You Gotta Have Heart
How do you know if nonprofit is the right match for you?
During the week we celebrate love and making the right connections, I thought it would be interesting to pose some deep questions about why we do the philanthropic work we do in the sector. Whether you are a donor, volunteer, or board member, you can’t give your best to a nonprofit if you aren’t deeply “in love” with it. It’s like dating – you have to ask the right questions on the front end to end up in a good relationship down the line.
Maybe you started volunteering for a nonprofit because your friends were. Maybe you joined a board because you thought it would look good on your resume. Maybe you donated to the cause because your boss encouraged you to. Ask yourself these tough questions to make sure you’re in a relationship with the right nonprofit for you. It’s better to find your correct match now than to wait any longer!
- Do I believe in the mission of this organization? (and can I even articulate what that is?)
- Do I believe in the individual people at the helm of this organization?
- What values would I like this nonprofit to have, and do they?
- Can I describe their mission to others? Would others feel my passion when I do?
- Am I excited to give this group my full capacity, or does it feel like a chore?
- Am I doing work for them that fulfills my vision of myself as a philanthropist?
- Do I know how my contribution to the organization is being used?
- How would I like them to acknowledge my contribution?
If you’ve found the right match, congratulations! Be philanthropic and multiply! ;)
