"...Run More Like a Business?"

Here's a chance with Bryan Orander, Charitable Advisors

I don't usually respond well when I hear people make simplistic statements like "nonprofits should run more like businesses". When I ask for clarity, they discuss setting aggressive goals; executing effective marketing strategies; building a brand; recruiting the best people; and generally operating in an intentional, well-organized manner. So they are saying that a ten person nonprofit should operate like Eli Lilly & Co? From a practical standpoint, my perception would be that most nonprofits are run as well as or better than small businesses of comparable size.

That being said, here is an affordable opportunity for a member of your nonprofit leadership team to join me and a cohort of other nonprofit leaders and managers to reflect on where your organization is headed and what you need to do to improve your impact, financial and staff management, and operations. We are adapting the 10 week FastTrac Growth Ventures curriculum from the Kauffman Foundation for use with nonprofit leaders and organizations. The first class will be approximately 15 executive directors and senior staff of established area nonprofits. In addition to the FastTrac business curriculum we will also talk the key issues that make nonprofits unique with guest speakers fromn the foundation and nonprofit community.

The host organization for this class is Business Ownership Initiative, a local nonprofit partner of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. The cost is only $495 for 10 Friday mornings, beginning on April 18 and running through June. For more information and registration, go here.

Bryan Orander, President of Charitable Advisors and Publisher of the Not-for-Profit News will be the lead facilitator for this session. www.CharitableAdvisors.com. Feel free to contact Bryan at 752-7153 or Bryan@CharitableAdvisors.com or Jackie Troy at BOI jtroy@businessownership.org with questions.