Over the last year or so, I’ve been heartened to hear more nonprofits talk about their desire to “share power” with the people who use their programs and services. Typically, they’re referring to a desire to involve their communities in shaping their strategies and ways of working. But when we probe a bit deeper, many nonprofit leaders don’t yet have a clear vision of what it could look like to go beyond simply involving their stakeholders, and progress toward offering their program and service participants an opportunity for true decision making.
Sharing power requires more than one-off research and input opportunities like surveys and focus groups (though those approaches are of course still valuable). It requires long-term relationship building and sustained opportunities for the people you serve to provide input and influence or even make decisions. In recent research we’ve conducted with nonprofit service recipients, we’ve observed a clear preference for deeper, more time-intensive opportunities to provide feedback and input that influences nonprofit strategies and ways of working.
Some methods you might consider to go deeper and truly “share power” with your nonprofit beneficiaries include:
Community Engagement Events
The people who use your programs and services want to see your organization show up in their communities and gathering places, not just once or twice, but on a regular basis. Where do your nonprofit beneficiaries spend their time and get together with their families and friends? Are there regular, authentic opportunities for your organization to be in community with them in those settings? For example, could representatives from your organization make a point of having a regular presence at the weekly gathering at the nearby community center, cheer on the team during the local rec league baseball game, or attend Sunday worship services at community churches? Whether representatives show up formally (such as with a booth that has informational pamphlets and free food), or informally (just to interact and engage), having a long-term presence in your stakeholders’ gathering places can go a long way toward building authentic relationships. Then, with a strong foundation in place, you can begin to present opportunities for stakeholders to provide input on your programs and services in those same settings. For example, you might host a listening session to get feedback on your nonprofit’s programs and services once a quarter. This could happen during the coffee hour that takes place after a church service that you have been attending for some time.
While getting engaged in community events and gathering places might sound like something that makes sense only for smaller, local organizations, it’s actually just as important (if not more so) for large, federated organizations. The larger your organization and its reach, the more likely your ultimate beneficiaries are to feel cut off or distanced from your organization, and the more important it is to show up and be in community with them before asking for feedback.
Stakeholder Advisory Boards
Your nonprofit likely puts a great deal of time and energy into sharing power with the people who donate funds through meetings and engagement with a governing board. But what about the people who use your programs and services? Shouldn’t you be giving them just as much attention and opportunity for input, if not more? In recent research, we’ve found that many nonprofit beneficiaries are very keen to get involved in stakeholder advisory boards that meet regularly and provide substantial opportunities for shared decision making. Consider creating a stakeholder advisory board (or several) made up of the people who receive services from your nonprofit, or who have currently or recently experienced a need for such services. You may also wish to include other stakeholders, such as community leaders or beneficiary family members, in your advisory board(s). Then, commit to meeting regularly to share what your nonprofit is working on, solicit input and ideas, and ultimately create opportunities for your beneficiaries to play a vital role in making important decisions about the future of your organization.
Inclusion of Program and Service Recipients on Governing Boards
For all the talk about diversifying governing boards in recent years, few nonprofit boards currently include substantial representation from the people who use a nonprofit’s programs and services. Yes, many boards have evolved to include more people of color, more women and other types of “diversity,” but it’s still uncommon to see strong representation from direct beneficiaries on governing boards. That’s because many nonprofits have continued to prioritize the ability to contribute financially when selecting their board members, not the ability to contribute experientially. This needs to change if we truly want to share power with nonprofit beneficiaries. Consider creating pathways through which beneficiaries can transition from a stakeholder advisory board to your governing board, and relax or remove “give/get” requirements so that financial barriers do not block your beneficiaries from participation. Their willingness to share their lived experience is likely worth more than any monetary contribution.
Hiring Program and Service Recipients as Paid Staff
The ultimate “shared power” move involves hiring those who use your nonprofit’s programs and services onto your staff. There is no better way to involve your beneficiaries in decision making than to provide an opportunity for them to build a career at your nonprofit and grow into a leadership role that has significant decision making responsibilities. While not every beneficiary will be qualified or interested in working with your organization, you can bet that many are or will be in the near future.
What other ideas do you have for “going deeper” in sharing power with your nonprofit beneficiaries?
Every nonprofit needs a spectrum of ways to engage its stakeholders in shaping strategy, and tools like surveys and focus groups certainly have their time and place. But today’s nonprofit stakeholders want and deserve the opportunity to go deeper with your organization and truly influence decision making. How are you creating those opportunities for and alongside them?
