Are you a nonprofit leader looking to take your organization to the next level? Do you aspire to create lasting, meaningful change in the world but feel constrained by limited resources and traditional nonprofit culture? If so, the Scaling Altruism methodology, as outlined in Donald Summers’ groundbreaking book “Scaling Altruism: A Handbook for Courageous Changemakers,” may be the key to unlocking your organization’s full potential.
Developed over 20 years and tested with hundreds of nonprofits globally, the Scaling Altruism methodology is a comprehensive system designed to transform nonprofits into effective, well-resourced organizations that can grow their impact and solve social problems at an unprecedented scale.
The methodology consists of seven sequential phases: Assess, Align, Plan, Test, Fund, Execute, and Lead. Each phase contains specific practices that guide nonprofits through the process of becoming high-performing, entrepreneurial organizations.
One of the main goals of the Scaling Altruism methodology is to help nonprofits overcome common barriers to growth and impact. These barriers include traditional nonprofit culture, inadequate training, thin support networks, and problematic assumptions that can hinder an organization’s ability to achieve its mission.
By adopting proven business principles and entrepreneurial practices within a nonprofit context, organizations can accelerate their growth and impact. This includes developing strong business plans, setting ambitious goals, investing in talent and infrastructure, and using data to drive continuous improvement.
The Scaling Altruism methodology provides specific practices for each phase of the transformation process. For example, in the Assess phase, organizations are encouraged to confront reality and honestly evaluate their current performance. In the Align phase, they develop clear mission, vision, and value proposition statements to guide their work.
The Plan phase involves creating a comprehensive business plan that outlines the organization’s strategy for achieving its goals. This plan is then tested with stakeholders in the Test phase to gather feedback and refine the approach.
In the Fund phase, organizations implement high-ROI fundraising strategies to secure the resources needed for growth. The Execute phase focuses on using dashboards and other tools to manage execution and drive continuous improvement.
Finally, the Lead phase emphasizes the importance of strong governance and leadership in ensuring the organization’s long-term success.
When implemented effectively, the Scaling Altruism methodology has enabled nonprofits to dramatically grow their revenues, expand their reach and impact, and solve social problems at a much greater scale than was previously possible.
By providing a comprehensive playbook for nonprofit transformation, the Scaling Altruism methodology is empowering organizations to achieve their full potential and create lasting, meaningful change in the world.
Recommended Reading
- “Scaling Altruism: A Handbook for Courageous Changemakers” by Donald Summers
- This book, which introduces the Scaling Altruism methodology, is a must-read for any nonprofit leader looking to transform their organization and achieve greater impact. Summers provides a step-by-step guide to implementing the methodology, complete with real-world examples and practical tools.
- “Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits” by Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant
- In this groundbreaking book, Crutchfield and Grant explore the practices that set high-performing nonprofits apart from the rest. Their insights into nonprofit strategy, leadership, and innovation are invaluable for any organization looking to increase its impact.
- “The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World” by David La Piana
- La Piana challenges traditional approaches to nonprofit strategic planning and offers a more agile, adaptive model that is better suited to today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world. This book is an essential resource for nonprofits looking to stay ahead of the curve and maximize their impact.