Today’s post is a philosophical one, filled with questions which are designed to make you question your NFP routines.

Pro Bono reported recently that “It’s been claimed that too much emphasis is placed on the role of charitable giving and not enough on the structural nature of poverty and ways to combat it, in a hard hitting investigation into civil society in the UK.”

“The investigation claims the capacity for civil society to effectively address poverty has been weakened as a result of a lack of a coherent strategy, and calls on charities in ‘survivalist’ mode to step up to the challenge if poverty and inequality in the UK are to be tackled.”

It’s an interesting finding and one which charities and not for profit groups should pay attention to.

The report tells us that too much emphasis is placed on the role of charitable giving and not enough on the structural nature of poverty. Whether or not your organisation deals with poverty, it is still a group designed to help some other worthy cause, so the question is, are you doing all you can?

One of the biggest complaints or criticisms that people have of charities in particular, but of NFPs in general, is that the money does not get to the people who really need it.  The money is absorbed by the structure and process of fundraising, instead.

How long is it since you, the Volunteer Treasurer, and your board sat down to review your processes?  How long is it since you worked with the CEO of your NFP to review processes across the organisation?

Possibly an even more important question is, how long is it since you used the power of your NFP voice to ignite change where it is needed?

As a paid employee of your organisation, it’s very easy to be sucked up into the day to day workings of the place.  As a volunteer board member, your time and focus is often on raising funds and distributing them appropriately. Yet you are the people who are supposed to be making a difference.

What would happen if you changed your systems or rocked the social boat a little to make your cause noticed?  What would happen if you took the Robin Hood stance to highlight the problems as you see them – take action and command attention?

If you shift your focus from the processes required to collect and distribute donations, perhaps you might be able to have even more impact than you currently do.  It may be a good time to review your present plans are design a strategy which induces change and supports those in need as you do do.

What do you think ?