Wendie Veloz
Conversation Date: October 10th 2024 12pm CST
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Why Nonprofit Sustainability Matters and How to Achieve It
In this episode of the Million Dollar Nonprofit Podcast, Tom Kelly dives into the crucial topic of nonprofit sustainability with special guest Wendie Veloz. Wendie, a seasoned expert in nonprofit strategy and sustainability, shares her innovative approaches to ensuring nonprofits thrive in the long term. Below are key highlights and actionable takeaways from their engaging conversation.
What is Nonprofit Sustainability?
Sustainability is about more than just funding—it’s about ensuring a nonprofit continues to fulfill its mission effectively over time. Wendie defines nonprofit sustainability as “the practice of being intentional and making sure that your nonprofit is not failing.” She highlights the importance of evaluating what works, adapting strategies, and divesting from practices that no longer serve the mission.
Key Sustainable Practices
1. Stop Doing What Doesn’t Work
Many nonprofits continue investing in legacy strategies out of habit or emotional attachment. Wendie emphasizes the importance of objectively assessing programs and strategies to identify what’s working—and what’s not.
2. Build Leadership and Capacity
Sustainability requires leadership that evolves with the organization. Wendie’s framework includes strategies for maintaining leadership, engaging new partners, and ensuring capacity-building practices are in place.
3. Diversify Funding Streams
Wendie discusses the need to explore new and creative revenue opportunities, such as earned income and live-stream fundraising. These approaches offer nonprofits unrestricted funds that can be critical for sustainability.
4. Engage and Empower the Community
True sustainability involves giving leadership roles to community members. Wendie advises nonprofits to empower stakeholders, making them active participants in the mission rather than just recipients of services.
The Nine-Dimension Sustainability Framework
Wendie created a nine-dimension sustainability framework to help nonprofits assess their current practices and identify areas for improvement. The framework includes aspects like leadership, funding diversification, and measuring change. By using this tool, nonprofits can create a roadmap for long-term success.
Creative Strategies for Growth
Wendie shared unique examples of sustainable practices, including live-stream fundraising inspired by old-school telethons. By leveraging modern platforms like Twitch, nonprofits can tap into new audiences and generate significant revenue through innovative methods.
Advice for New Nonprofits
For organizations just starting their journey, Wendie offers these tips:
- Assess Leadership: Understand the talents of your board, staff, and volunteers, and map them to your goals. Don’t settle for what’s available—ask for what you need.
- Focus on Funding Diversity: From day one, prioritize building diverse revenue streams. Engage all stakeholders in understanding where money comes from and where it’s going.
- Plan for the Future: Sustainability isn’t a five-year goal—it’s an ongoing process. Regularly review your strategies and ensure they align with your long-term vision.
How to Learn More
Wendie provides a wealth of free resources on her website, wendievillose.com, including her nine-dimension sustainability framework, downloadable guides, and videos. She also hosts the Social Impact Level Up Podcast, available on YouTube and major podcast platforms, where she shares even more insights on nonprofit sustainability and leadership.
Final Thoughts
This episode is packed with actionable advice for nonprofits of all sizes. Wendie’s expertise and passion for sustainability shine through as she encourages organizations to think strategically and act intentionally to create lasting impact.
Whether you’re looking to diversify funding, engage your community, or build a more sustainable future, Wendie’s insights provide a valuable starting point. Check out the full episode to hear more and explore how these strategies can help your nonprofit scale to the million-dollar mark and beyond!
Wendie Veloz
Social Impact Strategist | Executive Coach for Small Business & Nonprofit Leaders | Social Policy Expert | Best Selling Author | Reiki Healer | Podcast Host | Blogger
More Resources
Frequently
Asked Questions
Nonprofit sustainability ensures that an organization can continue fulfilling its mission effectively over time. It involves intentional strategies like leadership development, funding diversification, and adapting programs to remain relevant and impactful.
Created by Wendie Veloz, this framework provides a comprehensive approach to nonprofit sustainability. It includes leadership, funding, program effectiveness, and partnerships, among other dimensions, to help organizations identify areas for improvement and create actionable plans.
Wendie recommends assessing what’s truly effective by asking key questions about impact and relevance. Nonprofits should analyze data, feedback, and alignment with their mission to decide whether to adapt, scale, or divest from a program.
Beyond traditional grants and donations, Wendie suggests exploring earned income, live-stream fundraising, and social media campaigns. These methods can provide unrestricted funds and expand a nonprofit’s reach.
Empower volunteers and community leaders by giving them ownership of projects. This fosters deeper engagement and allows them to take initiative, making the organization’s mission a shared priority.
Move beyond simple process metrics like attendance or partnerships. Focus on transformational outcomes—evidence that programs are creating lasting change for the people or causes served.
From day one. Sustainability isn’t something to consider years into operation. Early focus on leadership, funding diversity, and long-term planning helps build a strong foundation for growth.
Wendie offers free resources, including her sustainability framework, on her website wendievillose.com/sustainability. You can also explore her Social Impact Level Up Podcast for additional insights and strategies.