At our ‘Empowering Chairs, Transforming Communities’ event I pitched a big picture idea designed to challenge the status quo and to get us thinking.
Why not prioritise ourselves? Welcome to the Ministry of Not-for-Profits!
Disclaimer: This image is strictly made up!
A significant number of organisations are facing the harsh reality of potential closure within the next year. Our not-for-profits are grappling with dwindling resources, increased demand for services and the challenge of securing consistent funding is the daily grind for many of us.
The uncertainty surrounding financial viability and longevity puts pressure on communities already under strain when most of the time we just want to help our organisations and kaupapa thrive.
Our recent State of the Sector Insights Survey had over 155 responses with a majority of participants providing detailed feedback and commentary that offered a glimpse into current and future need. Unsurprisingly the challenge of sustainably financing our not-for-profits through securing funding (from a range of sources) is always top of mind for our boards and teams.
So, what does our sector need?
Our State of the Sector and Insights Survey told us our community want more flexible funding options to be readily available. Over 82% of respondents asked for multi-year funding options, and 76% would like more rounds of grant funding to be made available throughout the year.
These options will help create more access to much needed funding and support many community organisations doing great mahi, but, I do think there should also be a requirement that if you receive multi-year funding contracts a portion is allocated to help create financial sustainable revenue streams (so the not-for-profit can self sustain themselves), this in turn will also open the door for other not-for-profits requiring funding support.
Can there be equality within our funding systems?
In many of the workshops and engagements I’ve held with our sector it’s quite common to come across this inequality. Some of our not-for-profits, in their words, have almost too much funding and others struggle to access funding. If we are ‘in’ we are ‘in’, or if we are aligned to government or funders priorities then we are often rewarded. If we are out, well, we fare much worse and often our services and communities are those that suffer the most.
Rob Campbell articulated this at our recent “Empowering Chairs, Transforming Communities” event in Rotorua, funders, grant makers, and government agencies have their own strategies and goals to fulfill. Often, we find ourselves trying to fit into their governance mould and strategic priorities. Clearly, something isn’t working, with so many of our community organisations facing closure.
Check out Rob Campbell and Hemi Rolleston interview where they spoke of these challenges and the dynamics of not wanting to bite the hand that feeds you.
Often we are at the end of the conversation yet really we should be at the beginning of key decision making. Perhaps our own Ministry for Not-for-Profits wouldn’t really be a bad idea.
Thanks to;
