What To Do When Everything Needs To Be Done: How to prioritize in a small non-profit when you’re first starting up.

INTRODUCTIONS

Before we get into the meat and potatoes, let’s do an introduction. Hello, my name is Yasmine Smith and I have the great pleasure of being MEASURE’s Chief of Development. So, what is MEASURE you may ask? Well here’s us in a snap-shot. If you’re more a visual person, there’s a video below!

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

Motto: Numbers You Can Trust

Mission: MEASURE’s mission is to bridge divisions through data and public education in active partnership with local communities to address complex social problems.

Objective: MEASURE’s objective is to leverage quantitative and qualitative information, in the form of research and education, as a tool to bridge divisions and empower communities to address complex social problems. We ask impacted communities to become active participants in the process of changing the statistics.

WHAT WE DO…

MEASURE seeks to change behaviors, laws, policies and ordinances as they pertain to interactions with people of color. The organization’s work is data driven as it strives to use fact-based research and advocacy on behalf of certain segments of the populace. MEASURE’s efforts are innovative within the ecosystem of social justice entities as it encourages people of color to be the data collectors and storytellers.

Far too often biased data feeds the narrative about marginalized communities. MEASURE seeks to empower people impacted by substandard data and the related narrative by allowing the people to own the information gathered about them, and to tell their own story unabridged.

MEASURE uniquely partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), local community colleges and other colleges and universities to create a new pipeline of Black and Brown researchers and data storytellers.

THE PEOPLE WE SERVE

MEASURE seeks to serve underrepresented communities primarily in Austin, TX as well as other cities across the world through shared research, best practices and community participatory action events.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF MEASURE?

MEASURE’s staff is made up predominantly of volunteers. We have lawyers, doctors, activists, police officers, students, professors, web designers and technology experts on our team. When authorized, MEASURE volunteers may serve as independent contractors. We also have a full C-Suite who are co-founders of the organization that serve as researchers and planners. MEASURE is committed to building a demographically diverse team of people who believe in the power of solid data to address problems.

What We Do.mp4

MEAT AND POTATOES

So, now that we’re acquainted let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: How to prioritize in small non-profit.

As a small non-profit that got its official 501(c)(3) designation earlier this year MEASURE has had a lot of successes in its small tenure including:

MEASURE, like most non-profit start-ups is doing the needed work . . . all of the work. That means that though we have taken the steps to fill all of our C-suite members (CEO, COO, Chief of Development, Chief of HR, Chief of Legal, Chief of Communications, and Chief of Technology to name a few), board member positions, a peer-review team, and dependable volunteers, we still haven’t built the capacity we need to effectuate our dream without burning out our current staff. Add to this that MEASURE has no operational budget (yep, we’ve done all of that with ZERO dollars for salary), and has only received modest grants of money, MEASURE has found itself spreading its team members thin. That means our Chiefs double as researchers, graphic designers and everything in between. I’ve created powerpoints, held speeches, collected donations, and cleaned windows all for the same event. Now, let’s not get it twisted — we do this because we love it and we want to be a part of a better world. That being said, when you’re just starting up your title is just that — a title, you must be all things needed to thrust your dream in its infancy into a fully functioning non-profit. Yes, you must do all things necessary to support your team.

So when you’re in this space — where everything needs to be done, but you don’t have the capacity you’d like — how do you create a sustainable venture? Well, like most things, there isn’t one right answer, but here’s how MEASURE handling it. Some of these steps have been rearranged in order to better help you. Take these as suggestions and goals but not what you “need” to do (spoiler alert: MEASURE didn’t necessarily do these steps in order or in this way and we’re still doing pretty great).

1. Build a team that you can rely on. This is no easy feat but I’d consider it the most important step. This entire blog is about what “you” need to do, but “you” means you as an organization. You’re on the same team and you’ll need each other in order to accomplish the vision of your organization.
2. Clarify and articulate your vision, goals, and mode of operation. This is important, before you start you need to have everything on paper from your overall vision, to how you’re going to measure that vision and how your going to reach those goals. Though your goal post may move slightly due to your infancy, try your hardest to put something on paper and keep to it.
3. Create a strategic plan. Though broad goals are important, short-term goals are just as important. What does your next year, your next three years, your next five years . . . ? Don’t feel like you need this all to begin your venture, but having a game plan will help you save time later.
4. Create a budget around your strategic plan. Now that you’ve gotten a plan now you need to figure out what money you’ll need to effectuate it. Having a strategic plan behind the budget you create will help your Chief of Development find funds as they will be able to effectively communicate exactly why their asking for the money they’re asking for.
5. Now that you have your plans it’s time to break up that plan. Ok, so you know what you want to accomplish this year, what are you going to do in the next 6 months, 3 months, this month, this week, today. Time to set some goals and work backwards.
6. Work. Sleep. Eat. Wash and repeat. Yes, even if you have kids. Yes, even if you have another full time job. Yes, if you’re in law school. MEASURE will tell you from experience that beginning a startup non-profit, especially one that seeks change for the betterment of humans (i.e. not having a “tangible” product to sell) while still living your adult life and making sure your bills are paid is difficult, but so worth it.

EXAMPLE TIME

Now that I’ve given you the steps, I’ll show you a break down of step number 4, what MEASURE is currently working on, looks like. Now, that you have your next couple of months mapped out and the goals that align with it take step by step back to get to your today. As Chief of Development I want to fund as much of our fiscal year of 2019 that I can by the end of this year. (It’s $210,450 if anyone would like to help us with that goal. Which you can do here.*Nudge, nudge, hint, hint, wink, wink*. Literally, anything helps).

So ok, I know that I’ve articulated my overall goal for the next 4 months how am I going to get there? Well, it’s by harvesting donations from everyone I can. To get that type of money I’ll need a really organized “sell”. Yes, MEASURE has accomplished a lot, but do I have our successes articulated in a format that I can pitch to potential funders (nope. *stops typing to write down the to-do)? Do we have enough success (we could always use more *scribble scribble*)? Do we have a time to show-case our work where we can highlight those accomplishments and hopefully gather some funds (DING DING DING. There’s the major goal that will help me get to where I’m going in the next four months!) So now that I have a mode of operation that will allow me to get to my goal and some side notes let’s articulate this in actionable steps:

1. Create and print “handouts” to give to potential funders.
2. Plan a “success” that’s short-term and can be done in less than four months that can be the center-fold for an eventual event.
3. Plan a showcase event.

Now it’s time to break up each of those steps into sub-steps and actionable goals. If you’d like help on how to: create material for potential funders; create, plan, fund, and accomplish short-term goals; and plan a show-case in order to broadcast your successes, stay tuned for more blogs to come. Hoping off to . . . you guessed it, work. But when you’re doing what you love do, when your hard work is heart work, you’ll be surprised with how much you can do.