The Superpower Every Nonprofit Needs: Listening

You are a superhero! Whether you’re a nonprofit professional or a dedicated volunteer, you show up to do the hard work of changing the world. 

But, in all the hustle and bustle of serving your community, you may have forgotten about one of your most important superpowers: listening.

It may not be as flashy as launching a capital campaign or as satisfying as landing a big grant. But, listening may be one of the most important roles you play on behalf of your organization.

Listen to Your Community

The community is the reason your nonprofit exists. Listening to them means understanding their needs, dreams, and challenges. When you listen to the community, you’ll stay relevant, build trust, and uncover powerful insights. 

Listen to Your Program Participants

Program participant voices are vital for understanding your impact and improving your services. Their stories and experiences can reveal gaps in your services or areas of deep impact. Plus, giving participants a voice empowers them and reinforces that they are not just recipients of aid but active partners in their own development and the broader mission. 

Listen to Your Donors and Partners

Donors are more than just a source of funding. They’re partners in your mission. Listening to donors can help deepen relationships, foster trust and engagement, and inform fundraising strategies. 

Listen Well

Whatever the situation, start by listening. You might deploy surveys, host focus groups, attend local meetings, participate in community events, and invite stakeholders into one-on-one conversations. Create feedback channels that encourage folks to share their thoughts.

Often, the best way to lead change is to listen well.

Need help figuring out systems to collect and analyze feedback from the community, your participants or your donors in order to maximize your impact? Reach out to see how AltruNext can partner with you to develop effective and equity-oriented processes.

Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels