Home    Resources    Staff Publications     Finding Relevance

staff publications

Finding Relevance in a Dynamic World
Chris Garrigues, Project Coordinator
May 2011

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations registered in the United States. These organizations play key roles in our vibrant society, fulfilling missions that promote the arts, conservation, education, health and social services – as well as those nonprofits that exist to advocate for the interests and concerns of particular communities.

Across this broad spectrum, every nonprofit organization must find relevance not only in relation to other agencies but also for itself. So what does it mean to ask the simple question, “Are we relevant?”

There are plenty of social issues and big causes wherever you look. Especially in tough times or in the face of crisis, it’s not too hard to find purpose when action is needed. But there are also many experiences that we want to nurture and protect for ourselves and others because they can make any day joyful: the thrill you feel in a concert hall or theater, the youthful curiosity found in a hall of dinosaur bones or at the zoo, the pleasure of listening to a favorite radio program or hearing an author speak about a new book.

If your organization is able to fulfill its role – no matter how big or small – in maintaining, providing or advancing what is meaningful in society, then your relevance is assured.

Finding your organization’s relevance begins with identifying the larger culture and context in which you operate. Sometimes it’s a matter of looking at the numbers and making realistic decisions. Or it can be about trusting the experience and instincts of your staff, volunteers and members. It’s a dynamic world either way…and working together, you can be an equally dynamic force. Reinforcing your relevance will help you make your organization indispensable.

Schultz & Williams is a national consulting firm based in Philadelphia providing management, fundraising and marketing consulting for nonprofit organizations, along with full-service direct marketing, database and creative/production services.