Last month we challenged you to stimulate your imagination and think differently about sustainability and the issues you address in your organization. We also encouraged you to think more broadly about the way you approach those issues. Many of you have probably seen Avatar, the most successful 3-D movie of all time. That movie is definitely an imaginative work and I want to use the concept of three dimensions to provide a framework for thinking differently about sustainability (both organizational and programmatic).

Let’s begin with the basics and I am relying on our friends at the Discovery Channel for a little help. Two-dimensional images or pictures have height and width, but no depth to the image. Three dimensional images have height, width, with the added dimension of depth. According to HowStuffWorks.com (a Discovery Channel affiliate), “2-D graphics are good at communicating something simple, very quickly. 3-D graphics tell a more complicated story, but have to carry much more information to do it.

“Take a look at the triangles above. Each of the triangles on the left has three lines and three angles -- all that's needed to tell the story of a triangle. We see the image on the right as a pyramid -- a 3-D structure with four triangular sides. Note that it takes five lines and six angles to tell the story of a pyramid -- nearly twice the information required to tell the story of a triangle” (from HowStuffWorks).

I suggest that sustainability, either for a single program or the organization as a whole, is best understood in three dimensions rather than just one or two. While this may seem more complex, I believe it is more complete and gives a more robust understanding from which to launch sustainability planning. Some people oversimplify organizational or program sustainability and argue that it’s only about money. Indeed, money (or fund development) is important, but to suggest that sustainability is only about money is an oversimplification and not grounded in reality. Money is just one element of the first dimension of sustainability, the broader category of resources.

First Dimension - Resources

Numerous resources are required to launch, operate, and sustain programs and organizations. Let’s consider a few broad categories to stimulate your thinking about the resources entrusted to your organization.

Financial resources - Without question you must have some funding base for your organization and programs. Many grassroots organizations begin by bootstrapping or self-funding their work. Unless you are financially independent, self-funding will only get you so far, at which point you must develop a broader base for your work. Other sources of funding include grants from foundations, corporations, or government entities (local, state, or federal). However as many have discovered most grants have a limited lifespan and allow organizations to launch or expand programs, but do not fund them for the long term.

The charitable giving of private philanthropists (donors) is the largest source of charitable funding in the US. While recent reports show giving was down in 2009, individual donor development remains the great frontier for substantial support for grassroots nonprofits, but it takes consistent effort and management to do it well. Click on the links to read articles on The Relational Aspect to Donor Cultivation and Thinking Like a Donor.

Human resources - Your programs would not happen without paid and volunteer staff - the people who do the work, deliver the programs, and keep the organization running. I encourage you to document all of the manpower it takes to provide your programs and services in their current iteration as well as the desired future you envision This includes the frontline people whether they are teachers, tutors, counselors, drivers, foodservice workers, case managers, caregivers, or myriads of others involved in direct service delivery.

Yet in every nonprofit organization there are many working in the background whose efforts are just as vital to keeping the program(s) going but your clients may never see them, but they benefit from their service. This groups includes those working in the back office and performing tasks like bookkeeping, accounting, donor relations, grant writing, volunteer management, program reporting, and other administrative tasks. Don’t forget to include the Board Members as another group of vital human resources for your organization.

Physical resources - these vary by organization depending on their size and sophistication, but may include the:

• facilities (buildings) where you operate your programs and deliver services, offices for administrative support and organizational leadership
• equipment (cars, vans, and busses, copy machines) necessary to keep the organization running and programs
• technology (IT system, telephone system, accounting system, donor development, etc.)
• curriculum used in programs.

Second Dimension - Results

The results produced by or through your organization and program(s) are another foundational dimension for your sustainability. Consider your results in three categories - program, organizational, and communal. Program results are the immediate impacts of your programs and services for the individual clients directly served by the programs as well as the organizations that are partners in your programs. Organizational results include the increased capacity developed in your organization that allows you to leverage resources or launch new programs and the enhanced credibility you’ve gained by making a difference for those you serve.

Communal results are the cumulative impacts of your program(s) and organizational outcomes where your organization has contributed to the health and well-being of the community at-large. Your organization may be vital to the fabric of the safety net of your community and the quality of life for many, or all, in your community is enhanced through the work you do.

Third Dimension - Relationships

We believe that relationships comprise the third dimension that adds richness and depth to your resources and results. Relationships are primary, all else is derivative. Think of all of the relationships your organization represents. You have relationships with the Board, staff, volunteers, community partners, private donors, institutional funders (foundations, corporations, or government agencies), religious leaders, community leaders (political, business, education, etc.), clients (past and present). This is a web of relationships that potentially reaches into every sector and segment of your community.

The Interrelationship of the Three Dimensions

It’s easier and simpler to see one or even two dimension at a time. But it is the interconnected and interrelationship between the three dimensions that brings fullness to your sustainability efforts. Many of the resources you steward are entrusted to you through the relationships you have established. The resources allow you to invest in the lives of the people you serve and impact them for a better, brighter future -- your results. The results are appreciated by the people in your network (relationships) which leads to the investment of additional resources allowing you to reproduce the results in another group of clients or in another community. It all interconnects if you will take the time to step back and look at the bigger picture.

We will unpack this further in the months ahead as we explore sustainability strategies in each of the three dimensions. For now, we encourage you to explore and document your organizational assets in each of these three dimensions. There’s power is each dimension - your resources, results, and relationships, but there’s even greater power as you combine all of these assets, package them together, and leverage them for greater returns for your organization.

Please click here to register for our free upcoming webinar "Revenue Development: A Universe of Opportunities."

Kevin Monroe is the Founder and Managing Partner of X Factor Consulting, a consulting firm that makes the world a better place by equipping leaders and strengthening organizations. Through active partnerships with businesses, foundations, government agencies, nonprofits, and others that share this commitment, X Factor is strengthening individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities around the world. 

Kevin has a wealth of experience and a passion for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, as evident in the results he has achieved working with organizations around the country. He is available to consult or speak on this topic and many more. Contact us today or click here to learn more.

© 2010. Text may not be printed or reproduced without written permission from X Factor Consulting. Contact us at impact@xfactorllc.com to obtain approval.