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Name that tip!
What's the once piece advice you've heard again and again that you struggle to translate to the not-for-profit world?
User deleted comment on 11/22/20 at 5:49PM UTC
I can't think of any particular advice at the moment, but having worked in both worlds, I've found that the experience in nonprofit (not for profit, NFP) work isn't all that different than the corporate world - the language is just different.
Corps have customers, NFPs deliver services to participants or clients. A Corps marketing reaches more prospective customers which translates to an NFPs community outreach and engagement efforts. Corps make profits, NFPs pursue reserve funds (excess income over expenses). Both have CEO's and Boards, but power is distributed differently.
Corps seek capital for new products or divisions, NFPs must raise funds through charitable contributions from individuals, grants from foundations or governments and, indeed, support from Corps. Both have to hire and fire people, create policies and procedures, market to new audiences, communicate to multiple constituencies to support their mission/purpose or products/services.
Anyone who's worked in the Corp world may well serve on a nonprofit board, be a member of an association, civic group, a church/temple/mosque or a movement. And any NFP employee has a spouse, relative, neighbor or friend who works in the for profit world. So the experience of each is far from alien. Making a buck is of interest to both, but I have to say, there's nothing like changing people's lives every day!
Of course, this just reflects my experience, tell me about yours!