{"id":6994,"date":"2015-12-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/?p=6994"},"modified":"2024-05-08T18:58:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T18:58:45","slug":"4-tips-wrap-nonprofits-year-prepare-next-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/blog\/4-tips-wrap-nonprofits-year-prepare-next-one\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips To Wrap Up Your Nonprofit’s Year (And Prepare For The Next One)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Post Updated 1\/3\/17<\/p>\n

\"nonprofit-end-of-year\"<\/p>\n

And just like that, 2016 has come to a close. Whether your nonprofit saw major success or the past twelve months have been a steady stream of trials and learning experiences, you\u2019ve got another year in the books. Congratulations!<\/p>\n

But, before you can charge full force into the next one, you\u2019ll want to take a little bit of time to reflect and strategize. You know by now that success doesn\u2019t just happen on its own\u2014you need to grab the bull by the horns and make<\/em> things happen.<\/p>\n

Entering into the next year without a plan in place and crossing your fingers that things work out just as well (or even better) this time around? Well, it\u2019s definitely not an effective way to guarantee an impressive year for your nonprofit.<\/p>\n

So, with the new year upon us, take some time to get yourself and your team geared up for an even better 2017. How? Well, we\u2019ve got four tips you can put into action.<\/p>\n

1. Celebrate Your Wins<\/h2>\n

\"celebrate<\/p>\n

First things first, you\u2019ve earned at least a little bit of time to celebrate your nonprofit\u2019s wins over the past year\u2014both big and small. Even if this year didn\u2019t turn out exactly as you had planned, you and your team still saw some successes. So, make sure that you adequately recognize those!<\/p>\n

You definitely don\u2019t want to get geared up for the upcoming year without taking any time to call out and appreciate the things that went well in 2016. If you do that? Well, it\u2019s a surefire way to make your team feel completely undervalued and under-appreciated.<\/p>\n

So, host a get-together or party where you can all celebrate the amazing things that happened throughout the year. Ask each of your team members to come prepared with their favorite moment or accomplishment from the past year, so that those high points can be shared with your entire organization.<\/p>\n

Not only is this a fitting way to show your team the impact of their work and contributions, but it\u2019s also key for identifying what worked over the past year\u2014meaning you\u2019ll want to play your cards right and put those same tactics and strategies into play again.<\/p>\n

2. Identify Areas For Improvement<\/h2>\n

\"identify<\/p>\n

Celebrating was fun\u2014and definitely well-deserved. But, now it\u2019s time to dive into the nitty gritty details of what didn\u2019t<\/em> go so well. I know that nobody likes to take a magnifying glass to their faults and shortcomings. However, it\u2019s a crucial part of the process for ensuring that everything runs smoother next time.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that determining what aspects of your organization that could use a little more time and attention shouldn\u2019t be a solo mission.<\/p>\n

If you want to get a solid grasp on the whole picture, you can\u2019t go it alone. So, make sure you involve your team in this improvement process as well. They may be in the loop on problems or issues that you had no idea even existed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important that you make it your goal to get as much honest feedback<\/a> as possible from your team members and supporters. Yes, some of it may be hard to hear. But, without this input, you won\u2019t have any clear direction on what exactly you can do better.<\/p>\n

Now, you\u2019re probably left wondering how you can go about getting this valuable feedback. It\u2019s really not as tough as it seems. Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n