CNM consultant, Cissy Mynatt has gone on the road for CNM to conduct some of the workshops for this summer’s Nonprofit Institute. The series put together through a partnership with the Community Foundation, is designed to provide CNM quality workshops outside of Nashville. Cissy is delivering the workshop “Mission Possible, Surviving and Thriving in Tough Times” in Cookeville today and in Murfreesboro on June 23. Here is a summary from her on the first sessions she conducted in Gallatin and Columbia last week:
Mission Possible in Middle Tennessee
We are at the halfway mark in the circuit of workshops CNM is offering this month on Surviving and Thriving in Tough Times. As part of CNM’s 2009 Nonprofit Institute, it has been my pleasure to work with Sarah Townsend to take this “Mission Possible” workshop to Gallatin and Columbia and we are looking forward to Cookeville and Murfreesboro over the upcoming 2 weeks.
In each half-day session we have had some great discussions on topics ranging from clarifying the organization’s core mission to evaluating programs and services to make sure they are aligned with mission. I always learn at least as much as the workshop participants and this time has been no exception. One agency director discussed how her organization’s mission has changed over time from crisis response to transitional support. She talked about why it has been important to recognize this shift in focus in order to allocate limited resources to truly meet client needs.
We learned in both sessions the value of specifically defining a problem or issue in order to find the best solution. Describing a challenge as “we aren’t going to meet our revenue goals” is very different than “our reimbursements have been delayed by 30-45 days so we have a cash flow issue.” Several participants took advantage of the brainpower in the group to help find creative solutions to very real and immediate issues. We also looked at specific “cutback strategies” within three categories:
• Financial strategies – including cutting or control costs and increasing revenue
• Structural strategies – modifying the mission, structure or culture
• Engagement strategies – involving business, philanthropic, religious and other sectorsAmy Maden will be delving further into the financial strategies with Budgeting in a Difficult Economy in July and Kate Monaghan will take on the engagement and structural strategies with her workshop in August. I shared with both groups some great advice from Managing in Tough Times: 7 Steps, an article by the Bridgespan Group (available for free download at www.bridgespan.org/LearningCenter/ResourceDetail.aspx?id=2638).
Another good thought that runs throughout the national and local dialogue on this topic is how much more effective it is to use multiple strategies, some that pay off immediately as well as those that lay a strong foundation for the future…and of course it’s always important to stay in touch with your donors and to communicate the results your organization achieves in good and tough times.
I will report back in when we finish up these June workshops. In the meantime, it would be great to hear questions, issues or ideas you have encountered while surviving and thriving in your own corner of the nonprofit world.
Gallatin Session – Mission Possible: Surviving and Thriving in Tough Times
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