3 Creative Ways To Increase Impact As A Nonprofit.

The festive season is fast approaching and one of the main themes is giving. Unfortunately, there are numerous cases of lot of money being wasted on inefficient or corrupt projects that were insufficiently planned or monitored. The biggest victims in such scenarios are the people that could have benefited from those projects if they were properly managed.

A lot of seasonal projects like Christmas donations or children’s’ party are at best short-lived in their impact. The most important factor for any lasting change is commitment, which most nonprofit organizations fail to communicate. NGOs are spared from elaborate laws for things like taxes, which tend to curb other industries. As such, I believe more can be expected from them in fostering growth in less developed communities.

There are a number of issues that give cause for concern in a country like Nigeria. With regards to security, earlier this year the Nigerian police was ranked as one of the worst in the world. For a country with one of the world’s highest economic growth rate, more than 112 million Nigerians live in poverty. Also, Nigeria’s unemployment rate has continued to rise for 9 consecutive quarters since 2013.

A fact that a lot of people forget is that Lagos is only one state in Nigeria. A lot can be done in other states to help grow and develop the country as a whole.

Proper planning not only helps in maximizing impact but also serves as a good tool for driving conversations with investors.

You stand a better chance of succeeding when there is a plan.

Let’s look at some of the strategies to increase impact as an NGO.

1. Use data to tell a compelling story

Growth is a major factor in any venture and a non-profit business is no different. Using data is not just to make donors bring out their cheques but when used creatively, can move people and more memorable. Having data provides a number of benefits like reporting, budgeting and forecasting, fundraising and targeted outreach and so much more.

On the flip side, it is important to strike a balance between rational and emotional communication with people. One of the best ways of striking that balance is using stories.

“The best way to advocate for and deliver on missions is with facts and example” — Jeff Bokoff

Start learning from the people you serve: carry out surveys, have discussions, measure impact. The more you prioritize data, the better you will get at using them whenever needed. Explore other ways nonprofits are using data around the world and see how you can adapt.

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it”

— Peter Drucker

2. BoP investment as a tool for sustainable development.

BoP or Base of Pyramid represents the lowest economic strata in a society. Nigeria, which is one of the most economically vibrant countries in Africa has more than 60% of the population living below the poverty line. Poverty is a serious issue in most African countries. Areas that readily come to mind are war-torn areas stripped of economic life.

The rebuilding process for these regions requires community driven approach that looks at the assets and resources already available to these communities. It is on this sustainability model that organisations like Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) is built on. In a Harvard Business Review(HBR) book on Thriving in Emerging Markets, there is a short description of a partnership between a local nonprofit and agro corporation for a project in India. Farming was identified as the predominant work activity and primary source of income so the nonprofit, Peoples Action for Creative Education (PEACE) looked for how to help the farmers. The partnership was geared at giving farmers high-yield maize seeds to expect minimal returns from the farmers’ after harvest sales.

What kinds of deals can be struck with organisations who are willing to foster growth in less developed communities?

“We are quite small, but we are able to have a really big impact because of these (social media) technologies” — Bart Skorupa

3. Doing more with technology

Technology has given the world the opportunity to do things more efficiently and it’s time for African NGOs to start taking advantage of those opportunities. Many nonprofits can do more with technology to garner support for their missions and get more people to donate. Craft your compelling stories that would inspire and move people.

In 2016, an organization called Charity: Water made headlines when they used virtual reality to transport donors to a water project sight in Ethiopia. Exploring partnerships with tech companies are great ways to bridge the gap in helping others. Social media has become an indispensable media channel nowadays. More so, 55% of those who engage with nonprofits on social media end up taking action to support the nonprofit. How can technology improve your mission?

Don’t just build a charity organization, build a legacy. Change perspectives.

As we strive to give and do more for others, a weak structure can destroy instead of build lives. It is not a process that can be done in a short time, but it is important to get it right in order to succeed.

Got feedback? Feel free to share your comments below or follow me on twitter @nathanbassey