Good works is good business

December heralds the holidays and the season of giving. It is in this spirit that we inaugurate a monthly column dedicated to the unique challenges faced by nonprofit organizations, foundations and for-profit businesses in the performance of “good works” that contribute to the greater good and the achievement of business and philanthropic goals.

First, an explanation of the column’s name or to answer the musings of William Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet “What’s in a name?” For us, everything! The name “good works” is multi-layered and reflects the foundation of this column and our consulting business. “Good works” speaks to our belief that good does in fact work and can transform society. Further, “good works” represents the services, dollars and expertise that nonprofits, foundations and businesses deliver to the citizens of Westchester County. Finally, it describes the techniques, strategies and solutions that will enable entities to work more creatively, efficiently and effectively to fulfill their mission and sustain their good works.

This column grew out of the economic crisis of the last year and will introduce innovative business strategies emerging from the field of philanthropy being successfully employed by nonprofit and for-profit organizations alike to survive and thrive in this climate. The column aims to fulfill the need for a local source of business advice, networking and resources for nonprofit agencies and foundations operating in Westchester. The health of this sector directly impacts the health of the businesses and the economy of our county.

The economic downturn has created a tremendous squeeze on resources of nonprofit organizations. These organizations face competing pressures of, on the one hand, increased demand for services to meet the increased needs of individuals and families, and, on the other hand, a shrinking supply of donor dollars due to decimated portfolios of private and public foundations and reduced funds from government and individual donors.

To continue to deliver on mission, nonprofits must run their business operations more efficiently and effectively and utilize the successful strategies grounded in the “for-profit” sector. To that end, we will present proven advice from those working in the trenches that are succeeding despite dwindling resources. We will interview thought leaders in the nonprofit sector and present their ideas on best practices and current trends in the field. We will also remind you of the tried-and-true fundraising tools and bring you creative and out-of-the-box enhancements to methods that are no longer sufficient.

For foundations and other donors, the economic crisis has made the decision of “whom,”  “how many” and “how much” to fund increasingly difficult and yet more critical than ever. Future articles will explore these decision-making processes, along with methods to measure the success of agencies and programs, the necessity of providing operational support to grant recipients and ways to match mission with donors’ giving priorities.  Equally important, we will address the business strategies that foundations must now utilize to ensure their own long-term viability.

For the “for-profit” sector, we will show you ways that being a good corporate citizen is also good business. In the cover article of the Sept. 21, 2009 issue of Time Magazine titled, “The Responsibility Revolution,” Richard Stengel writes, “In America, we are recalibrating our sense of what it means to be a citizen, not just through voting or volunteering but also through what we buy.”

Accordingly, corporations are discovering that aligning business goals with social initiatives can attract investment, engender customer loyalty, enhance employee morale and increase revenue, all while transforming society. Topics we will address to help businesses reach the growing number of ethical consumers will include mission marketing plans, employee volunteerism programs, forging strategic alliances with nonprofits and in-kind contributions of goods, facilities or expertise.

Our goal is to inspire you with success stories from the people, agencies, foundations and businesses in Westchester that are doing “good works.” When available, we will provide resources so topics can be pursued further. As appropriate, we may conduct surveys of our readers to get a consensus of best practices on important issues in Westchester.

As the column proceeds, your feedback will be critical to us. We welcome hearing about your own success stories, the results of our advice-in-action, and any topic you would like us to address in a future article.

We feel privileged to write this column for the Westchester Business Journal. It is our hope that as 2009 draws to a close and 2010 begins, you will be motivated to begin or expand upon your organization’s good works.