The Future of Non-Profits

The SDGs are 17 agendas that, if sorted out would make the world more balanced, equitable, and safer for everyone. In response to this, we have had different organizations across the globe built around tackling these key issues - from education, hunger alleviation, social justice, gender equality, equity, sustainable industries, and technology to climate change, etc

The question though is, how sustainable are these ventures? Truth be told, it can be really tough. The excitement about making the world a better place gets a lot of people into the non-profit space, only for them to get in and discover that there is so much work to do. The difficult part is that you need to do all the work without thinking about a direct means of making a profit. As a result, the majority of Non-profits are built around getting grants, surviving on donors, or crowdfunding.

For those in the space, the reality actually beats the assumption.

1. Raising funds is not easy.
2. Managing a team of volunteers who aren't paid means they only have part-time commitment and there is only so much you can do.
3. The visioner often has to get involved in other things that can pay them to enable them to do more impactful work.
4. The worsening financial issues across the globe are affecting the giving habit of most donors.

In a world like ours where a lot is happening, with inflation, high cost of living, widening geopolitical division, etc, what then is the future of non-profit organizations?

I know we are all very optimistic, but I like to be more clear and sure of outcomes when I am thinking about the future, this way no matter the outcome I don't get surprised.

Towards a More Sustainable Future

After a little bit of thinking, I have concluded that the future of non-profit organizations is SUSTAINABILITY.

Changemakers, whether in the SDG space or social impact as a whole should be more focused on building organizations that are sustainable.

Yes, you want to change the world, but you have to be very strategic about it. You need to be realistic and not idealistic. Think Social Enterprise.

Yes, you have a beautiful idea for getting water to the most remote part of your community, but even if it is free for those to whom your delivery is meant for someone must pay along the lines.

My proposition is that you need to factor in the value you can create that can pay for the resource you are delivering. The people for whom it is meant, are on the lower resource end of the pyramid, but you need to figure out what value you can offer to those at the higher end of the pyramid, which if exchanged and paid for can help you generate the funds to power the impact work you believe in.

With a more sustainable non-profit, you can do more work, increase your reach and better mobilize your volunteers.

Non-profit organizations, need to start viewing their work as a business, whose core is in social good. This means they have to think clearly about how to stay sustainable, or else they are not going to survive for long. Philanthropy used to be a rich man's game, but with more people doing their part to better the world we need the conversation around sustainability to become louder.

Conclusion

In the social impact world, there are two ends to the tunnel, for-profit and non-profit ventures. But this is not all that is possible, there is a silent divide in the middle called social enterprise.

Are you thinking of making the world a better place through social impact?

If yes, then you do not need to choose one end of the divide you can build a business that generates profit while still doing a social impact at its core.