Comments on: Does Your Nonprofit Major in Minor? http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/393/does-your-nonprofit-major-in-minor/ Nonprofit Fundraising and Grantwriting for the One-Person Shop Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:05:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sandra Sims http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/393/does-your-nonprofit-major-in-minor/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Sandra Sims Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:08:11 +0000 http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/?p=393#comment-274 I sat in board meeting once where the ED asked the board if she could spend $25 on a Sam's club membership. Come on... you don't have the discretionary power to spend that little cash? The "everything for free" mindset is a symptom of operating in a world of lack and fear. If you live in a world of abundance, there will be more than enough to fund programs, build strong funding foundation and pay outside and inside professionals appropriately. When I have seen progress it has been because of a major change in leadership. I sat in board meeting once where the ED asked the board if she could spend $25 on a Sam’s club membership. Come on… you don’t have the discretionary power to spend that little cash?

The “everything for free” mindset is a symptom of operating in a world of lack and fear. If you live in a world of abundance, there will be more than enough to fund programs, build strong funding foundation and pay outside and inside professionals appropriately.

When I have seen progress it has been because of a major change in leadership.

]]> By: Chataun R. Denis http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/393/does-your-nonprofit-major-in-minor/comment-page-1/#comment-256 Chataun R. Denis Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:19:41 +0000 http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/?p=393#comment-256 As a nonprofit consultant and trainer, I work with numerous nonprofits that can't seem to pry away from the outdated, 'give your services away for free' business model. I then had the bright idea to start promoting social entrepreneurship. Many people think that starting a nonprofit is a precursor to giving back. This is a very popular misconception. Social-entrepreneurship allows people to do work they love, give back, and earn a living. This mindset is the opposite of the traditional ‘profit-less’ model so many existing, failing nonprofits are using. As a nonprofit consultant and trainer, I work with numerous nonprofits that can’t seem to pry away from the outdated, ‘give your services away for free’ business model. I then had the bright idea to start promoting social entrepreneurship. Many people think that starting a nonprofit is a precursor to giving back. This is a very popular misconception. Social-entrepreneurship allows people to do work they love, give back, and earn a living. This mindset is the opposite of the traditional ‘profit-less’ model so many existing, failing nonprofits are using.

]]> By: Maureen Carruthers http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/393/does-your-nonprofit-major-in-minor/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Maureen Carruthers Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:39:29 +0000 http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/?p=393#comment-221 This post is really resonates with me because it clarifies there really is a sweet spot for how non-profits use resources. Free and cheap is not always the answer– sometimes you do get what you pay for. On the other hand, most nonprofits are afraid to try new things because if it doesn’t work they will have misspent precious resources. In that case, using free or very inexpensive resources is a way to experiment and build a culture where it’s ok to try ideas before they’ve been vetted to death. Then, it makes sense to put more resources behind the ideas that start to bear fruit. This post is really resonates with me because it clarifies there really is a sweet spot for how non-profits use resources. Free and cheap is not always the answer– sometimes you do get what you pay for. On the other hand, most nonprofits are afraid to try new things because if it doesn’t work they will have misspent precious resources. In that case, using free or very inexpensive resources is a way to experiment and build a culture where it’s ok to try ideas before they’ve been vetted to death. Then, it makes sense to put more resources behind the ideas that start to bear fruit.

]]> By: Alena http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/393/does-your-nonprofit-major-in-minor/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Alena Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:17:10 +0000 http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/?p=393#comment-166 I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Alena http://grantfoundation.net I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Alena

http://grantfoundation.net

]]> By: KDG http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/393/does-your-nonprofit-major-in-minor/comment-page-1/#comment-143 KDG Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:37:53 +0000 http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/?p=393#comment-143 Perhaps one of the businesses they link people with would be willing to do the work pro bono - they need to use their own network. Perhaps one of the businesses they link people with would be willing to do the work pro bono – they need to use their own network.

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