An NGO can have both long-term and short-term plans, but the ability to adapt to the latest trends is essential. Being unable to adapt can cause a well-known NGO to be forgotten, and hence slowly lose both sponsorships and partnerships. To maintain a lasting impact on chosen beneficiaries, NGOs need to keep up.
In today’s world, the only thing left constant is change. From technological advances, communication, entertainment and more. Thus, in order to thrive and succeed, NGOs must keep up to date and adjust their tactics. Maintaining a close relationship with old sponsors and partners alike is necessary but not enough. Although partnering with many institutions and gaining sponsorships can be impressive at the beginning of the process, continual growth is still desirable. To achieve continual growth, NGOs must not settle for the current successes they have, but instead, keep moving forward. In this article, we will provide 5 trends which can guide NGOs in their operations.
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Documentation
Before the presence of social media in our everyday lives, photos and videos have been taken to keep memories. Now, NGOs can take advantage of this trend and use it as a platform to keep their followers updated on the latest happenings, fundraising activities, and news articles. Social media can also be a good channel to meet new partners, donor agencies for NGOs, philanthropists, and individuals who support your organization’s causes. Apart from updating your followers, live videos have also become a trend lately. People today want everything instant. Avoid making them wait and create live videos which they can watch on Facebook or Instagram. After which, updates are also still expected to be posted to highlight the most relevant happenings of the activity.
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Training
One thing about human beings is that we’re all learners. In order to be up to date, constant improvement is needed from people who run NGOs. In today’s digital age, e-learnings, modules, and webinars have been present and can be used as a reference for further advancements. These networks can be found in philanthropist websites or media platforms. Dedicating a few hours into further development can go a long way. This will also help NGOs keep up to date and learn new techniques and ideas. Taking up an NGO management course from experts who have experience will only strengthen the ground your NGO is currently standing on.
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Sustainability
It has been no secret that our planet is slowly deteriorating due to the habits many generations have established. As an NGO, it is imperative not only to give aid to chosen beneficiaries but also to set a good example. Practices such as going paperless, tree planting, and encouraging others to reduce, reuse, and recycle can be optimized. Furthermore, fundraising ideas can also come up with this theme. Currently, bamboo toothbrushes, metal straws, shampoo bars, and reusable containers have been turned into business to which NGOs can either participate in or perhaps create opportunities by marketing and retailing sustainable products to the public. This way, consumers can also learn more about your NGO and what it does. Through that, not only will it help you generate funds to support projects and operations, it’s also a way to gain exposure to the public.
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Freelancing
Unlike many for-profit organizations, NGOs have a tight budget in terms of manpower. This is because their intention is for most of their funds to be optimized in projects that can help improve the lives of those in need. Hence, constantly seeking professional help can be costly.
NGOs can make use of several millennials who have embraced freelancing. For tasks such as logo or web designing, permanent employees are not required as these tasks do not require constant updating either. The hiring of project-based employees should also be considered given that after the successful implementation of certain projects, constant supervision is not always required.
An added bonus of using freelancers could even be widening one’s network. By hiring a freelancer, the probability of them working for other companies alike would be huge. Through one individual, there could be possibilities of meeting new sponsors and partners. Widening one’s network for NGOs can also mean more people interested in handing over donations.
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Online Shopping
As mentioned in the earlier paragraphs, in this day and age, people expect everything to be instant. From clothing and accessories to gadgets and even groceries, many opt to go online shopping because of the convenience it brings. Given that many people visit online shops, it can effective to put one of your own, selling products and informing buyers and visitors of the various projects your proceeds will go to. This way, you’ll be able to reach out to a wider network. Your followers on social media are not always necessarily the ones who go online shopping on a regular basis.
Given the new trends NGOs should keep up with and apply in their operations, old trends shouldn’t just die as well. The crafting of a noble NGO funding proposal should still be required of NGOs to possibly receive grants. Alongside that, participating in many fundraising activities which have proven to be effective in the past should be a continued practice as well, together with acquiring partners that will help in implementing projects.
