In the symphony of success, every instrument plays a vital role. Author unknown.

Fidelitycharitable.org recently published an article entitled The Five Qualities of an Effective Charity. Each of these areas can inspire goals for YOUR nonprofit. Here are the rest of that list:

1. It’s Staffed and Managed by Good People. Make sure that you, board members and staff all embrace the mission of the organization, that they have the talents and skills needed to fulfill that mission and that everyone is compensated appropriately, keeping in mind the operation expenses ratio to income. How do you find out what is appropriate pay? Use your state’s labor department web site. You can conduct a search there for the average pay of anyone you hire. That may not be what you will pay but it’s a good starting point.

2. The nonprofit can mobilize others. Do you have a core group of volunteers? Are there people ready to help, as volunteers, in the day-to-day operations, at fund raisers and in community outreach? Are there local businesses that will support your organization at fund raisers or spreading the word about your group? One of the best ways to recruit others is to work within your circle of family and friends. They can then spread the word amongst their family and friends. You will find that great helpers will come along from unexpected places. 3. There is a culture of learning Does the organization respond to changes in technology? Does it make provision for anyone to take a class or two to help them do their job better? What about listening to stake holders, members of the board and the community? How about those you want to serve? Are you listening to them to help you tweak programs to better meet their needs? Grantors will be looking for this culture of learning. These ideas are important for you to embrace and apply to your organization. With the board’s help, you will find that these will take less time to incorporate than you might think.