Deborah, is, as per usual, diplomatic in her discussion of the site "Sustainable Nonprofit", which is a new(?) website that is designed to: "create a unified place for nonprofits and experts to share their experience, pain, achievements, and discoveries."
I love the idea, really, I do. The site is beautifully designed, and engaging, with some good information and tools, as well. It’s so nicely done, I wish it could indeed become that unified place. Except…
Everyone wants their site to be the unified place. Wishing, unfortunately, won’t make it so. "If we build it they will come" only works in the movies.
In a conversation with a colleague over some wonderful Asian fusion lunch, we both agreed that in fact, the problem that nonprofits faced in the 90s, lack of good information, was, in a broad sense, mostly solved (there are, for sure, areas where there are gaps, but overall, the coverage is quite good.) In fact, we agreed we are getting toward overload – too much information in too many places. OK, so here is yet another website providing information that nonprofits need to be sustainable.
I think the time has come to think differently. Let’s stop for a while throwing new websites at problems, and think more deeply about why those problems exist. When it comes to nonprofit sustainability, my hunch is that as wonderful as the intention is, a new website isn’t going to make a dent.
{ 1 comment }
Sadly, you’re right. But here’s the thing – half of the world’s nonprofits wouldn’t exist if people didn’t do it because a new nonprofit isn’t going to make a dent. The point of a nonprofit – the point of working to help others in any fashion really – is that if you have helped one or two people, the plight was worthwhile.
I am still a novice in the world of nonprofits, but certainly not in helping people. My theory – do what you can for others. No matter the seeming outcome, know that you have made a difference in the life of at least one person.
Thanks for your great insights. I just had to share my idealistic hopefulness :)
Comments on this entry are closed.