What’s next for the non-profit sector?

October 28, 2020 • Megan Raber

2020 has been a year of change in many respects. The events of the year have significantly altered how we operate both personally and professionally and disrupted many industries. 2020 is challenging us to think differently and be innovative and the non-profit and social impact industries are no different. What changes could we see going forward in this industry and how does it need to innovate to capitalize on these trends?

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Funding

Most non-profits are extremely dependent on external funding for their operations. The global pandemic is going to change the dynamic surrounding funding in two fundamental ways. First, many individuals now have less money to give and so they will be more hesitant to donate. As a result, they will increasingly demand to see the direct impacts of their gift. This leads to the second way funding will change—non-profits will need to respond by making donations more personal. This may mean forming personal connections with every volunteer rather than the blanket messaging of appreciation, finding ways to directly show donors their impact, or segmenting donors on a more specific basis.

Community

The pandemic has significantly increased the number of individuals wanting to volunteer and get involved in their community. This is something many nonprofits can take advantage of. However, non-profits also need to learn to get more value from their volunteers. Organizations can leverage the knowledge of their volunteer base to develop marketing strategies, plan events, and provide new ideas.

A Digital Future

Many argue that the future is digital and if this is the case, the pandemic is only speeding up this transition. This has implications for non-profit organizations. For example, the rising youth and young adult populations get more and more of their information from social media rather than from traditional news sources. As a result, non-profits need to start putting more focus into developing a web presence. Not only will this raise awareness for their organizations, but social media platforms serve as an easy way to generate donations and recruit new talent. 

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A final note…

Hopefully the world can learn some important lessons from 2020 and see the potential for innovation and improvement. And, hopefully this extends to the non-profit and social impact sectors as well.

 If you're looking for ways to make a difference this year or if you want to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on the non-profit and social impact industries, attend our events or visit the QNP website.

Best wishes,
QNP