Creative Problem Solving: The Reverse Psychology Method
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Welcome to the second in our series of posts on creative problem solving. Of course, nonprofit professionals are no strangers to problem solving. Every day in the nonprofit realm brings its own challenges and trials. The fact that we are able to surmount these problems to make a better world is exactly what keeps us coming back for more!
Reverse Psychology in Problem Solving
The “Reverse Psychology” approach to creative problem solving involves visualizing your desired outcome and then working backwards, step-by-step, to see how you got there. While we generally plan events and look for solutions in a linear fashion, this approach starts at the end of the line. Not only can it spark entirely new ideas, but it also keeps us from forgetting important aspects of getting to the final outcome.
Reverse Psychology requires some visualization on your part, but if you can put aside about an hour to spend with your imagination and a pen and paper (or a computer) then you have the chance to bypass many more hours of frustration and dead ends. As you go through the steps in your mind, be sure to take notes that you can reflect on later to implement the ideas generated.
In this case, we’re going to use a fundraiser as our “problem.” If the process can work on such a big problem, imagine how well it can help you solve smaller ones!
1. Envision the outcome you truly desire. In this case, let’s say it’s the funding of a new afterschool program for youth in your neighborhood. Imagine making bank deposits that total all you’ll need to get the program up and running.
2. In your mind, take a step back to what happened just before you put those bank deposits together. Perhaps you see you and your coworkers cleaning up after a successful silent auction. Everyone is smiling, and attendees are waving as they leave the auction. (You might take a note here to remind yourself that you’ll need to find a venue for your event. As you visualize the emptying floor covered in confetti, note that you’ll need decorations.)
3. Shortly before the auction ended, the winning bidders must have been announced. Try to picture what sort of prizes they have been enthusiastically bidding on all night. Again, make notes on what you’re seeing.
4. Consider what the attendees were doing while the bidding was open. Was a meal being served? Perhaps there were speeches being given. Maybe the reason that bank deposit was so big was because there was a live auction happening at the same time as the silent one.
5. Now it’s time to back up to the actual bidding. What numbers do you see people writing down? You’ll want to have some idea so that you know what types of auction items to solicit. At this point you might note that you’ll need to have auction sheets, clipboards, and pens for each item. Also, how do people learn about the items? Do you have placards or a booklet with item descriptions?
6. Backing up yet again, picture how the auction started. Who gave the welcome and announced that bidding was open? This can help you come up with ideas for guest speakers and to prepare for logistics such as a microphone, podium, and stage area.
7. You’ve now visualized the whole event and have probably taken a lot of notes, but you’re not done yet. You’ll want to keep traveling backwards, all the way from the day of the event back to the present.
8. What happened earlier on the day of the event? Who was there to set things up, and what needed to be done?
9. Prior to the day of the auction, how did you get everything prepared? Someone had to reserve the space and write the checks, for example. Auction items need to be solicited, and descriptions had to be written. You may need to form committees or hold meetings to get the ball rolling.
10. Stretch yourself all the way back to the moment in time when you are sitting making your plan. What is the very first thing you need to do to set it in motion?
Of course, situations change, and the unexpected will always rear its ugly head. However, using this Reverse Psychology method is a great way to literally think in a different direction to be more creative and thorough. Remember that it’s not just for event planning, either. You can use this method to solve all types of problems that come up in your nonprofit organization.
Topics: Internal Issues, Problem Solving | No Comments »
Do You Have a Problem?
By Lorna Doone Brewer
If there’s anything nonprofits are good at, it’s solving the big problems. Hunger. Disease. Inequity. There are thousands of mission statements that directly address our commitment and approaches to solving these very problems.
But, what about the smaller problems we face on a daily basis? What about things like paying the rent or fielding bids for the next mailing or organizing a fundraiser from start to finish?
Every day organizations face a number of problems, and it takes creative nonprofit professionals to face and solve them all. Of all the abilities necessary to successfully run a nonprofit organization, problem solving skills are some of the most important.
In this series of posts, we will be talking a lot about creative problem solving. Check back as we take a look at a few methods you may not have considered.
Defining a Problem
Today we begin with the most important step: determining whether or not there is a problem that needs to be solved.
Sure, it sounds obvious, but far too often someone will perceive a problem where none truly exists. In his book How to Make Collaboration Work, David Straus of Interaction Associates defines a problem as “a situation that someone wants to change.”
We need to take this a step further, however. For example, just because I feel that I should have a personal assistant to pick my kids up from school while I’m busy running my nonprofit organization doesn’t mean that there’s truly a need for it. If I were to ask other staff members of the organization if getting my kids picked up was a problem, they’d likely say “no.”
So, how do you decided if a problem truly exists for your organization? Ask! While problem solving is an extremely important skill in running a nonprofit, there is no ability that is more important than communication.
Start by identifying who the “stakeholders” are in the situation. Let’s say that you perceived a problem (or a situation that needs changed) with your office. Maybe you are worried that some of the other employees feel slighted because they have cubicles instead of separate office spaces. Solving this problem would likely be an expensive endeavor, so you want to ensure that it is necessary before making a change.
Who would the stakeholders be in this situation?
- The employees – This pertains to all employees, not just those who would get offices. After all, everyone would have to pack up and move, and simple things like driving time to a new office might constitute more of an inconvenience than a benefit.
- The clients – Would a major move cost so much that you would be less able to offer your services, or would it make you so much more productive because departments wouldn’t be tripping over one another?
- The property owner – If the owner knew you were considering a move, maybe he or she would want to invest in remodeling the existing space to keep your organization there.
- Finally, don’t forget to ask those directly affected. It’s possible that they prefer working in an atmosphere where they can easily collaborate without the obstacles created when office doors can be closed.
By offering each of these stakeholders a voice in the decision, you are benefitting the entire organization in two ways. First, you may discover that there really is no problem and save quite a bit of time, trouble, and money that could be better utilized. Secondly, if a change does need to be made, this has been determined as a group; and this creates much more buy-in and support for solving the problem.
Topics: Internal Issues, Problem Solving | No Comments »
Nonprofit Startups and the Power of Bartering
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Is there anything with more enthusiasm and less money that a startup nonprofit organization? While you’re likely devoting a fair amount of time and brain power to figuring out financial options for your startup, make sure you also consider reasonable barter situations.
Whether you’re planning to operate from your home or are setting up shop in an actual shop, there is no feeling in the world that compares to that mixture of ecstasy and terror. One of the first questions you have to ask yourself – and everyone else will want to know, too – is “How are we going to pay for this?”
There are, of course, the obvious answers.
- From your own pocket
- With donations
- Through grant funding
But the aspiring nonprofit founder has to be realistic. Your own pocket is only so deep. There are never enough donations to go around. And grant funding? We’ll, that’s most likely something that is being pushed to the backburner while you’re getting things established.
One of the cheapest ways to get what you need in those early days is to barter for it. You can trade goods and services with other nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, and even individuals.
In order to barter with others you must have something of value to trade in the first place. Take a little time to evaluate your assets.
Space
Having a spare bit of space can be a great start when you want to barter. If you have an extra office space in your building, for example, maybe you could trade it for the services of an accountant who is looking for a little place of his or her own. Or perhaps your animal sanctuary has an extra outbuilding where another business could store a truck in return for allowing you to use it for vet appointments.
Equipment
Did you inherit a photocopier or purchase a postage meter or end up with a backhoe somehow? What kinds of trades could you work out based on this equipment? Perhaps the nonprofit garden down the road would be willing to barter some landscaping in return for access to your fax machine.
Services
Is it possible that your constituents would have something to offer in trade for your services? If not, consider what other types of services you might be able to offer and who would benefit from them. If you’re a Notary Public, for example, perhaps you could trade that service to an attorney who would be willing to draw up a couple of simple contracts in return.
Yourself
Chances are that you are the most valuable thing your startup nonprofit organization has going for it. Why not leverage your skills and abilities to barter for the things you need? If your rabbit rescue is looking for some hutches, maybe a local farm would give you some of their old ones in return for mucking out stalls. If you were a chef in a former life, offer to cater a monthly lunch for a local advertising company in return for their services.
After you’ve determined just what you have to offer, you have to figure out exactly what you need. Make a list of these goods and services and try to come up with at least three potential sources of bartering for each item. Then it is a matter of approaching these potential sources with the same enthusiasm you have for your nonprofit organization.
In order to get the most out of bartering, you need to take the time to really inventory yourself and your startup nonprofit organization. Be creative with your ideas. You will also need the confidence to make the barter request. You may just be surprised at how often you’ll hear “yes.”
Topics: Getting Started | 1 Comment »
Conservationist Nonprofits: It’s a Buyer’s Market
By Tamara Berry
Almost everyone is tired of hearing about the plummeting real estate market. Yes, houses are being repossessed at alarming rates. Yes, real estate developers are unable to find buyers for their once-profitable plots of land. Yes, the entire global community is impacted by these economic changes. It’s one of those topics that is so immersed in gloom and doom that it is becoming difficult to muster up any optimistic feelings.
That’s why a recent article released by the Associated Press has many nonprofits and conservationists digging out their rose-colored glasses once again.
All over the United States, thousands of acres of land priced at exorbitant rates only months ago are now reaching a price range that even struggling conservationists can afford. Property that may have incredible historic, scenic, or even community-building potential is suddenly up for grabs – and no longer just by big businesses looking to build housing developments that cater to the upper and middle classes.
Although most of the companies that have benefited from this cheap land grab are large land trust companies, nature conservancy groups and nonprofits working with green issues can also benefit from the drastic pricing cuts. And because so much of the land isn’t useful to anyone other than other conservation groups, it’s like a department store clearance sale without the crowds.
Topics: In the News | No Comments »
Are Going Green and Running a Nonprofit Mutually Exclusive?
By Tamara Berry
Nonprofits are always looking at their bottom line. Whether it’s cutting expenses, increasing donor contributions, or securing foundation grants, the dollars and cents of running a successful nonprofit organization often form a complex maze of wants and needs that it seems impossible to escape.
In today’s business community, however, the buzzword on everyone’s lips is “green.” Organizations of all sizes are becoming more ecologically responsible – often to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why the ostensibly high cost of going green scares a good many nonprofits away.
There are many noteworthy nonprofits working directly with environmental issues and decreasing the carbon footprint of people all over the world, but changes made at a much smaller, more individualized level should never be overlooked. As a community leader and an organization seeking to make a positive impact in this world, it’s your responsibility to install responsible measures that serve as a model for other companies. And hey, you might even get some media attention and draw in some eco-savvy donors, as well.
Starting Small
Instead of going out and rewiring your entire building or getting rid of that old, donated van for a fleet of Tesla Roadsters, you can implement small changes that will soon add up to make a big difference.
- Offer your newsletter in email format. Add a subscription button on your website and reserve a space in your printed newsletter to appeal to current subscribers to make the move to online. This not only reduces paper and printing waste, but it can save you quite a bit of money, as well.
- Use direct e-mail whenever possible. Direct mail donor lists are commonplace among the nonprofit set. While we don’t want you to go in and cut your list or make a switch entirely over to email at the cost of losing your important donor dollars, you should still consider when using email over direct mail might be okay (think updates, donors who support your green business model, or donors you haven’t heard from in several years).
- Make small office changes. These are the types of tips that work for any office. Replace your light bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs. Reuse paper when printing out materials for in-office use. Implement a recycling program for paper, plastic, aluminum cans, and glass.
- Put your green goals into your mission. Although you may be a long way off from installing solar panels on your rooftop, putting your eco-friendly outlook into your mission statement can ensure that the idea is always on the forefront of everyone’s mind. It also means that you can use your environmental concern when writing grants (heck, you can even write grants specifically for green upgrades), a move that get you a little more attention and a little bigger edge.
Topics: Internal Issues | 2 Comments »
Four Ways to Have a More Profitable Fundraiser
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Fundraisers are a part of life in pretty much every nonprofit organization. They’re hectic and complicated and a whole lot of effort. They’re also incredibly important, which is why we keep doing them.
In order to get the most out of your next fundraiser, keep these things in mind:
- Create a budget early, and stick to it. - Oftentimes we forget to set a budget for fundraisers and end up trying to pay for things on the fly. It’s no fun to add up receipts after the fact only to find out you lost money on your fundraiser!
- Consider what you can borrow or barter to keep costs low. - Is there a service you could trade in order to get your venue, catering, prizes, etc. for free or at a discount? Get creative. If you have a volunteer with a special skill they’re willing to donate, perhaps you could trade it to get event programs printed, for example.
- Look at what has been successful (and what hasn’t) in the past. - If you have an annual event, it’s really easy to just get stuck on autopilot. If you don’t look at what works and what doesn’t you’re not going to get the most out of this year, either.
- Plan as far in advance as possible. - This seems so obvious, but you know you’re going to be running around at the last minute taking care of stuff. Spend some time at the beginning of the process to plan ahead, and you’ll have more time later to take care of the little details.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preparing for a fundraiser, but even taking the time to do these four small things can have a huge impact on the money you’re able to raise.
Topics: Fundraisers | No Comments »
How to Keep Your Nonprofit’s Emails from Being Read as Spam
By Tamara Berry
Sending out updates or newsletters as part of an online marketing campaign is a great way for nonprofits to stay in touch with interested parties at minimal cost or effort. In fact, since keeping your name and brand at the forefront of people’s minds is one of the cornerstones of keeping volunteerism and donations high, many marketing consultants suggest doing just this.
However, if you aren’t taking certain precautions, your emails might be bypassing their targets and going directly to junk inboxes and spam filters – right up there alongside financial scams and offers for sexual enhancements.
The most important step you can take in keeping your newsletters on the straight and narrow is avoiding the Blacklist. A Blacklist occurs when a spam filter decides that your email address or domain name is a recognizable spam sender. You are branded with the equivalent of a scarlet letter, and it can be incredibly difficult to remove it. While this is good news for those of us who hate getting hundreds of spam emails every week, it is bad news for anyone who gets placed there unjustifiably.
Avoid Getting Blacklisted:
- If your email or newsletter uses certain keywords or techniques (such as the word “free” or “money,” a large proportion of exclamation points, WORDS IN CAPITAL LETTERS, or really long subject lines), you might get automatically placed on the spam list. Keep your subject lines short and simple, and avoid over-hyping anything you send out.
- Place a “Thank your for subscribing” message somewhere near the top of the email. This will remind people that they requested to be sent your email updates and newsletters, thereby reducing the risk that they will click the “This is Junk” option on their email provider, which is a quick way to the Blacklist.
- At the same time, never send out your newsletters unless your recipients have subscribed or requested it. Unsolicited mail has a higher probability of being Blacklisted. It’s also a good idea to allow for easy unsubscription, as well.
- Include your organization’s contact information somewhere on the email. Giving a legitimate phone number, address, and URL authenticates the work you are doing and the emails you are sending out. This makes you look a lot less like spam and a lot more like the quality organization you are.
- Avoid sending your emails from a free email address (like Yahoo, Google, or AOL). Use your official company email service or any email address that can be traced to a legitimate organization.
- Never send any attachments on the email. Attachments are one of the primary vehicles through which spammers send viruses and other catastrophic messages. Blacklists look out for these for this very reason.
- Consider using an email services firm to send out your newsletter. Specialty groups that work directly with nonprofits (such as Local Voice or Network for Good) are an especially great way to go if you have additional communication needs.
- Comply with the regulations set out by the Direct Marketing Association. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with a copy of their FAQs related to spam and sending out emails.
Remember, getting off a Blacklist is much, much more difficult than getting on one. Avoid problems now by taking the right steps to validate your email correspondence. Get permission for all the newsletters you send, and keep copies of everything.
Topics: Marketing | No Comments »
Join Your Nonprofit State Association
By Tamara Berry
Most states offer nonprofit associations that are open to licensed organizations functioning within state borders. Although most of them come with an annual membership fee, costs are generally pretty minimal (most offer year-long options for under $500).
For your subscription fee, you get a great networking opportunity with like-minded organizations as well as suppliers in the area. Oftentimes, companies without a nonprofit status (but ones that sell goods or services that can be of profound help to nonprofits) offer discounts when a connection is made through the association.
Although most nonprofits already know about the substantial benefits that can be derived from networking to share resources, information technology, strategies, and funding opportunities, these associations go a little bit further by addressing things on a state-wide level. Issues of governance, state and city license requirements, and other legal and ethical ramifications that vary according to location are often addressed through these associations. This is especially true for organizations that work directly with advocacy and public policy as a part of their everyday operations.
Another benefit of nonprofit state associations is access to conferences and training opportunities provided locally. Oftentimes, the primary barrier to attending conferences is the lack of travel budget. By keeping things within state and even city borders, you can oftentimes cut out the need for costly air travel or overnight expenses.
While networking on a national or even international level should certainly never be ignored, it’s important for nonprofits to also remember the impact they can have on a local level. Whether your organization is seeking to open new avenues of resource acquisition or looking to serve in a mentorship capacity to smaller, struggling nonprofits, there is much to be gained from reaching out to those in your community.
To learn more about state associations for nonprofits, please visit the National Council for Nonprofit Associations.
Topics: Networking, Online Resources | No Comments »
Volunteer Retention: Choose the Right Job for the Volunteer
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Recruiting volunteers is important. Retaining them is even more important. Unfortunately, volunteer retention is going to suffer if you don’t take the individual’s skills, abilities, and (especially) interests into consideration. We’ve spent a few days talking about how to recruit volunteers, but today’s post is about what to do once the volunteer has stepped through the door. What to do after the internal dance of joy, that is.
If you’re in the middle of a big envelope stuffing project and a new volunteer walks in, the first inclination is to put him or her to work folding and licking. Let’s be realistic. If you’re in the middle of a project like that, it’s exactly what you’re going to do. It’s exactly what we’d do, too.
But once the chaos of the current project has passed, there’s probably going to be another just-as-urgent project right around the corner. It’s far too easy to just keep shuffling that volunteer from project to project. Today it’s envelope stuffing, tomorrow it’s data entry, the next day it’s moving boxes around the warehouse . . . The problem that this process doesn’t foster volunteer retention. By the time you hit next week, that volunteer is liable to be long gone, and you’re back at square one.
One of the most valuable things you can do boost your nonprofit organization’s volunteer retention rate is to ask newcomers what they’d actually like to do.
Maybe you’ll luck out. Maybe the new guy will answer with, “I’m here to fulfill my childhood dream of sending out direct mail appeals.” More likely, he’s going to tell you that he’d like to offer some IT support or that he’s interested in working outdoors, or any number of things that are decidedly not envelope-stuffing related.
Many volunteers are going to tell you that they’ll do whatever you need them to do. And they will. But they won’t do it for long. If you can match the volunteer’s skills to a job you need done, your chances of keeping him or her onboard go up. Taking time to do this type of thing shows the volunteers that you’re not just devoted to your cause, but that you’re devoted to them, as well.
Topics: Volunteers | No Comments »
How to Recruit More Volunteers
By Lorna Doone Brewer
So, now that we’ve looked at some of the usual suspects when it comes to volunteer recruitment for nonprofit organizations, let’s get a little more creative. This is a fun exercise to use to get the ideas flowing in a staff meeting or at a group lunch. You can use this technique over and over in order to brainstorm ideas for all different types of volunteers.
1. Who Makes the List? First, have the group choose the type of volunteer they want to recruit, and write it at the top of a whiteboard. Different organizations are looking for different types of folks, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work so well. One nonprofit organization may be looking to recruit volunteers to translate documents from English to Spanish, while another is looking for volunteers to plant gardens in community spaces. Even separate departments within the same nonprofit organization need different skills in their volunteers.
2. The Boring Stuff Talk about the typical process your nonprofit organization generally uses to recruit volunteers. Many of the places you usually look are probably already listed in our previous post. Write the list out on a whiteboard under the heading “Usual places we look for this kind of volunteer.”
3. Hey, Why Didn’t I Think of That? Based solely on the type of volunteer you’re looking to recruit, have the group brainstorm at least five totally obvious yet unexplored places to look. For example, you may not have thought to look for translators at the local high school, even though several of them are employed there. In the case of volunteers to plant gardens, why not recruit through the local home and garden store?
4. Why, That’s a Brilliant Idea! Now, it’s time to move on to the “Completely ridiculous places to look” category. We also like to call this the “That’s so crazy, it just might work” category. Again, use the volunteer type to help brainstorm these ideas. Looking for a volunteer to translate from one language to another? Maybe one of your nonprofit organization’s clients is bilingual and wants to give back as a way to say “thanks.” Need someone to plant gardens? Why not look at a local restaurant that specializes in organic entrees? There’s a good chance they’ll appreciate the opportunity to help others enjoy fresh, healthy produce.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that brainstorming is all about accepting any ideas given. Write every suggestion on the whiteboard without analyzing it. There will be time for that later. Instead allow people to really get their creative juices flowing. You never know where you’re going to end up, but wherever it is, you’re liable to be holding a list of great recruitment ideas when you get there.
Topics: Volunteers | 1 Comment »