The scene: It’s the morning after the election. I’m taking a walk with my four-legged personal trainer and asking myself “Where do we go from here?” when my phone rings. It’s one of my favorite clients asking me for advice on how to talk about the election aftermath with his staff, volunteers, members and donors.
Within 10 minutes or so we came up with a plan that involved:
Convening a staff meeting to talk about their feelings and the work ahead which will involve doubling down on the commitment to the mission.
Reaching out to volunteers, members, and donors to let them know that no matter how they voted, the organization will draw upon all of its resources to meet the mission in new and innovative ways.
Contacting a lobbyist to discuss the possibility of accessing new dollars (this nonprofit already engages its board, staff, and volunteers in advocacy work).
Creating a year-end fundraising plan that paints a clear vision for the work ahead and the resources needed to realize it.
It’s go time!
Pat
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Pat Libby is a change management consultant working principally with nonprofit corporations. She is author of The Empowered Citizens Guide: 10 Steps to Passing a Law that Matters to You, Oxford University Press, The Lobbying Strategy Handbook, second edition, Oxford University Press, and Cases in Nonprofit Management, SAGE. She has served as an academic, senior executive, board member, and consultant to innumerable nonprofit organizations and foundations for more than three decades.
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