Puzzles and Partnerships

I have always loved doing puzzles. Something about creating order from chaos feeds my OCD. My wife knows that once the puzzle is opened, she has lost the dining room table for a month. During this time of isolation and quarantine for COVID-19 I’ve already completed three very large masterpieces. Please allow me to use my puzzling as a metaphor for the nonprofit work we all do together. 

To state the obvious, we can’t do this work by ourselves. The desire to make a change in the world starts inside each individual, yes, but we soon realize that the distance we must travel to reach our destination will take an army. One of the sublime side effects of doing nonprofit work is finding deep connections with others who share our passion. We quickly realize our own shortcomings and invite others who bring a complementary skill set to the table. We discover that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

Ahh, the metaphor - we are all individual puzzle pieces linked together to make a beautiful picture. 

In the beginning a natural partnership forms as we create the project or nonprofit we’ve envisioned. That partnership is usually made up of trusted friends and associates. We ask them to be on our boards, we use their expertise to build our finances and bylaws, we enlist their help to do an event. This tight-knit group can often last for years as the organization establishes itself and provides service to others. Then there comes the realization that more is needed to expand our circle to sustain ourselves and grow. This is often a time when an organization will reach out to Mighty Penguin for advice and guidance. Here is a list of four questions we suggest they consider:

Who are you?

The invitation is to go back to the passion that ignited the organization in the beginning. What was the deeper purpose that motivated you to launch a nonprofit, and to expend so much energy in creating programs and services? Review and renew your mission statement. Ask yourselves if it is still relevant, and if your services are still focused in the right direction. Take hold of your true identity as you look to moving forward. 

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

You will want to make an honest assessment of your impact. How do your programs help others? How many have participated? Are you fiscally healthy? Consider the organization's commitment to move forward. Envision where you want to be in five years. Using the experience that led you here, consider how to take it to the next level. Consider growth rates and expansion. Rely on both your passion and your wisdom. Write it all down in as much detail as possible. Make a list of all the questions that need to be answered.

What steps do you need to take to get there?

This is the fun part. Having made a thorough assessment of the past, and having envisioned the future, now you build the roadmap and blueprints. This will happen through a variety of planning sessions, market research, continued studies, task management, and active engagement with your board members and staff. Create a timeline that is specific and realistic. Be accountable to the vision you’ve so carefully designed. As with any good blueprint, you will need to keep it out on the table, not rolled up and tucked neatly in the cupboard.

Which partnerships will help you achieve your goals?

Executing your plans will take resources - time, money, people. This is where the idea of partnerships comes into focus. Look at all the options for moving forward. Consider the savings of time and money when you enlist the right people to get the job done. Look outside your organization for expertise. Invest in training your own people. Invite people to see your vision, ask them for help. Look to your friends in the business community, in local governments, in service organizations. Put together a “wish list” of people you want involved, and don’t be shy about approaching them. You are building a team that will be focused on driving to the destination, together. 

So go ahead, open the puzzle box. Clear the table. Start putting your masterpiece together (and send me a picture when you’re done).