12 Annual Tasks for Every Nonprofit Manager
Part of the Nonprofit Kit For Dummies Cheat Sheet
As a manager at a nonprofit organization, your job is to make sure that each of the following 12 organizational tasks is completed every year:
Prepare your budget. Estimate the organization’s income and expenses for the coming year and compare to actual numbers for the current year. Ask the board of directors to discuss and approve the projected budget.
Evaluate performance. Review your programs and your employees once a year. Set goals and objectives for both people and activities.
File your forms. File your nonprofit’s 990 Form with the Internal Revenue Service when it’s due (four and a half months after the close of your fiscal year), and prepare any required reports for state and local authorities.
Have a party. Recognize and acknowledge your organization’s volunteers, board members, and employees with at least one celebration every year.
Review your insurance. See that you pay your annual premiums in full and that your organization is covered for all risks.
Prepare a fundraising plan. Make realistic estimates and prepare an action plan showing how the organization’s fundraising activities will be carried out for the upcoming year.
Communicate with donors. Include them in your news and events throughout the year.
Back up your computers. In fact, you should do this task weekly, but it’s often forgotten. Don’t lose your nonprofit’s donor list or financial records due to a computer crash.
Review terms of board members. Make a chart to keep track of when officer and board member terms expire, reminding you to recruit new members and fill officer slots.
Read your organization’s mission statement. Better still, frame it and hang it over your desk so you’re always reminded of why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Review your organizational plan. Plans are made to be followed and, as necessary, revised. If you haven’t looked at your organization’s plan in a while, do so now.
Take a vacation. You’ll come back to work with new ideas and renewed energy.
