Project Management For Nonprofits

AI needs to mature beyond just re-writing your social posts. Here's 7 charities using AI to deliver real impact and 3 ways you can get started in your non-profit ✨ Prostate Cancer UK has been using advanced AI and machine learning to analyse vast donor datasets 💷 - Over 1.5 million supporters, 5.5 million transactions, and 15 million campaign activities. The AI identified optimal donor segments for their Christmas appeal, resulting in more than double the return on investment compared to previous appeals. Parkinson's UK deployed AI-powered social listening and comparative linguistics to monitor and respond to rapidly changing concerns during the pandemic 👂 - By analysing forums, helplines, and social media in real time, the charity could adapt its support and communications week-by-week, ensuring it met the constantly evolving needs of its community. Rainforest Connection (RFCx) uses advanced AI and machine learning to protect rainforests through real-time acoustic monitoring 🐸 - Their Guardian Platform analyses audio data from solar-powered devices placed in forests. The AI detects sounds like chainsaws or trucks, which indicate illegal logging or poaching, and instantly alerts local rangers. This enables rapid intervention and helps preserve biodiversity in threatened ecosystems. The Children's Society collaborated with Microsoft to develop an AI solution that helps overcome language and trust barriers for young migrants and refugees 🌏 - The AI interprets sensitive stories without the need for third-party human interpreters, protecting privacy and improving the quality of support for highly vulnerable groups. Church Mission Society adopted charity accounting software with advanced automation features, saving over 200 hours per month and about £50,000 per year 🧮 - The software automates reporting, data entry, and financial management, allowing staff to focus on higher-value tasks while improving the accuracy & speed of audits and compliance Combat Stress, a UK charity supporting veterans’ mental health, is piloting AI tools to analySe data from therapy sessions and support interactions 📊 - The goal is to identify at-risk veterans and tailor interventions accordingly. Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp leverages AI and machine learning with their Foresight tool to forecast forced displacement events, such as those in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and West Africa 🗺️ - By analysing open data from sources like the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and The World Bank, the AI predicts displacement trends years in advance. This allows DRC and the wider humanitarian sector to enhance strategic planning, operational preparedness, and timely crisis response for vulnerable populations Three ways to get started: 1. Identify Use Cases and Start Small 2. Upskill Staff and Build Digital Confidence 3. Develop Governance and Responsible AI Policies What advice or resources would you give charities starting to experiment with AI❓

My nonprofits in the community - are you planning a donor survey in the next two months? Here are some examples of how you can ensure that the data does not sit silently in your work folders but actually lets it help you take meaningful actions. Example 1: Say your survey question is: "How likely are you to continue donating to our organization in the next year?" ● Data says: If 60% of donors say they are "very likely" to continue donating, but 30% are "somewhat likely" and 10% are "unlikely," this indicates a potential drop-off in donor retention. ● Turning that data into action: Focus retention efforts on the "somewhat likely" group. Create a targeted campaign that re-engages these donors by highlighting recent successes, impact stories, or new initiatives they might care about. Additionally, reach out to the "unlikely" group to understand their concerns and see if any issues can be addressed. Example 2: Say your survey question is: "Which of the following areas do you believe your donation has the most impact?" ● Data says: 50% of respondents say their donation has the most impact on "Education Programs," while only 10% say "Healthcare Initiatives." ● Turning that data into action: Understand the why and promote the success and need for your "Healthcare Initiatives" more prominently, aiming to increase donor awareness and support in this underfunded area. Example 3: Say your survey question is: "What is your primary reason for donating to our organization?" ● Data says: If the top reason to engage is "Alignment with my values" (40%) followed by "Transparency in how funds are used" (35%). ● Turning that data into action: Emphasize your organization's values and transparency in all communications. Regularly update donors on how their funds are being used with clear, detailed reports, and align your messaging with the core values that resonate with your donor base. Example 4: Say your survey question is: "How satisfied are you with the level of communication you receive from our organization?" ● Data says: If 70% of donors are "satisfied", 20% are "neutral," and 10% are "dissatisfied," there's room for improvement in communication. ● Turning that data into action: Understand the "neutral" and "dissatisfied" groups to pinpoint where communication may be lacking. This could involve increasing the frequency of updates, personalizing communications, or providing more opportunities for donor feedback and engagement. Sit with the data you collect. Read the numbers. Read the stories. Read the hopes, barriers, and interests of those humans in your data. The best possibility of a survey is to make the humans in that data feel included and belong by listening and acting on their perspectives. Co-create change with your community in those surveys. #nonprofits #nonprofitleadership #community #inclusion

📢NEW RESOURCES: 📊 Data collaborations can be critical in unlocking the  #data needed to inform public interest decisions (in #cities, at times of #crisis and beyond). Unfortunately, setting up the agreements needed to facilitate access to data is often too time-consuming and costly. 🚀 To tackle this, we are launching three 🆕 resources designed to streamline the process of forming data-sharing agreements! ➡️ Introducing "Moving from Idea to Practice: Three Resources for Harnessing the Power of Data Sharing Agreements." 📚💼 🌐 These resources are born from our extensive workshops and consultations with numerous experts in law, data, and exchange initiatives. They offer practical, actionable guidance on crafting data-sharing agreements that yield valuable insights. What's Inside? 🤔 1️⃣ A comprehensive guide to principled negotiation 2️⃣ An updated version of our Contractual Wheel of Data Collaboration. 3️⃣ A readiness matrix to evaluate potential partners' collaboration capabilities (prior to establishing a data sharing agreement). 🔗 Access these resources here: https://lnkd.in/et-TFhK2 📈 We're eager from you to hear from you how these tools can support you!...so please share your experiences and suggestions! #DataCollaboration #NonProfit #OpenData #SmartCities #DataDrivenDecisions #Datasharing #Datagovernance

I enjoy a good Gantt chart. I appreciate a Kanban board. And I love to see tasks checked off in a project management tool. But I also believe that task lists and timelines aren’t enough to drive project success in mission-driven environments. After more than 19 years of managing projects, I believe the real keys to success are: 1️⃣ Integrative planning: Clear planning that integrates scope, deliverables, schedule, and quality measures to create a shared vision of success. 2️⃣ Intentional facilitation: An intentional approach to communication that facilitates buy-in, collaboration, and sustained engagement. 3️⃣ Inclusive strategies: Broadly considering who is impacted by our project and proactively incorporating their input. What are the keys to project success in your organization? #projects #projectmanagement

Nonprofit leaders, guess who WANTS to hear about your DEI efforts - private funders: Foundations, Major Gift givers, & Donor Advised Funds. Did you know that foundation grants represent a significant portion of funding, contributing about 21% of total nonprofit giving in 2022, amounting to $105.21 billion? Grants from DAFs totaled $54.77 billion in 2023, representing approximately 48% of the value of foundation grants for the same year. For Major Giving, 88% of total dollars raised comes from 12% of donors. They're big. But these funders need a tailored story—they want clear, compelling proof that their investment will create meaningful change. Here’s what they expect: 🔹 Clear Outcomes, Not Just Activities They want to see results, not just efforts. Instead of “We held 20 workshops,” show how those workshops led to real change—e.g., “80% of participants improved in X/Y/Z within 6 months.” 🔹 Both Data and Stories Numbers matter, but so do personal stories. Funders want a mix of quantitative proof (metrics, trends, evaluations) and qualitative insights (testimonials, case studies) to fully understand your impact. 🔹 Alignment with Their Priorities Your impact should directly connect to what the funder cares about—whether it’s reducing poverty, improving health outcomes, or advancing equity. Tailor your messaging to align with their goals. 🔹 You are Here to Stay Funders want to know: Is your work leading to sustainable, long-term change? This can be tricky when your mission is big but if you can show how you're progressing toward larger goals they see how they can help you will get there. Is your nonprofit effectively telling its impact story? If you need help turning your data and stories into compelling proof for funders, let’s talk! 📩 ________________________________________________ Hello, I'm Emily Taylor. I help nonprofits gather data and tell their organization's impact story to attract more private funding - offering tips to improving your story here on LinkedIn. If you know your organization is making a difference in the world but are struggling to share it with funders, send me a message.

🎓 Earning my Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Leadership was driven by a deep passion to help nonprofits grow, adapt, and ultimately make the world a better place. 🌍✨ In today’s fast-paced world, nonprofits often struggle to keep up with the latest technology. Yet, integrating AI into operations can be a game changer! 🚀 While AI may not solve every challenge, it can certainly help reach more people, amplify impact, and accelerate the pace of change. 🤖💡 Nonprofit leaders should consider learning about and implementing AI tools that can: 🔍 Enhance Donor Engagement: AI can personalize communication and tailor outreach efforts to keep donors connected and engaged. Tools like Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud and Gravyty can automate and optimize fundraising efforts. 📊 Improve Data Management: Platforms like Tableau and Power BI can help nonprofits visualize data, making it easier to track progress and make informed decisions. 📅 Streamline Operations: Tools like Asana and Trello can automate workflows and improve team collaboration, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working towards the mission. As the world evolves, nonprofits must stay ahead of the curve. I believe regular quarterly training sessions on topics like technology, finances, and operations are essential for nonprofits to remain effective and impactful. 📚💼 #NonprofitLeadership #AIforGood #TechForGood #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #NonprofitGrowth #Leadership #ContinuousLearning #FutureOfNonprofits Walden University

Still managing NGO compliance and project data through multiple files and emails? A well-designed Excel-based Compliance & Project Tracker can help NGOs streamline operations, improve reporting, and ensure timely compliance without investing in expensive software. ✅ Track donor-wise and project-wise budgets ✅ Monitor fund utilization and expenditures ✅ Maintain compliance calendars (FCRA, CSR, statutory filings, audits, etc.) ✅ Track project milestones, deliverables, and deadlines ✅ Generate management dashboards and progress reports ✅ Maintain document repositories and compliance records in one place For small and medium-sized NGOs, Excel remains a powerful and cost-effective tool for improving transparency, accountability, and project management. The key is not just collecting data but converting it into actionable insights that support better decision-making and donor reporting. Are you still managing compliance and project tracking manually? Let's discuss how a customized Excel tracker can simplify your NGO operations. #NGOManagement #ComplianceManagement #ProjectManagement #ExcelDashboard #FCRA #CSR #GrantManagement #NonProfit #MonitoringAndEvaluation #DataManagement #NGOOperations #MISReporting #FinanceAndCompliance #DevelopmentSector #ExcelAutomation

If I'm in charge of revenue at a large nonprofit, I can't ignore these realities 👇 -Donors giving below $100 are down ~9% (and have been trending down) -Donors giving below $500 are down 4% (and have been trending down) -Slower income growth & less disposable income for most -Middle-class households under economic pressure -The rapid decline of religion (that has giving as a core tenet) -Decline in institutional trust -Not only is charitable giving largely stagnant as a % of the GDP, but we also haven't been able to grow share of wallet -Donors giving $5k-$50k are up 1% -Donors giving $50k+ are up ~3% And if I look around at what other nonprofits are doing, I might see 👇 -Marketing getting louder -Frequency cranked to 11 -Tired tactics with little differentiation And if strategy is about how an organization applies strength against the most promising opportunity or the most critical challenge, I need to address the problem head on. Three ideas... 1) Instead of getting louder, get closer to donors. -Jeffersonian dinners -"Jobs To Be Done" interviews -Measuring donor satisfaction -Rating the donor experience -Cross train across the org on how to listen to donors -More thoughtful prioritization and segmentation -Do things that don't scale; you will likely not "scale" anyways (but you'll very likely grow!) 2) Focus more energy on the people who *can* give more. That doesn't mean you should ignore the $100 donor. Two things can be true at the same time: most of your limited human hours are best spent on people who can give >$10,000, AND, you can treat the $100 donor like they're an important part of the team (because they are). -Create tiered caseloads (A, B, C, D donors) -Develop a donor engagement plan for each tier -Treat mid-major donors like true partners: frequent report backs, project proposals, town halls, feedback loops, in-the-moment updates -Focus your work in the 'mass' file to identify the best prospects for a mid-major treatment, and work to move as many OTGs to recurring (monthly) or re-occuring revenue (quarterly, yearly, etc.) 3) Promote giving from assets across the donor file—and make it easy to do so Russell James taught me this. When people give from their assets, the gift is likely to be larger. And they are more likely to give again. Giving from assets (like stocks and shares, tax-savings accounts, retirement accounts, DAFs, gifts of life insurance, etc.) is often the smartest way for donors to give—no matter the size of gift. But many donors simply don't know it's an option. -- We're partnering with growth-minded nonprofits to implement all of these ideas, and more. If you think it's time you create a solid midlevel giving strategy (not just a standard appeal with an open ask), give me a shout.