You Can't Serve Scared

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the C3 Summit hosted by the Excellerate Foundation.  I shared with their team that it was an extremely valuable use of my time.  I left with information I could use immediately, tools that I could use on future work, and new relationships with dozens of nonprofits. Dozens?!? How is that even possible?

I’m helping a national journalism nonprofit fit into the Arkansas landscape, make some friends, and raise awareness.  As we ideated on an opportunity to host a gathering alongside an established organization in the area, my contact asked, “and why would they do this for us?”  The question caught me off guard.  Why wouldn’t they help?

Last winter, two arts nonprofits came together to share back of house support, streamlining their service to their stakeholders and maximizing each dollar committed by donors. The Cobbs immediately gave the newly combined organization our largest gift of the year.

I get it, it’s human nature to guard your goods.  Building email lists, recruiting board members, securing sponsors and developing programming takes time and energy. When you succeed at these things, you hold them dear. 

Budgets are finite, when you point out the good stuff others are doing, you risk attrition and turnover from your key supporters.  But guess what…they’re gonna find out.  Shouldn’t you be the one sharing the good news?

Evolving from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance takes practice, endurance, finesse, and commitment.  It’s betting on yourself. It’s playing the long game towards sustained organizational momentum and the increasing value of your service. We can all agree that there is plenty of work to go around, but are there enough funders to keep the ships afloat?  

I believe that in my heart that there are.  Even in tough financial times and in a resource constrained state like Arkansas, people will support work they see as critical.  Partnering with others widens the aperture for all.

No organization is an island. Success requires building bridges, fostering partnerships, and amplifying each other's efforts. Supporting the work of other organizations is a necessity.

Coalitions

When we come together with others who share similar goals, our capacity to drive meaningful change multiplies. Building coalitions allows us to pool resources, share expertise, and create larger-scale initiatives that have a more profound impact than any of us could accomplish alone.

Be sure to recognize the historical efforts of those already in the game. 

Look around your community or industry. Who shares your vision for change? Building coalitions with like-minded groups increases our influence and extends our reach.

• Identify and reach out to at least three local organizations that share your mission to explore potential collaborative opportunities.

• Organize a quarterly meeting with coalition partners to discuss progress, align goals, and identify shared resources.

• Co-host a community event or joint campaign to raise awareness around your shared cause, showcasing each organization’s unique contributions.

Collaboration

We’re laser-focused on our specific mission, but it’s essential to recognize that we aren’t the only ones trying to make a difference. Partnering with organizations that share similar values and goals opens up new pathways for success. Working together doesn’t dilute our mission; instead, it strengthens the entire ecosystem we operate within.

• Set up a partnership agreement with another nonprofit, clarifying mutual objectives, shared resources, and communication strategies.

• Launch a joint program or service with a complementary organization to provide a more holistic solution to the community.

• Create a shared resource directory (e.g., toolkits, volunteer pools, training programs) and if one exists, tell folks.

Spread the Word

When we actively share the value of other organizations’ work with our stakeholders, we elevate the entire sector. Sharing the spotlight doesn't diminish your work—in fact, it tells the story of your of strength and influence. When people see you as a collaborator, they recognize your commitment to the greater good. They see that you’re not just focused on your own bottom line but on making a difference by lifting others along the way.

• Feature partner organizations in your newsletters, social media posts, or blog, highlighting their contributions to the shared mission.

• Call attention to these organizations during your board meetings. Make sure you tell your partners about it!

• Host a networking event where you invite stakeholders from various organizations to meet, share ideas, and collaborate.

Shunning the Scarcity Mindset

This is the biggest lift because you have to change your thinking and your feeling not just your actions and words.  The trick is that the practice of changing your actions and your words eventually evolves your mindset.  The fear that there aren’t enough resources, funding, or attention to go around is paralyzing.  You can’t serve scared. Abundance grows when we collaborate.

Organizations flourish by sharing ideas, splitting resources, and playing to their strong suits. More often than not, these collaborations create new streams of revenue, wider networks of supporters, increased efficiencies, and  greater overall impact.  Simply put, donor dollars go further.  

• Develop a mindset-shift workshop for your team, focusing on abundance thinking and collaboration with peers.

• Actively identify collaborative efforts for funding and grant possibilities with other organizations, fostering a sense of shared success.

• Create and/or applaud resource-sharing systems.

Come Together