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There once was a little girl whose grandfather took her fishing. She loved being out on the lake. He patiently taught her how to bait, cast and reel them in. But the little girl noticed that her grandfather threw all the large fish back into the lake, and he only kept the smaller ones.

When she asked him why, he laughed and said, “I can’t seem to find my large frying pan. The one I have is only 7 inches, and so I can only fit the small fish in there.”

Do you ever feel like your non-profit has only 7-inch frying pans? Do you throw out some of the big ideas before you even get to try them on?

The pandemic has made strategic planning a challenging prospect for organizations across the country.   Many teams have had to revisit their mission, vision, or even their values.  Pre-Covid plans no longer fit the times and leaders have had to take a fresh look at community needs.  Given the current landscape, how do we "fall forward" with purpose and planning?    

In part two of the Fall Forward DBD Podcast series, Jon Simons interviews executive coach and fellow DBD Group partner Kellie Wardman about strategic thinking and planning for the modern era.

In this seventeen minute episode, Kellie shares insights about how leaders and teams can get unstuck and take new, energized approaches to thinking and planning for the future.

2022 is right around the corner! As we enter the fourth quarter and begin to wrap up a challenging year, it’s an opportune time to look forward. Following are five things to consider as you think about strategic thinking and planning in this new era.

By Brian Keel and Robyn Furness-Fallin

You probably see cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin popping up on social media trends and news headlines every day.  Some are more established and widely marketable than others, but people are increasingly buying and holding cryptocurrencies for fun, for investment purposes or as a hedge against inflation.  But what is it anyway?  A recent Journal of Accountancy article defined it as “a digital medium of exchange that can be used for purchasing, selling and storing value, but it is not backed by a sovereign government.” 

The good news is nonprofit organizations do not have to understand all the theory and technology behind cryptocurrency to gain the potential benefits of accepting this form of appreciated property as a donation. 

By Jim Mellor and Brian Keel

The board of directors is an essential component of nonprofit leadership. We seek boards that are engaged, embrace their roles and responsibilities, are committed to transparency, and value both short- and long-term planning. 

Rules vary from state to state, but every board has significant legal and ethical duties that it cannot delegate to others including legal, management, program, and financial oversight. Beyond the board there may be committees that further assist the organization. Committees have representation from the Board but are also an opportunity to engage other community volunteers to serve, especially if these members have subject matter expertise.

Whether we realize it or not, each of us has been applying data to decision-making processes since our youth. Remember that time you were selected to be the captain of the kickball team? The pressure of selecting the best team rested solely on YOUR shoulders. If you were like me, a million strategic thoughts went through your head as you tried to recruit the best team to ensure you won the game. The first step was evaluating the group of classmates staring back at me. What do I know about them? Are they a fast runner? A good kicker? A good fielder? My friend? After quickly assessing the answers to those questions, the selection process began.

A typical executive search usually takes a few months from start to finish with key steps throughout the process. As the committee does its work, it’s important to communicate the status of the process to key stakeholders and applicants. It may seem simple, but many organizations skip these basic steps. And when you don’t share your progress, both candidates and your board can be left feeling that the process is cold and disorganized.

In any given year, grantmaking foundations in the United States award BILLIONS of dollars to nonprofit organizations. 

If you want to increase your chances of receiving some of those funds, consider thinking of foundations as individual donor prospects.

By Jim Mellor and Brian Keel

Recently the CEO of a major charity told us: “People here are dancing in the street! They can’t believe how much funding is now available to us.”  With the passage of the $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan”, YMCAs, health and human service agencies, private schools, faith-based organizations, camps, and other nonprofits have access to unprecedented funds. In addition, there were other federal stimulus plans passed in 2020 and programs like 21^st Century Grants, Head Start and others continue to be open for business.

These times are calling for aspirational thinking. With dramatic changes in our collective landscape, people are craving direction and leadership more than ever. In many cases, nonprofit boards and CEOs are needing to reinvent strategies, practices, and the very direction of their organizations.