Nature Center Issues & Solutions:
A roundtable of ideas & answers
A roundtable of ideas & answers
Issue 1 Personnel issues-conflict/training
Solutions:
Issue 2 Funding issues
Solutions:
Issue 2 Increasing Memberships
Solutions:
Solutions:
- One participant has two outstanding interpreters, one had 20 yrs and the other 15 yrs with the organization, whose personality differences are so acute and things have deteriorated so badly they cannot be in the same room anymore. She has met with each of them individually and has found out that they both want the same thing-respect from each other. Their definitions of respect are the same too. She wonders if it is time to meet with them together and get it all out in the open, have a mediator of some kind, lay down the law on expectations and what the consequences are if those expectations are not met. She is friends with both of them. Ideas discussed: Is this due to a generational gap? That is not the case here. Another thing to consider with older employees is that perhaps there is a medical situation that you would be unaware of that could be the root cause for altered personalities. Perhaps they have to take medicine and the dosages are not correct, resulting in behaviors not typical for that individual. You would want to consult your HR department on how to handle anything like that to be sure and follow all labor laws. The end result was that perhaps this is the time to bring in a mediator with the understanding that this behavior cannot continue and we either find a way to get along professionally or we agree to part ways because this is negatively affecting the entire office.
- Whole Staff Training- When there are mandatory trainings, should all centers be closed so that all employees can attend on work time and pay those employees who have to come in on their day off overtime or offer an multiple days so that all can get there? Part of the benefit to these ‘all’ meetings is getting the entire staff together for team building. The group didn’t come up with alternatives if absolutely needed/wanted all staff in the same room at the same time. You would have to pay overtime to those that came in on their day off and close centers. If you didn’t absolutely need all staff in the same room at the same time, then offering multiple sessions, webinars would help to get people the training they needed without hurting the budget.
Issue 2 Funding issues
Solutions:
- Grant Writing
- Have a specific grant writer for your organization.
- You need to include information about the changing demographics in your area and demonstrate ways you plan to engage new audiences.
- Have a solid evaluation process for your programs so you can show the impact of them. Use Google ‘logic models’. You should find templates on the short-term and medium range impact that can be done. University research helps with long term impacts. E-mail Rob Bixler for research [email protected]. Rob would be happy to share this information with you.
- Gear you grant requests towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) for school-related programming.
- Health & Wellness is an up and coming topic, especially for corporations. Making contacts with local companies for this type of programming and financial support can increase the chances you will be successful in securing some funding.
- Establish or work through a ‘Friends’ group or a Foundation whose sole purpose is financial support of your organization’s programs and projects. Make sure you find people with connections to the money in your community to serve on the boards of these groups.
- Library programs can be a great revenue resource depending on whether or not you are separate organizations. If you are both county agencies, then you most likely will not be able to charge them for programs.
- Partner with other community organizations-walk around with your hand out, be ready to talk about your organization and the good that it does. Have an elevator speech ready to go so that you can take advantage of any opportunity as it presents itself. People want to give to good causes-we have the causes!
Issue 2 Increasing Memberships
Solutions:
- In order for memberships to really make a difference in your budget, you have to average a 30% renewal rate. If you do not have that percentage, then you must find out why people are not renewing. The national average for being a member of any kind of organization is 7-10 years.
- Sell your skills.
- Ask your members to display your stickers, so that others in the community will see it and be reminded of the organization.
- Promote Legacy giving.
- Look for partnership with other like-minded organizations.
- Are your volunteers required to be members?