{"id":6952,"date":"2019-03-29T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T12:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.method.me\/?p=6952"},"modified":"2026-01-14T10:38:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:38:17","slug":"5-best-practices-for-running-a-nonprofit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.method.me\/blog\/5-best-practices-for-running-a-nonprofit\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Best Practices for Running a Nonprofit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may think that nonprofit charities operate differently than private companies. But when you examine them closely, you\u2019ll see that many of their pain points, priorities and processes are familiar to all organizations, regardless of their industry.
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Whatever we call organizations in the nonprofit sector \u2014 charities, foundations, social enterprises, and so on \u2014 the point is that their paths to growth and success are based on strategies similar to those used by for-profit companies. Like these companies, nonprofits and charities require strong leadership, vision, and innovation, along with the right people and tools, to give their causes the visibility they deserve.
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Here, we\u2019ll examine some of the key strategies that nonprofits<\/a> can use in order to garner support and increase their impact.
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1. Know your donors <\/strong>
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The most successful charities truly know their donors. In the corporate world, this principle is called \u201cknowing your customer.\u201d But whether you\u2019re referring to customers or donors, the underlying message is that it\u2019s important to look beyond the numbers and learn more about what attracts individuals to your organization.
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A forward-thinking nonprofit will always stay focused on the things their donors care about, where their preferences lie, and how much they\u2019ve given in the past. Sophisticated organizations can even use this information to predict (with surprising accuracy) how much those donors will give in the future. This is a huge advantage, as it takes a lot of the risk out of strategic planning.
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How do these organizations do it? It\u2019s a combination of the right instincts, the right tools, and the<\/g> right processes. Interact with your supporters at any opportunity, invest in a comprehensive donor management solution<\/a>, and make market research an ongoing part of your operations. You\u2019ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you have a better understanding of your audience.
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2. Personalize every connection <\/strong>
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When it comes to effective donor management, you cannot overestimate the importance of building relationships and personalizing every communication. The people who are giving to your charity need to know that they’re making a difference. They<\/g> also need to feel that their efforts are acknowledged and appreciated<\/a>.
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Hold on. But they\u2019re giving for the cause, not for themselves, right? <\/em>
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Of course, that\u2019s a nice thought, and it may be true for some donors. But overall, that\u2019s not how the business<\/em> of nonprofit management works. Ask any successful for-profit business about the importance of personal relationships. They\u2019ll tell you that building and maintaining those relationships is crucial to their success.  
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The same thing applies here. In fact, in the nonprofit world, creating these meaningful relationships is even more important, because the donor is giving you their money without receiving a product or service in return.  
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To maximize donor retention, treat each donor like they\u2019re your biggest supporter. Every email, outreach and check-in call should be personalized and informed by their previous interactions with your nonprofit, their giving history, and the things they care about.
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3. Leverage digital tools <\/strong>
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Your donors are online and digitally active. For many younger supporters, it\u2019s the best way they know of to learn about your nonprofit, see the work you\u2019re doing, and plan their future giving.
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Just as for-profit companies use technology to strengthen their brand, connect with potential buyers and manage customer relationships<\/a>, your organization should do the same. At a minimum, this means you should have a well-maintained website and a strong social media<\/a> presence.
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From an internal perspective, cloud-based apps are great for providing your team with a shared workspace, a centralized dataset, and mobile access to essential information. For instance, nonprofits can leverage donor management software to:
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