Aligning an organization internally means ensuring that its mission and priorities are reflected in its leadership and governance values. First and foremost, consistency is desirable in any organization. Second, staff and donors are increasingly demanding internal policy changes — calling for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), transparency, and shared decision making — because of a greater awareness of the impact of these interconnected concerns on an organization’s strategies and brand. Finally, equitable internal principles help develop future cohorts of leaders who will continue to advance the organization’s mission, promote DEIB, and strengthen the larger movements of which it is a part.

Yet such alignment has proven elusive for many institutions: There is often a gap between an organization’s stated values and programmatic and internal realities. There are at least three interrelated policy areas that are critical to bridging that gap and creating a humanistic and effective institution where all people thrive. These tangible realities need to be named and recognized.

  • Power, pay, and decision making  An organization where power is held by a diverse group of people, pay is equitable for all, and decision-making is transparent is more likely to deliver on its mission effectively. To determine how an organization performs on this value, it is important to conduct a “power analysis” by mapping who holds power, where these individuals are located, and how their power is reflected in decision-making processes and compensation policy.
  • Money There are two crucial money issues to consider in a nonprofit: how revenue is generated and how it is spent. A nonprofit with a diverse funding base and a transparent budget process that involves people at every level fosters trust, diversity, a sense of belonging, and teamwork. It also is likely to be more financially stable.
  • Vision and program priorities It is widely recognized that an effective organization translates its mission into program priorities that solve critical challenges. Often, nonprofits have achieved “success” without significant involvement by those most impacted, but such achievements can be short lived.

Read the full article about nonprofit alignment by Anika Rahman at PhilanTopic.