When someone new joins a nonprofit team there is always a moment in the first few weeks where they have questions about data, financials, or programs. They probably swivel over to a colleague and ask for help, and without a doubt, they always end up hearing “you can look in last year’s annual report”.  The annual report is the gatekeeper of knowledge. The pdf of public relations. A grant writing must-have. From the American Heart Association all the way down to a tiny nonprofit startup of two people, every nonprofit needs to have an annual report. Not convinced?

Ready to get started with your nonprofit? You might be tempted to DIY everything to save money. However, remember that your time is valuable, as well; could it be allocated to something more important? If you’re not sure how to do something – or it’s not a skill set at which you excel – you might waste time and resources as you scramble to complete tasks yourself. You could even end up spending unnecessary funds to fix rookie mistakes.

My professional journey into the world of fund development is not an uncommon one. Like countless other fundraisers, I fell into this work without a true understanding of the art, science, and/or process of asking donors to support the mission of an organization. Those first few years building an individual giving program for an organization were both exhilarating and frustrating. When I would meet with other fundraisers or attend trainings, it felt as if those who were more experienced than myself were speaking another language. These conversations always left me lost and searching. Sometimes, they even left me wondering if this work was truly for me.

Things are running smoothly at your nonprofit: you’re seeing tangible results, everyone’s getting along and working together well, and your operation is growing by the day. When you’ve finally gotten into a comfortable groove, suddenly, something throws a wrench into your plans. It’s hard to see a crisis coming, but when an unexpected occurrence creates an immediate roadblock, you must find a way to process it and move forward as an organization. If you can’t deal with an internal crisis swiftly and appropriately, your nonprofit could crumble before your eyes.