Management

The Imperative of Raising Money in Bad Economic Times

ocaldwell — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:42:34 -0500

The world is going throughquite a economic roller coaster. For the average Executive in ministry the thought of raising money for the cause is laughable. However WE cannot throw up our hands in despair and say there is no money left. More than ever there is a need to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc. Jesus stated that the Poor will always be among us. Therefore YOU will have to find the funds to support your organization's mission. These stats are from 2002, but let's face it...even in bad economic times, there are people who are wealthy. According to World Wealth Report 2.2 million North Americans have liquid financial assets of more than 1 million. Thus, we have a mandate to see who in our community can help us in our endeavors.

Motivate Your Staff to Be Self-Motivated

EvanDonovan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:53:33 -0500

MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP RESOURCE

Motivate Your Staff to Be Self-Motivated
(Adapted from Managing the Staff of the Local Church by David R. Pollock, Alston-Kline, 2003, p. 150-155)

One of the challenges facing managers and leaders of faith-based organizations is how to motivate the nonprofit staff. How do you get people to work well together and do what you want them to do at the same time? Business organizations often combine two standard approaches to motivation:

A system of reward, ranging from recognition to monetary compensation, and punishment, ranging from loss of esteem to loss of pay.
A hierarchical system in which individuals of higher authority motivate those with lesser authority to meet certain quantifiable standards or tangible objectives.

While these two motivational approaches are effective to a point, they are largely inadequate for the average FBO. For example, monetary compensation or withholding is appropriate in an organization that develops, markets and sells a product for financial gain: the more money the organization takes in, the more it can reward its employees for their profit-making efforts. Similarly, the hierarchical system works well when an organization has a production deadline or quota that provides an actual measurable goal. In a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide resources, not products, and to improve the community, not increase profit margins, you may need to look beyond profit-oriented organizational models to find ways of motivating your staff.

Ultimately, the most effective team efforts stem not from an imposed motivational system, but from motivation initiated in the individual; in other words, from self-motivation. How does a manager or leader impose self-motivation—on a group of people employed to assist and motivate others? The following steps will help you guide your staff members toward developing their own intrinsic motivation.

1. Ask questions, and pay attention to the responses. A staff member will respond sincerely if you ask sincere questions about what motivates him or her to work enthusiastically and effectively in your organization. The fact that you actively show interest in motivating your staff members may, in turn, be a self-motivator.

2. Get real about your organization’s goals. The expectations you set for your staff should be realistic—“do-able”—and should support the organization’s mission statement.

3. Bring staff members on board by inviting them to determine which objectives must be established and met in order to accomplish each goal. This exercise accomplishes two tasks: First, it gives every staff member an applicable understanding of how his or her own staff position is valuable and necessary in the organizational structure. Second, participating in the organization’s strategic planning gives the staff a “big-picture” view of the organization’s mission and purpose. Together, these results can energize the staff and help them to get moving in the right direction.

Related Articles

Support Your Support Staff

Professional Development - Leadership

pure.imagination — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:36:03 -0500

Course 302 - Nonprofit Administration

EvanDonovan — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:38:39 -0600

Course 302 - Nonprofit Administration (3 credits)

Principles of operating a not-for-profit organization, including the development and purposes of the organizing documents, the reporting requirements for maintaining an organization's non-profit status, the functions of the Board of Directors, and the relationship between the Chief Executive and the Board.

Course 304 - Ministry Management

EvanDonovan — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:40:04 -0600

Course 304 - Ministry Management (3 credits)

An exploration of the four primary tasks for successful management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Internet Nonprofit Center

Miki — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:06:31 -0500

RELATED LINK - DETAIL

Internet Nonprofit Center

Visit this site

Summary:

Another useful resource for information related to nonprofit management. It contains an extensive list of frequently asked questions related to numerous topics, as well as a bibliography of recommended books.

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

The FAQs, related links and other resources are a good source of information for nonprofit leaders looking for in-depth answers to their questions on Organization, Management, Regulation, Resources and Development Fundraising.

Related Articles
	Support Your Support Staff

Related Links
	Nonprofit Good Practice Guide
	Free, On-Line Nonprofit Organization and Management Development Program

	News
	Conference Calendar
	Forum
	Find Others
	Ask a Specialist

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation-Research Center

Miki — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:32:57 -0500

RELATED LINK - DETAIL

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation-Research Center

Visit this site

Summary:

The Wilder Foundation’s Research Center sponsors practical research and evaluation to strengthen individuals, families and communities. In addition to publishing a variety of books and workbooks on nonprofit management and leadership, the Center offers consulting services.

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

Wilder's staff and network of associates are recognized nonprofit leaders, authors, and consultants with experience in managing organizations, teaching, training, conducting research, and leading community initiatives.

Related Books
	The Wilder Nonprofit Field Guide to Crafting Effective Mission & Vision Statements

	News
	Conference Calendar
	Forum
	Find Others
	Ask a Specialist

Free Online Nonprofit Organization and Management Development Program

EvanDonovan — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:16:29 -0500

RELATED LINK - DETAIL

Free, On-Line Nonprofit Organization and Management Development Program

Visit this site

Summary:

From the developers of the Free Management Library comes a Web-based program that systematically covers much of the information one would get from an MBA in nonprofit management.

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

This self-paced learning tool will equip nonprofit professional staff, board members and key volunteers with:

Orientation to Program -- and Other Free Resources for Your Nonprofit

Starting and Understanding Your Nonprofit

Understanding the Role of Chief Executive

Developing Your Management and Leadership Skills

Building and Supporting Your Board

Developing Your Strategic Plan

Developing and Marketing Your Programs

Managing Your Nonprofit's Finances and Taxes

Developing Your Fundraising Plan

Supervising Your Employees and Volunteers

Evaluating Your Programs and Services

Conducting Overall Final Fitness Test of Your Nonprofit.

It is highly recommended for those individuals who are interested in obtaining practical knowledge of nonprofits but do not have the time or resources to enroll in a formal education program.

Related Articles
	Performance Appraisal: Common Pitfalls and Solutions
	Delegation: Reasons and Rules

Related Books
	A Leader to Leader Guide: On Leading Change

Related Links
	Nonprofit Good Practice Guide
	Free Management Library

	News
	Conference Calendar
	Forum
	Find Others
	Ask a Specialist

Additional Management and Leadership Resources

EvanDonovan — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:25:50 -0500

EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS TOPIC
Management & Leadership

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Performance Appraisal: Common Pitfalls and Solutions: Performance appraisals are meant to be used as tools for improving the performance of an organization’s staff. These seven common appraisal rating errors may be giving FBO leaders an inaccurate picture of their staff’s strengths and weaknesses. Solutions to these common performance appraisal pitfalls are included as well.
View this Resource

Motivate Your Staff to be Self-Motivated: Motivating a nonprofit staff requires different strategies than those used by for-profit organizations. Read these five tips for suggestions on how to turn your staff into self-motivated individuals.
View this Resource

Avoid the Abuse of Memo Use: Are memos your main method of communicating with your nonprofit staff? This short article explains how and why the overuse of memos in the nonprofit can be ineffective or damaging, and describes ways to use memos effectively.
View this Resource

Support Your Support Staff: Support staff members (a.k.a. admin assistants or secretaries) are the unsung heroes of many nonprofit organizations. This article lists ways of using proper communication to support the work of managerial support staff.
View this Resource

Delegation: Reasons and Rules: Do you know how to delegate? Delegation can result in improved efficiency, heightened work satisfaction and an increase in team support in your nonprofit organization. In this article, find out how and why you should use delegation in your management practices.
View this Resource

Recommended Books
A Leader to Leader Guide: On Leading Change: This guide focuses on how to move organizations through transformation.
View this Resource

Recommended Links
Nonprofit Good Practice Guide: Written with the grassroots practitioner in mind, this easy-to-use site offers a variety of information related to nonprofit management in general: clearly written articles, answers to frequently asked questions, best (and worst) practices, and a glossary.
View this Resource

National Association of Church Business Administration: The National Association of Church Business Administration exists to help train church administrators and provide them with resources related to effective church management. The site features news articles from around the country on events that affect church administrators, opportunities for continuing education, and books, software and other resources that can be purchased relating to church management.
View this Resource

The Nonprofit Genie: A great resource, this Web site offers a variety of information and tools related to nonprofit management management in general: articles written by nationally known experts, answers to frequently asked questions, links to nonprofit resources around the Web, and a bibliography of books recommended by experts in the field.
View this Resource

Management Information Exchange: MIE's mission is to spark excellence in leadership, management and fundraising in legal services programs serving low-income clients, through training, consulting and publishing activities of the highest quality.
View this Resource

Internet Nonprofit Center : Another useful resource for information related to nonprofit management. It contains an extensive list of frequently asked questions related to numerous topics, as well as a bibliography of recommended books.
View this Resource

Free Management Library: This comprehensive library features information on 72 topic areas related to nonprofit and for-profit management.
View this Resource

Free, On-Line Nonprofit Organization and Management Development Program: From the developers of the Free Management Library comes a Web-based program that systematically covers much of the information one would get from an MBA in nonprofit management.
View this Resource

	Performance Appraisal: Common Pitfalls and Solutions
	Nonprofit Good Practice Guide
	Free Management Library
	National Association of Church Business Administration
	Free, On-Line Nonprofit Organization and Management Development Program

Nonprofit Management

EvanDonovan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:29:56 -0500

EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS TOPIC
Management & Leadership
Nonprofit Management

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Entrepreneurial Management: Learn how one congregation has adopted a flexible, lean, and results-oriented approach to operating its successful job training initiative.
View this Resource

Entrepreneurial Management