LEMONS TO LEMONADE Collaborating and cutting costs in sour times

1. LEMONS TO LEMONADECollaborating and cutting costs in sour times Community Ventures March 5, 2009 Rich Male

2. Stay in touch with your donors as never before through • Monthly breakfasts • Personal visits • E-newsletters • Thank you calls from board members

3. Develop contingency plans and pare down expenses • If you had to reduce expenses by 10-20% what criteria would you use? • With difficult choices, how do you balance the mission vs. money? • How will you involve and engage the staff and board in these decisions?

4. Make it as easy for donors to give as possible • Add on-line donations to the front page of your website • Spread out donations across the year • Accept monthly donations by credit card • Payroll donations are the easiest way to contribute (and receive) • Join Community Shares of Colorado or another workplace giving group

5. Watch for opportunities in the president’s stimulus package • Volunteerism—AmeriCorps and other community service programs • Employment placement and job training programs • Emergency services—food, shelter, income support • Health and mental health • Special education • Clean energy and energy efficiency • CDBG funding—city, county, state • Housing—affordable, emergency, accessible • Make sure you have “shovel ready” projects and you are known to your elected officers and their staff

6. Increase your visibility and “position” your organization • Give presentations to Rotary and other service clubs • Become a project for churches, synagogues and other faith groups • Join your local chamber of commerce • Submit regular op-eds and letters to your local daily, weekly and business newspapers • Hang out with your city and county government leaders • Involve the students at high schools, colleges and universities

7. Leading your team is key in times of uncertainty • Increase communications with all stakeholders • Build your team into a “learning organization” • Build trust by being honest and admitting your vulnerability • Build confidence by showing courage with compassion and competence • Reward people with non-cash incentives

8. Expand, mobilize and energize your board • Increase board members’ role as ambassadors • Have them open-up doors, set up breakfasts, and give tours of your organization • Give each board member business cards with the mission statement on the back • Recruit new board members who are leaders and positioned well in the community • Make sure the board is leading—rather than “you” leading the board

9. Seek out strategic partnerships • Can you share services to reduce your overhead and administrative costs? • Can you work in a partnership to expand your skills or bring in new constituencies? • Can you offer joint programming? • Can you consider a merger?

10. Reach out as never before • Become active in the Colorado Nonprofit Association and other affinity groups • Stay current with the latest best practices, news and events • Keep your antennas tuned to new opportunities • Now is not the time to withdraw and pull back • Embrace your partners, friends and stakeholders every chance you get!

11. Believe in yourself • Keep your eye on the prize • You can save the world—just do it one person at a time • You are special and your mission and vision is critical • Believe that good times are ahead for us all

12. Thank you! Richard Male & Associates http://www.richardmale.com 303.355.2919