It’s not uncommon to see small nonprofit organizations go into trouble whether it’s management woes, financial crises, or lack of manpower. So what do you do in case any of these happens?
Signs that your organization is in trouble
First, you must determine if there really is a problem or you’re just being paranoid. Some indicators include financial difficulties, staff turnover, loss of motivation among the staff, loss of credibility, and too much focus on damage control. Financial problems may range from small deficits to inability to pay the employees’ salaries. If there is a large turnover among the staff or the staff seems to have lost motivation for the organization’s cause, then these can raise the red flag. Loss of credibility in the community is also a sign that the organization is in deep waters. And if there is too much time and energy spent in damage control than in the services and programs of the organization, then it might be time to consider the options enumerated below.
Options for your organization to consider
The first option is to merge with another nonprofit organization that has a similar or complementary cause. It’s also possible to move the organization under the umbrella of a larger organization. Make sure too that it has a similar mission and clients so there won’t be too much of a difficulty for both sides. This may be done through collaboration, contractual affiliation, and consolidation. Even though the nonprofit organization will lose its identity when it moves under the wing of a large organization, at least, it will not lose client service. Then finally, you have the option to dissolve the organization. It’s the most difficult step to take as most heads of organizations find it hard to accept that their services would be put to an end.