Philanthropy

Do you think there is a strong, weak, or no connection between #compliance and programmatic #strategy? When do you think is the best time to consider compliance in your strategy discussions?

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is the relationship between compliance and programmatic strategy. Nic discusses two areas that highlight how compliance and programmatic strategy go hand in hand and how that relationship then impacts outcomes.

Nic has worked with different types of #nonprofits and philanthropies over the years and have found that when you are having separate conversations about compliance and the impact you want to achieve, you are doing a real disservice to both the community you are serving and the organization itself.

Do you consider your compliance obligations and capacity when you are creating your strategy? Let us know in the comments!

You can watch Episode 28 below.

When you prepare a budget, do you ever budget for #innovation? Do you think you need to? Well, we think you should. Having space to experiment and fail and holding yourself accountable to pursuing innovation are two critical building blocks to innovation. Having an infrastructure that allows you to do both will allow you to innovate.

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is using your budget to strengthen your infrastructure. Nic discusses the reason why having an innovation line in your budget is integral to strengthening your infrastructure and creating transformational outcomes.

If you plan to give your grantees space to fail towards transformation or create new ways to amplify the voices of the communities you’re trying to pull from the margins, you need an innovation line in your budget.

Do you have an innovation line item in your budget? How do you create space to innovate and measure your progress? Let us know in the comments!

You can watch Episode 27 below.

Does it really matter how you build your infrastructure? Does how you build your infrastructure determine whether you can say, “No,” to a grant?

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is again about the connection between infrastructure and the ability to say, “No,” to a grant. In it, Nic shares the second of three indicators of infrastructure strength that are connected to an organization’s ability to say, “No,” to funding – brave infrastructure building. It is the second part of a three-part series that started with last week’s Fast Build Friday Episode 24.

When you have the ability to say, “No,” it indicates that you are unapologetically building a strong foundation and infrastructure to support your work, which is what our communities need.

How do you build bravely? How does that building connect to your ability to say, “No,” to a grant? Let us know in the comments! 

You can watch Episode 25 below.

Would you ever say, “No,” to a grant? Nic has spent years working with #nonprofits around the world and she knows that the ability to say, “No,” is often an indicator of just how strong your infrastructure is. And she also knows that by saying, “No,” to certain funding, you are opening doors to diverse, revenue sources.

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is the connection between infrastructure and the ability to say, “No,” to a grant. Nic shares the first of 3 indicators of infrastructure strength that are connected to an organization’s ability to say, “No,” to funding – revenue diversification. It is the first part of a three-part series.

Being terrified of even the thought of saying, “No,” to a sizable grant is often an indicator of a weakened infrastructure, namely insufficient revenue diversification. Revenue diversification feeds your sustainability. And your sustainability impacts the way you serve vulnerable communities.

Diversifying your revenue often strengthens both your ability to say, “No,” and your infrastructure.

Do you have the ability to say, “No”? How is that ability tied to your revenue diversification? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

You can watch Episode 24 below.

Can you tell us the most important component of a grant agreement? Chances are, you probably have to think a bit more about it because you probably do not think about your grant agreement that often to begin with. Right?

What if we told you that your grant agreement can often hold many of the keys to your infrastructure? What would you do differently?

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is about the critical components of a highly effective grant agreement. Nic shares the 4 critical components of these agreements. As in-house counsel and in her current practice, Nic has drafted and negotiated thousands of grant agreements for awards in countries and regions around the world and she knows highly effective grant agreements can be one of the fundamental pieces of your infrastructure.

If you only see a grant agreement as a technical tool, you are missing an opportunity to communicate with partners and better serve communities in need.

What will you do differently with your grant agreements going forward? Let us know in the comments!

You can watch Episode 23 below.