Don’t compare your nonprofit to others
May 5, 2009 by Sandy
Filed under General Fundraising, Inspiration
How many times have you looked at what other organizations are doing and thought “boy, they’re raising a lot of money” or “I wish we had the sponsors they do” or something similar?
It’s so easy to look at other nonprofits are doing and get jealous. The thing is that all is not necessarily as it seems. No one organization has cornered the market on donors or giving. Don’t get discouraged just because the charity across town just got a big splash in the paper or received a big grant or just completed a capital campaign. Unless you know the details of the innerworkings of that group, you have no idea what challenges they’re dealing with.
Keep your eyes on your own work (how many times did we hear that in school?) and don’t get distracted by the activities of others. And definitely don’t get defeated by what you perceive to be a smashing success. I’d say odds are good that other organizations are jealous of something your organization is doing.
It’s very important for nonprofits, and people in general, to not compare themselves to others. You said it perfectly, “you have no idea what challenges they’re dealing with.”
I think it’s kind of human nature to compare ourselves to each other but we must stop doing this. It’s counter productive and slightly depressing especially if you come to the conclusion that they’re better than you, regardless of the “real facts”. For nonprofits, it’s even more dangerous because they are so many elements involved in what makes a great and successful organization. So unless you have that inside knowledge or “details of the innerworkings” don’t compare, instead, analyze what is and is not working for others, and yourself, and come up with a plan to achieve YOUR OWN greatness. Just my 2 cents!