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 Lessons From the Concurrent Sessions, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Critical Elements for Success: Lessons from the Concurrent Sessions.
David S. Harrison
| Brief
Biography | View
the PowerPoint Presentation (49K
- contents of PowerPoint Presentation are available below)
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*The following presentation, by David S. Harrison, provides a summary of lessons learned in the concurrent sessions. To review the proceedings from the individual concurrent sessions, please click on the 1:15 time slot.
The Grantmaker’s Point of View
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How can grantmakers help grantees identify and take advantage of appropriate entrepreneurial opportunities?
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Are grantmakers themselves presently positioned to provide this assistance, or does the grantmaking community lack the will, the consistency and the resources to back up what they have called upon the non-profits to do?
You replied
- Understanding of entrepreneurial principles by grantees will continue
to influence funders’ decisions.
- Grantmakers are
not equipped to coach
grantees on becoming
entrepreneurial.
- Funders and non-
profits should look,
listen and collaborate
and thus create
a trusting
relationship
Tax and Legal Questions
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Which tax and legal barriers disable non-profit organizations in their quest to become more entrepreneurial?
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How can these barriers be overcome?
You replied
- Multiple alternative
structures can prevent
loss of tax exemption
for sponsoring
nonprofit
- Too much unrelated
activity risks loss
of tax exemption.
- Web commerce
represents new
unclear territory.
- In WA,
taxation
is the rule,
exemption
is the
exception.
Preparing to Start
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How can sufficient knowledge, creativity and resources be assembled at the start so that a nonprofit’s entrepreneurial efforts will not be doomed to failure at the outset?
You replied
- Desperation and
delusion of demand
are the wrong
reasons to start.
- Weigh risks and
audit internal strengths
and capacity before
beginning idea
generation.
- Develop a
business plan that
incorporates
corporate concepts
of culture,
competence and
capital.
Sources for Technical Assistance: Locally and Nationally
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How can technical assistance be better organized so that it provides continuous, meaningful help to eligible non-profits from the first stage of an entrepreneurial initiative to its success?
You replied
- Training philanthropic
volunteers to be able to
function in “nonprofit
culture.”
- Expectations of
engaged philanthropist must be
clear and
discussed in
advance.
- Protecting
grantee candidness
about what’s really
going on.
Staffing and Governance Issues: Incentives and Accountability
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What changes in staffing makeup and structure are necessary for nonprofit entrepreneurial initiatives to be successful?
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Are there ways for programs to be organized, incentives provided, and results measured so that the interests of the organization, the public, and the served population will be protected?
Your thoughts:
- As non-profits change, new attention must be paid to systems for staff support.
- Governance structures must be set up to make tough choices regarding peripheral programs.
- Staff must be committed to change, intolerant of marginal performance and focussed on marketing and finance.
Partnerships with For-Profit Entities
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To what extent do non-profits partner with for profit entity as their peril?
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How can they take best advantage of such partnerships while still honoring their initial mission?
You replied
- Partnerships
cannot be a blanket endorsement of
all of the partners’ activities.
- The Internet offers a
great opportunity for
nonprofit marketing
in conjunction with
profit-making companies.
- Non-profits
frequently under-
value what they
bring to the table.
Generating Income to Support Social Causes
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How can a significant, ongoing income stream be achieved and how is it best distributed to programs or causes that count?
You replied
- Use education and training
of recipients and community
members to create self-
sustaining individuals.
- Listen to your
community on
their wants
and desires.
- Balance self-
sustaining focus
with attention to
programming and service delivery.
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