The 5 Characteristics
Successful Nonprofits Have in
Common
Chris Allers, PhD
Executive Vice President
Georgia Center for Nonprofits
Georgia Center for Nonprofits: Building nonprofit solutions, representing
GA’s nonprofit industry, developing insights
Our mission:
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving
communities by helping nonprofits succeed.
Solutions
Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit
effectiveness, and insight building resources, GCN provides
nonprofits, board members and donors with the tools they
need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on
important causes throughout Georgia.
What we do:
• Largest nonprofit membership association in GA
Insight
Influence
• Nonprofit-centric solutions for talent development,
strategy, governance
• Publish original sector & community research
• The leading sector voice in state policy matters
• Work with business and government to expand public
awareness and sector revenue via Georgia Gives Day,
Home Depot Building Community Network, Love Grants
for Good, Nonprofit Tool Box at TCF
 Designed to provide agencies with deep
knowledge and experience in nonprofit
operations and strengthen nonprofit leaders.
 Each participating agency will have a
complete set of tools needed to become a
high performing organization.
 Board members and key staff will know their
roles and responsibilities in governing a
nonprofit organization.
Momentum Investors
Creel-Harrison
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
Momentum Components
Strategy
Development
Coaching
Peer Groups
Results
• 10 full day & 6 half days over 18 months
• Board Boot Camp
• Average of 30 hours per group
• Formed during the 18 month program
• Continue beyond program
• Complete Strategic Plan
• Board Buy in & Commitment to $
• Active Implementation
• Evaluation
Work with Teams
Workshops
• Organizational assessments
• Review & create/refine strategies (3 months)
Nonprofit High Performance Model
1. Clear and Compelling Leadership
2. Strategic Intent
3. Alignment of People, Passion &
Purpose
4. Effective Execution
5. Powerful Partnerships &
Collaborations
LEADERSHIP
Alignment
Execution
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Finance
Fundraising
IT
Program Mgmt
Evaluation
Issue Education
MarCom
Powerful Partnerships
High Performance Assessment
Challenges
Over 70 nonprofit organizations from across
Georgia (500+ surveys) completed a 230+ item
organizational diagnostic assessment.
1. Strategic Intent
2. Alignment of People, Passion and Purpose
3. Execution
4. Partnerships
5. Leadership
Strategy Pain Points
• Clarity on the 3-5 long-term strategic priorities
• Board reviewing the strategic plan
implementation progress at least quarterly
• Board engagement in ongoing strategic plan
implementation activities
• Using "market data" to set and adjust strategy
• Fundraising and resource development
strategies aligned with the strategic plan
Alignment Pain Points
• Succession Planning
• Development Plans for Future Leaders
• Processes for identifying, developing and
transitioning board members
• Board reflecting the diversity, ethnicity,
educational and economic status of the
communities served by the organization.
• Processes for selecting, developing, and
transitioning new board leadership
Alignment Pain Points
• Boards evaluating the CEO/Executive Director
based on strategic priorities
• Board regularly reviewing its own
effectiveness and assessing strengths and
deficiencies.
• Boards having the right balance of work and
fun activities
• Boards having appropriate committees with
clear charters
Alignment Pain Points
• Having a sufficient number of volunteers to
support organizational objectives
• Effective volunteer recruitment processes
• Volunteer retention strategies
• The ability to measure volunteer satisfaction
and concerns
Execution Pain Points
• Clear measures of success for departments
and programs that are linked to the goals of
the organization as a whole
• Having the resources (i.e., sufficient budget
and staff) to be effective
• Having defined, cost-effective procedures for
evaluating, both qualitatively and
quantitatively, programs and projects
Execution Pain Points
• Resources needed to insure
that its information technology infrastructure
is well maintained and updated
• Communications plan effectively promotes
the mission, motivates action and increases
funding
• Quality of the organization's equipment and
physical work environment
Partnership Pain Points
• Highly effective partnerships
– Nonprofit
– Corporate
– Governmental
– Civic
Sector Strengths
• Executive Director/CEO effectively balances
strategic thinking with day-to-day operation
• Executive Director/CEO understands the need
for board development
• The Board monitors the fiscal health of the
organization at least quarterly
• The board conducts four meetings or more
per fiscal year.
Sector Strengths
• The organization's purpose and activities meet
unique community needs
• The organization produces periodic, regular
and accurate statements reflecting its financial
position.
• Policies are in place to govern the acceptance
and disposition of charitable gifts that are
received in the course of its regular
fundraising activities.
Sector Strengths
• The organization is "cost conscious" and looks
for the most efficient way to use funds.
Nonprofit High Performance Model
1. Clear and Compelling Leadership
2. Strategic Intent
3. Alignment of People, Passion &
Purpose
4. Effective Execution
5. Powerful Partnerships &
Collaborations
Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand
Up for Itself and Really Change the World
“If you put these things together –
• you can't use money to attract talent,
• you can't advertise,
• you can't take risks,
• you can't invest in long-term results”
- “then we have just put the humanitarian sector at the
most extreme disadvantage to the for-profit sector on
every level, and then we call the whole system charity, as
if there is something incredibly sweet about it.”
― Dan Pallotta,