Many counseling clinicians are working in nonprofit programs with very limited budgets. Some of us are working in programs that utilize a “catch as catch can” approach to funding, meaning there is no working budget. Things are paid based on urgent need and the ability to pay them.

Whatever your situation may be, there is good news. With increased community involvement, you can find many of your budgetary needs reduced. Many times, the resources are out there and we just didn’t realize it.

Getting financial donations for your nonprofit can be difficult (and will be a topic for a later column). But many times, getting much-needed resources can be easier. It typically comes down to one main factor: networking.

Some folks think that to network effectively, you need to know a whole host of CEOs, COOs and the like. This can be helpful for sure. Knowing the folks with the deepest pockets may indeed lead to bigger donations (although the few I have known have rarely given anything). But what about the vast majority of us who lack such connections? Does that mean failure for any program we lead?

I spoke to several program leaders, with a focus on programs with gross annual revenues of less than $200,000, to see how they built better programs on so little money. Some of their ideas were impressive, whereas some of their perceptions of being held back were deeply concerning.

Some sought grants from major corporations and other large groups, only to find that they were ineligible for funding because they did not have enough money. Think about that logic for a minute. You are a program that is doing good work, but you cannot be funded because you actually could use the money! This makes little sense to me. Simple math tells me that if a program that does solid work but lacks much of a budget suddenly gets an increase, that increase will likely go directly toward additional services, whereas a program that has millions of dollars in reserves and receives additional money is more likely to bank it or add it to their endowment.

This same rationale can block small programs from contracting with government agencies. This in turn feeds the corporate-minded nonprofits at the expense of the little programs with heart. Fear not though. This system need not prevent you from moving forward.

 

Finding resources

You may be blocked from major grants and contracts, but you are not blocked from creativity. This can make a large difference. Instead of thinking in terms of raising capital, focus on your program’s real-life needs. What actual items could your program benefit from? Who is likely to have these items? How can you get connected to them?

Social media is not the future; it is the now. Have you embraced it? This isn’t meant to suggest that you should limit your social media simply to a series of advertisements, press releases and other boilerplate items. Have you built a community on at least one social media platform? Doing so allows for the free exchange of ideas, challenges, needs and opportunities. It also helps to build a sense of belonging and ownership for the program. When community members feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves, they tend to want to see it grow and thrive. Providing them with the information necessary to encourage change can make all the difference. If they can’t give financially, perhaps these community members can contribute their time and skills.

As a direct result of the community knowing about the items we needed, our program has received such things as volunteer construction, excavation, electrical work, irrigation, engineering, plumbing and related services. Our expanding program has also benefited from donated items including almost 4,000 square feet of new or gently used flooring, construction materials (electrical supplies, lumber, Sheetrock), furniture, equipment and office supplies.

To date, volunteers have constructed about 100 feet of large stone walls, installed hundreds of feet of frost-proof water pipes, built a greenhouse, added more than 1,200 square feet of space by building a third floor on our building, and renovated hundreds of square feet of space, converting it from something of a warehouse feel to community and office spaces. They have also helped with many, many other projects.

These things never would have happened without the right people knowing who we are, what we do and what we needed. In many cases, the right people came to us; we did not need to seek them out.

 

Don’t try to do it alone (and other tips)

The biggest theme I heard from those I spoke to was not trying to do everything yourself. Too many small nonprofit programs find their key people working 60-80 hours per week trying to build the infrastructure. This can result in much getting done in the short term, but it also often leads to burnout, chronic fatigue and a reduction in both creativity and productivity. A chronically overworked staff produces much less over time than does a rested but focused staff. Set reasonable goals, reach out for assistance as appropriate, be patient and watch things grow.

Leadership that leads exclusively from the office will often result in volunteerism diminishing, especially in small programs. Take time away from your administrative and therapeutic jobs to participate in these projects. Let the community see that you are willing to get dirty and get the job done as well as anyone else. Take on some of the hardest, least desirable jobs. This is not a time for photo ops and cherry-picked duties.

At my program, I am the one who periodically empties the composting toilet system. I do it not just to show that I’m unafraid to get dirty but because — being the worst job we have — I do not want to have a volunteer do it. That just doesn’t seem right.

Finally, make sure all this work gets done genuinely. If you do these tasks as a formality or without passion, it can be insulting to the community that is helping you. They are working hard for you without remuneration, so you need to work just as hard.

Building a reputation for being open, honest and approachable can be key. Return emails and phone calls as best you can and as quickly as possible. Be polite and be open to constructive feedback, as well as to ideas for programming that you may not have considered.

If reaching out to others is not in your comfort zone, try to connect with at least a few folks who do feel comfortable taking on that role. This has helped me personally a great deal because I am not comfortable with asking for donations. Although I can sell the benefits of my programming better than anyone, I lack the ability to go in and ask for the help. Surrounding myself with folks who have skills in this area has helped us to get food donated for events and many other things.

Don’t let the programs and policies that block your growth become obstacles to success. If you see programs that will not assist you, take note of them and move on to things that can. Don’t let longshots scare you, but also don’t grow dependent on them.

Two years ago, our small program received one of two $10,000 grants available in the country via a social media campaign. I didn’t count on receiving it. In fact, I thought we had little to no chance of winning it because it was based on weekly voting, and we were going head-to-head with programs that had thousands of supporters. Little did I know that our small group was dedicated enough in weekly voting that we would win. This was a great surprise. But we also focused on more “sure thing” types of small grants as well.

Although cash is key in many ways, donated goods and services can make the difference between success and failure for many nonprofit programs. The good news is that finding available resources is possible for even the least-connected and smallest of programs.

 

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Opinions expressed and statements made in articles appearing on CT Online should not be assumed to represent the opinions of the editors or policies of the American Counseling Association.

 

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“Doc Warren” Corson III is a counselor, educator, writer and the founder, developer, and clinical and executive director of Community Counseling Centers of Central CT Inc. (www.docwarren.org) and Pillwillop Therapeutic Farm (www.pillwillop.org). Contact him at docwarren@docwarren.org.