Here's how you can successfully negotiate a raise in a social impact organization.

Understanding your value within a social impact organization is key. Reflect on your achievements and skills, and how they align with the organization's goals. Have you initiated successful projects or improved processes? These contributions showcase your impact. Clearly articulate them, highlighting how your work advances the organization's mission. This demonstrates that you're invested in the collective success, not just personal gain.

Knowing your value should not be confined only to your tasks accomplished. Bring in how you lead people, how resourceful you are, how you bring people together, how you represent organisation, how you inspire your peers, how your contribute to the culture and learning of organisation. How you hold organisational values. Ensure to connect them with business outcomes and organisational benefit.

As a serial social entrepreneur, I value collaborative growth the most. In a social impact organization, fostering collaborative growth can be a powerful way to highlight your contributions. Demonstrate how you have facilitated team success, encouraged cross-departmental projects, or mentored colleagues to achieve their best. This showcases your commitment to the organization's mission and highlights your role as a leader who uplifts others, thereby making a strong case for your raise.

I think everyone should leverage a strategic milestones. Timing your raise request with strategic milestones can be incredibly effective. Identify key moments such as the launch of a successful initiative, securing a major partnership, funding or reaching a significant organizational goal. Highlight how your efforts contributed tangibly to these achievements and quantify the same. By linking your request to these milestones, you underscore your role in driving the organization forward and make a compelling case for your value being recognized through a raise.

Timing is crucial when asking for a raise. Align your request with the organization's budget cycle or after completing a significant project to ensure your achievements are fresh in your employer's mind. Consider the organization's current financial health; a request during a budget surplus is more likely to succeed than during financial constraints.

Preparation is key to successful negotiation. Research typical salaries for your role in the social impact sector and gather evidence of your accomplishments. Create a compelling narrative connecting your contributions to tangible organizational outcomes. Be ready to discuss how a raise benefits both you and the organization by enabling you to perform at your best and further support its mission.

Quantify your impact as an individual. Preparation is key to a successful negotiation, and quantifying your impact can set you apart from others. Gather data on how your contributions have led to measurable outcomes, such as increased funding, expanded program reach, improved operational efficiency or established the org as a leader in the space. Presenting this evidence in a clear, data-driven manner not only strengthens your case but also aligns your request with the organisation's results-oriented mindset. Show how your raise will enable you to amplify these positive impacts, reinforcing the alignment between your personal growth and the organisation's mission.

To enhance my pitch, I create a detailed outline, breaking down each key point I need to cover. This structure ensures I stay on track and address all important aspects of my proposal. I also use storytelling techniques to make my pitch more engaging, incorporating real-life examples or anecdotes that illustrate the impact of my request. Additionally, I make sure to tailor my pitch to the specific audience, highlighting aspects that resonate most with their values and interests. By personalizing my approach, I can create a stronger connection and make my request more compelling.

When the time comes to negotiate, approach the conversation with a collaborative mindset. Start by expressing appreciation for your role and the organisation's work. Present your case succinctly, focusing on your contributions and their alignment with the organisation's mission and goals. Be open to counteroffers and non-monetary benefits, such as professional development opportunities, which can also be valuable. Remember, negotiation is a two-way conversation aimed at finding a mutually beneficial solution. This approach not only strengthens your position but also reinforces your commitment to the organisation's short and long term success.

Depending upon organisation the answer may vary. Generally, my experience has been, whatever the books may say, the fact is raise does not happen only on the basis of your work performance only. The other factors to be taken into consideration are, 1) your likability with your reporting and super reporting Manager, 2)criticality of the role you hold, 3)how indispensable you/your skillset are in your organisation and 4)how well planned and timely your communication of the same has been with your reporting manager. Collaborate with your reporting manager. Ask for guidance and clear indicators. Keep taking feedback through the year.If you are above Manager level, there are other seniors also involved in this decision. Align with them too.