There’s a grain of truth in the old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Our relationships with others shape our lives. For nonprofits, relationships provide the base out of which grow board members, volunteers, and financial support. When people aren’t engaging in your organization, it’s impossible to fulfill your mission.

A conversation at a conference gave me a new perspective on relationships as they relate to nonprofits. I was introduced to a couple who owned an established business in a small community and were involved in a number of volunteer efforts. I probed a little deeper about their activities and was surprised when one of them commented that they loved their town. They were happy to donate their time and money or product when asked because they want their town to be a good place to live. However, it was disheartening when the same organizations that were asking for donations turned around and did business with other big box retailers or service providers for day to day supplies. This couple felt that their relationships with these nonprofits was often a one way street.

When it comes to spending, nonprofit decision makers should consider the impact their local purchases can have on their relationships in their communities as well with the bottom line. While “buying local” may be trendy, it has a very real impact on the economic health of a small city or town. These are the very people who value your service and who support what you do – can you return the favor? Here are some things to consider:

• Does a local business offer something that you regularly purchase online or at a big box retailer in another community? Are the savings really that significant when you factor in shipping or fuel costs?
• If this business doesn’t appear to have the exact product that you need, have you asked if they can they order it for you?
• Does this business contribute in some way to your organization?
• Does this business add value to your community? Does it make your town a better place to live?

Every nonprofit should be good stewards of their operating expenses. However, decision makers should consider a few new interpretations of ”stewardship” when it comes to making spending decisions and begin to look at the relationship opportunities that grow when we’re committed to investing our operating funds locally.

Nonprofits leaders often express concerns about their organization’s visibility. They fear that no one knows what they do and find reaching stakeholders in meaningful ways to be challenging. All of this has an impact on their mission and their fundraising efforts.

It’s easy to grasp the impact of the work you do when you’re standing in the middle of the action. Getting outsiders, who connect with your organization randomly and probably briefly, to understand what you do and then engage on some level requires acting intentionally.  The most effective nonprofits make a habit of sharing their mission and their stories with their stakeholders. The Kansas Sampler Foundation is a shining example of how to do it right.

The Kansas Sampler Foundation (KSF), is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and sustaining rural culture across the state. KSF educates Kansans about Kansas and supports and networks small communities in ways that are informative, engaging, and – best of all – fun!  An early initiative of the Foundation was the Kansas Explorer’s Club, a special membership group that encourages day trips to parts of the state that are off the beaten path to find the Eight Elements of Rural Culture identified by KSF (Art, Architecture, Culture, Cuisine, Customs, Geography, History, People).  The Foundation built awareness around each of the Eight Elements in their 8 Wonders of Kansas contests, a project that culminated in the “8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook”, just released last month.

Every May, the Kansas Sampler Foundation leverages an entire year’s worth of outreach into the Kansas Sampler Festival, an event that showcases everything rural Kansas has to offer. True to it’s mission, the Sampler Festival models “local”. The sponsors, volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, entertainment are from Kansas and for two days, every participant experiences what the work of the Foundation.  

One of the rituals at the Sampler Festival is “Stumpin’ for Kansas” where Executive Director Marci Penner literally stands on a stump and quizzes her audience about the Sunflower State. Correct answers earn a chance to be placed in drawing for a prize prize offered by one of the Festival exhibitors. Visitors to the Festival gain a new appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the place where they live, they discover places they want to visit, they tell their friends what a good time they had, and they associate that good time with the Kansas Sampler Foundation. In turn, the Foundation builds the base of support they need to continue their mission. Everyone wins.

While their work encompasses the entire state, the Foundation’s organization is very lean.  The Sampler Foundation has two full-time staff, Marci and WenDee LaPlant, Assistant Director, an active Board of Directors, and a group of committed volunteers. KSF uses traditional media outreach – newsletters, press releases and direct mail - as well as a website (http://www.kansassampler.org/), blog, and books to connect with and build their base of support. Marci and WenDee regularly post  to the Foundation’s followers on social media sites and link back to any online press or blog posts. They’ve made it a habit to connect regularly with their stakeholders and their stakeholders seems to love them for it. The results of their outreach investment is clear. The 2011 Kansas Sampler Festival was held last weekend in Leavenworth. It attracted 7,500 visitors.

What results would you like to have? What are you willing to invest?

Overwhelming - the word describes the tidal wave of reading material on topics of interest to nonprofits.  We realize the importance of professional reading, it’s just hard to make time when the nature of our work is geared toward serving others and our task lists are more than a page long.   Few of us are in the mood to plow through heavy reading.  Here are a few recommendations that will keep your professional reading practice on track.

The economy has all nonprofits retooling their fundraising efforts.  Now more than ever, organizations need to be clear about the basics of the fundraising process and practice.  Laura Fredericks’ “The Ask:  How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose”is a well written and accessible primer for nonprofits of every size.  Fredericks covers a variety of topics from capital campaigns to fundraising events and offers practical applications for each area.  This book is particularly well-suited for people who are new to fundraising – staff, board members, and volunteers will find something to use in their personal practice in “The Ask”.

I’ve the fortunate opportunity to attend presentations by Rebecca Ryan.  Rebecca wrote a terriffic book, “Live First, Work Second” about the characteristics of the “next generation”.   In her presentation, Rebecca stated that in the current economic situation, today’s leaders don’t neccesarily need to have all they answers but they need to be able to “midwife the answers.”  Creative problem solving and flexibility are essentials in any nonprofit’s toolbox.  One of my all-time favorite books on creativity in business is “Orbiting the Giant Hairball – A Corporate Fools Guide to Surviving with Grace” by the late Gordon MacKenzie.  MacKenzie’s unorthodox approach to work is anything but business as usual.  It’s an uplifting and inspiring read for anyone looking to navigate the challenges in today’s working world.

Check your local bookseller for these titles and enjoy these authors!