Are You Adding Value to Your Organization?

By Jerry F. Smith, CFRE

Today nonprofit organizations are working in a very difficult environment. Your nonprofit has grown far more complex, and you are facing increased competitive pressure amplified by a tough economy. This new environment requires us to think and operate differently. Businesses across our country have laid off more employees this past year than in decades, and the same thing keeps being said, "We can no longer keep employees who are not adding value to our organization." This requires all of us to truly examine ourselves and see what value we are adding to our organization.

Now more than ever, we need to step up to the plate and do more than what is expected of us. We must show our organization and the constituency we serve our commitment and our loyalty in doing what has to be done in this very tough economy. We all know it is more important than ever to sell the mission of our organization, cultivate relationships and become better stewards to reach our goals. We must become pro-active in our approach and our philosophy. We must be the ones bringing the answers and the ideas to our prospects and donors. People today are searching for individuals who will make a difference, who will work harder, work longer and who will be more creative.

When we wake up in the morning, we choose the attitude that will ultimately guide our thoughts and actions through the day. I am convinced our best attitudes emerge out of a clear understanding of our own identity, a clear sense of mission, and a deep sense of purpose for our lives. This sort of attitude encourages us to press on, to focus on the goal, and to respond in remarkable ways to life's most extreme circumstances.

Bringing value means being intentional and working with purpose--making every action count. It's about focusing on doing the right things, moment to moment, day to day and then following through with them in a consistent way.

Successful fund-raisers are INTENTIONAL. They are not scattered or haphazard. They know what they are doing and why they are doing it. For an organization to be successful, it needs intentional people who can remain focused and productive, people who make every action count.

So in closing, BE INTENTIONAL TODAY, MAKE EVERY ACTION COUNT, and you will bring tremendous value to your organization.