Recently I attended the annual conference for a non-profit on whose board I serve. It’s NW Student Exchange and the name defines the mission. There were people from all over the country plus one partner from Germany.
This was the best of their conferences I’ve attended, and it struck me that a small non-profit has the same issues as businesses, which include:
- Like any business, they are trying to build a community. Based on the following they’re doing a good job. Comments included family, culture, support, love it (the org), love the mission, I’m a NWSE addict.
- Branding is ongoing and huge. In this case, the branding of the organization often takes a backseat to the branding on local levels including for host families, area coordinators (who place students), and the mission of cultural exchange.
- Publicity, especially social media, which not only needs to reach students wanting an exchange but their parents, potential host families, and schools. And there are rules and laws regarding the use of students names in messaging.
These are the same things businesses work on – culture, branding, and marketing. Plus, I learned that in German the definition of a non-profit is, “community useful organization,” which is really what all businesses should want to be.
“You’re only young once but you can be immature forever.” Ogden Nash
“My dad used to say to me, “Pints, gallons, liters’-which, I think, speaks volumes.” (Comedian) Olaf Falafel
