Well defined goals make it easier for non-profits to raise funds, attract community partners and recruit volunteers.

It will also make it more likely that you’ll succeed. Those who record their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them, according to a study by the Dominican University in California.

Here are some tips for non-profit workplaces to set and achieve goals.

Make sure everyone’s on the same page

You should have a clear mission statement that shows everyone what you stand for and what you want to accomplish.

Those who record their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them

It doesn’t have to be very long. For example, the mission statement at Oxfam is “to create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice”.

Then be clear with your teams what you want to achieve, how you’re going to do it and when you’re aiming to do it by.

Are you hoping to raise money for new equipment? Seeking to expand into a new geographical area? Or increase brand awareness? Show how each team can support the overall group’s objective.

Set timelines for campaigns

Deadlines are important to every organization. If you don’t give a goal an end date, it makes it less likely that you’ll meet it.

A timeline gives your team something to work towards, which can really spur them into action. Though be sure to give people a reasonable and agreed amount of time to achieve the target.

Well defined goals make it easier for non-profits to raise funds, attract community partners and recruit volunteers

A deadline also makes it easier to check whether you’re on track to meet your goal. If you’re six months into a year-long fundraiser, you should be halfway toward your target.

If you find you’re lagging behind, you can rally the troops to channel all their resources into catching up.

Utilise the power of collaboration

You can achieve goals quicker and more easily by enabling people to work together. But non-profit workforces can be disparate and located in various offices around the world – often with limited resources. This can make workers feel side-lined and isolated.

IM, voice and video calling connects staff and volunteers across the world

Non-profit management teams should encourage staff to brainstorm and communicate using online channels. The communication tools found in platforms like Workplace can help.

Teams can share ideas can through tools like Workplace Chat, for example. The free mobile app enables people to connect with everyone across their non-profit organization wherever they are.

It delivers IM, voice and video calling that connects staff and volunteers in the office or on the frontline delivering services across the world.

And it also enables people to exchange files and documents so they can collaborate and get more done. If you have teams working in different locations, it’s now easier than ever to connect global teams.

Find a way to measure success

It’s important for non-profit managers to figure out a way of measuring success. If your goal is simply to raise ‘as much money as possible’, everyone will have different figures in mind.

Keep on top of your KPIs to ensure you don’t just define your goals, but that you achieve them

Without a quantifiable target, how will you know if your workforce accomplishes the goal?

If your goal is to prepare school leavers for the world of work, a measure of success would be to track how many of your placements were still in the role after a certain period of time.

Stakeholders need to know how you’ll measure your impact. In turn, you need to keep on top of your KPIs to ensure you don’t just define your goals, but that you achieve them.

Workplace for Good

Workplace has always been free for educational institutions and non-profits. Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen 1000s of these organizations using Workplace to help them build meaningful communities around the world.

We’re proud that our recent launch of Workplace for Good now allows Workplace to match their commitment to work with purpose with a commitment of our very own.