So far in our journey we have explored six areas that are critical to achieving Radical IMPACT through your work.  Those areas include Passion, People, Purpose, Principles, Preparation and Planning.  Each of these is important in and of themselves.  However Radical IMPACT ultimately occurs when these six elements are combined together into the Program(s) your organization provides.  For the purpose of this article we use the term Program to describe the integration of resources and activities to provide a service or a suite of services to clients.  Programs are to not-for-profit organizations what products and services are to for-profit corporations.  Programs are the avenue of impact for not-for-profits.  Programs are where your passion, people, purpose, principles, preparation and planning intersect with your clients at their point of need to IMPACT their lives.

In his book, Good to Great and the Social Sectors, Jim Collins describes the pinnacle of not-for-profit programming. 

“The organization makes such a unique contribution to the communities it touches and does its work with such unadulterated excellence that if it were to disappear, it would leave a hole that could not be easily filled by any other institution on the planet.” 

Is that how people describe your organization and program? 

Let’s briefly explore seven (7) elements necessary for Radical IMPACT Programs. 

Programs are anchored to the organizational mission.  All programs provided by a not-for-profit should be directly tied to its mission.  If any program does not further the mission of the not-for-profit, the organization should not launch it.  If organizations discover they have programs that are beyond their focus or outside their area of expertise, they should find another organization for which it is a fit and find a way to transfer the program and ensure clients continue receiving the services.  (Click here to read about Mission Drift.)

Programs are birthed out of the strategic planning process.  This really means organizations should adopt an intentional, strategic approach to program development.  There needs to be an understanding of needs, root causes, program design (staff, resources, etc.) and expected outcomes.  One tool that is useful in program development and planning is a logic model.  Logic models detail the major inputs (resources) required to build (or operate) the program, the outputs (completed activities) and outcomes (short and long-term results).

Radical IMPACT programs meet unmet or underserved needs.  Conducting a needs assessment is vital to program development.  We have addressed this in previous articles, but it is worth reiterating here.  Frequently, grassroots organizations launch out and duplicate existing services and compete with other not-for-profits for clients and funding.  This is often done out of ignorance of existing options.  Sometimes it is done out of arrogance, thinking “our group will do it better”.  In either case, duplicating services often adds to the confusion in the community.  Funders want to see documentation of need, including statistics and measurement versus opinions and anecdotes. 

Radical IMPACT programs utilize evidence-based practices (EBP).  EBP generally refers to approaches or programs that have been validated through some type of scientific research.  In other words, these programs have a proven track record of success.  Radical IMPACT programs contribute to client empowerment, not entitlement.  For more information visit SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) at http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/.

Radical IMPACT programs are also culturally competent (relevant and appropriate to the context and population served).  That is, these programs understand the cultural context of the target populations served by their programs.  This extends well beyond simply “speaking the language” and also includes understanding, appreciating and relating to the accepted norms of the culture(s) involved.  For more information visit the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University at http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/.

Radical IMPACT springs from a culture of excellence.  We recognize there are no perfect programs, but you should always seek continuous improvements with your service delivery and identify ways to improve the programs provided by your organization.  Next month’s article focuses exclusively on program performance.  For now realize that feedback from program participants is one of the best ways to gauge program performance.

Finally, Radical IMPACT is most readily achieved by organizations that have identified what they do best and diligently focusing their programming in those areas.  This is what Jim Collins refers to as the hedgehog principle in Good to Great.  It is the intersection of passion, gifting and funding.  Discover what gets you most excited, where you are most naturally gifted, and how you can develop funding streams.  Develop a single-minded, laser focus on doing what you do best and partner for the rest.  Develop collaborative relationships to provide the other programs and services your clients need.  Don’t stray from your core programming to provide other services.  Don’t dilute your focus by adding a lot of extras.  Focus on what you do best!

The bottom line in not-for-profit organizations is the IMPACT you make in the lives of the clients and communities you serve.  The programs you deliver are the primary instruments you have for realizing that IMPACT.  Incorporate these seven elements in your program development and build strong, solid programs that produce lasting results for your clients and maximize your IMPACT.