Managing a Foundation with a Focus on Solutions rather than Problems

People think managing a foundation is easy; it is in reality a bigger responsibility than managing a business. While the bottom-line for a business may focus on making more money, the bottom-line for a foundation is about making a real difference. 

Foundations need to consider various aspects to balance financial goals as well as social objectives. The most important one is treating benefactors as customers, by providing them with quality service. By service, it refers to acknowledging contribution, maintaining a regular connection and providing updates on activities to encourage active involvement. Another essential aspect is creating a strategic marketing plan, one that will promote your foundation’s initiatives which will not only help in creating market presence, but will also help in increasing awareness. The members of the board are also important not only as a source of fundraising, also as a source of organizational knowledge and business expertise. The functioning of any organization, ‘for profit’ or not, is unattainable without their employees and investing in qualified human resource helps in building a strong foundation.  Encouraging volunteers from different countries with specialized knowledge and expertise could be a viable option to involve highly skilled people, while maintaining financial goals. 

Many foundations today are applying business practices in the social sector and customized models are facilitating better functioning of non-profit organizations. However, it may require an entirely different approach, with a focus on solutions rather than problems and on needs rather than causes. As global philanthropist, Dr. Georges Haligua said, “Nonprofit organizations should be solution oriented rather than problem oriented. If you give to a need there will be no causes in the future!”