1. Key Characteristics of Successful, Sustainable and Impactful Nonprofits
National Military Spouse Network Summit
October 21, 2017
Presented by Renette Oklewicz

2. Key Characteristics High quality, valued and impactful programs
Energetic, visionary executive director
Diverse, engaged, and talented fundraising board with focus on stewardship
Competent, experienced and motivated staff
Diverse, sufficient and sustainable fundraising plan
Well-managed organizational and financial structure
Results focused from top to bottom
Alliances, collaborations and partnerships
Excellent reputation in the community

3. Effective Model of Services
Define and determine the need
Test your hypothesis
Explore effective models
Others providing similar services nearby
Understand clearly what works
Create a successful model
Population, need and intervention
Funding and staffing plan
Work plan with measurable outcomes
Seek collaborations/partnerships

4. Organizational Leadership
High energy, passionate leader with excellent communication, organizational and relationship-building skills
Clear vision for success with a focus on solutions and engaging partners
Results oriented with a relentless need for achievement
Leads a team-centered, learning organization
Executive director is key to attracting staff, board, funders and partners
Succession planning

5. Board of Directors
Attract diverse, talented and engaged board willing to raise funding
Members bring expertise valuable to the organization
Valuable community and business network
Embrace their fundraising role
See stewardship and fiduciary responsibility as their priority
Strong board and executive director partnership – open and honest communication
Clear roles and responsibilities
Building an effective board takes time

6. Staffing
Resourceful, compassionate and skilled staff focused on results
Effective at engaging and motivating clients
Act as ambassadors to the organization
Willing to work in a team environment
Contribute to a culture of learning
Manage a reasonable workload
Receive appropriate supervision, training and professional development

7. Diverse Fundraising Plan
Foundation and government grants
Foundation Center
GrantWatch.com
(federal)
Other nonprofits doing similar work
Corporate and business funding
Board relationships
Strategic partnerships
Volunteers
Individual donors – most sustainable source
Relationships are critical to raising and sustaining funding

8. Robust Marketing Plan Website Social media
Brochures, annual report, newsletters
Build community awareness
Join nonprofit networks
Meet with community leaders
Develop relationships with the media
Board, staff, and volunteers are advocates
Events promote awareness

9. Organizational Structure
Staff and board roles and responsibilities
Performance management system
Policies and procedures
Financial planning, reporting and oversight
Annual audit

10. Results Focused Funding Words Outcome Thinking Accountability
Performance
Compliance
Success
Monitoring
Supporting
Reports
Information Use
Evaluation
Learning

11. Outcomes-Based Programs
Why measure outcomes/human gain?
Competitive advantage
Increases performance
Provides clear road map for staff
Improves quality control and allows for in- time program adjustments
Outcome framework sets targets, project steps, milestones and deadlines for each outcome.

12. Outcomes Based Programs
Targets: The number (not percentages) of clients you are committed to help achieve a specific level of gain. Be reasonable.
Project Steps: What you will do to reach each target and what the client must gain from each step.
Milestones: Key achievements that will best show participant progress in getting to the gain you have targeted and the date to reach each milestone.
Verification: Provides evidence or other information you will use to define success for each of your targets.

13. Example: One Year Target: Of the 62 people in our shelter,
50 will move to permanent housing by
September 2017.
Project Step: 25 landlords will agree to accept 20 clients by December 2016.
Milestone: 25 people are moved to permanent housing by March 2107.
Verification: Tenant leases signed

14. Resources Organizational Effectiveness and Fundraising
Foundation Center
Center for Nonprofit Advancement
Maryland Nonprofits
National Council of Nonprofits
GrantWatch
Board Development
BoardSource
Leap of Reason
Nonprofit Management Certificate Programs
Georgetown University
George Mason University