Danger: Icky Money Ahead! — When Nonprofit Leaders Won't Ask Volunteers

A dependable revenue stream that grows — ah, paradise!

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Clair is a development officer for a social service charity that enjoys considerable community support but struggles financially — as it always has. When I got off the phone from her I was still trying to think through what she had related to me.

Clair's situation seemed like yet another example of the stereotypical community service organization — lots of heart and good will but no money. You know the type — small, grassroots organization wants to address a pressing human need in the community. It's willing to work hard but finds the finances always a tough go.

As she began relating her concerns and frustrations, I sensed a deeper and much more oblique cause for the group's money woes than the oft-repeated "not enough to go around" cliché.

Clair's worthy nonprofit enjoys a lot of volunteer participation. That's a good thing. Unfortunately, the inward-looking leadership views volunteer service as reducing payroll expense rather than growing community buy-in to the cause.

How's that?

The organization has a longstanding policy of never asking volunteers for a gift — ever. You read it right.

The reasoning is that these folks have already given "enough." Whatever that is. The twisted logic in this astounds me. However bizarre it may sound, it's just an extreme example of rather common thinking.