How do you talk about your charity goals with stakeholders?

1 Identify your audience

Before you craft your message, you need to know who you are talking to. Different stakeholders may have different interests, expectations, and questions about your charity goals. For example, donors may want to know how their money is used and what impact it has, while beneficiaries may want to know how your charity goals align with their needs and preferences. Therefore, you should tailor your message to suit your audience and use the appropriate language, tone, and format.

2 Define your charity goals

Your charity goals are the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound outcomes that you want to accomplish with your philanthropy. They should be based on your vision, mission, and values, and reflect your theory of change. Your charity goals should also be aligned with the best practices and standards in your field, and informed by evidence and feedback. To define your charity goals, you should use clear and concise statements that explain what you want to do, for whom, why, and by when.

3 Share your progress and challenges

Your stakeholders want to know how you are doing in achieving your charity goals. They want to see your results, learn from your successes and failures, and understand your challenges and opportunities. To share your progress and challenges, you should use data, stories, and visuals that illustrate your impact and learning. You should also be honest and transparent about your strengths and weaknesses, and acknowledge any gaps or uncertainties.

4 Highlight your value proposition

Your value proposition is the unique benefit that you offer to your stakeholders through your philanthropy. It is what sets you apart from other charities and makes you worth supporting or collaborating with. To highlight your value proposition, you should emphasize how your charity goals address a specific problem or need, how your approach or solution is innovative or effective, and how your impact or contribution is significant or sustainable.

5 Invite feedback and dialogue

Your stakeholders are not just passive recipients of your message. They are active participants in your philanthropy. They can provide you with valuable insights, ideas, suggestions, or critiques that can help you improve your charity goals and strategies. To invite feedback and dialogue, you should ask open-ended questions, listen actively and respectfully, and respond constructively and timely. You should also show appreciation and recognition for their input and involvement.

6 Inspire action and support

Your ultimate goal is to motivate your stakeholders to take action and support your charity goals. You want them to donate, volunteer, partner, advocate, or spread the word about your philanthropy. To inspire action and support, you should appeal to their emotions and values, show them how they can make a difference, and make it easy and convenient for them to join or help you. You should also follow up and update them on the outcomes and impact of their action and support.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?