklist of items for the executive director to tackle.
We are nearly two months into the New Year. One of the interesting things about NPOs is that their fiscal year is rarely the calendar year. The most common fiscal year for NPOs seems to be July 1 to June 30; others are October 1 to September 30. Why? Because most state and local government fiscal years are July 1 and the federal fiscal year is October 1. To the extent that NPOs rely on funding from governmental entities (and most do in one form or another), then their fiscal years typically coincide with that of their predominant funding partners.
Why does this matter?
Technically, it doesn’t; practically, it should. It seems to me that the ‘New Year’ offers folks a feeling of a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. But with most NPOs, the holiday season brings a slow-down in activity and then the new calendar year begins without any fanfare or excitement.
I believe executive directors should work to change this phenomenon.
There does not have to be anything particularly difficult to help jump-start the ‘new year’ in January or even February. Here are a few suggestions:
- Hold a planning retreat with the executive committee, full board, or the staff
- Deliver a small token of appreciation to your largest donors and update them on your plans for the new year (the majority of private sector firms operate on a calendar year fiscal year, so they are definitely thinking about the ‘new’ year)
- Conduct a special event for your stakeholders (members, public, donors) to get people together, announce a new program, or showcase a new exhibit.
None of these ideas is hard to implement, you just have to make time, plan them, and get them done. Some people get really down in the winter months, so I would urge executive directors to use this special time to create energy and recommitment to the mission of the NPO. You will be glad you did.
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