VA
Insights

Good nonprofit programs always keep pace with current trends. To continue working on a particular issue, NGOs must regularly or irregularly step away from the project, meticulously scrutinize changes in the external environment, and subsequently modify or enhance the original project.

Nonprofit programs that focus on humanistic issues typically have a set number of people who receive services. These programs need to frequently review the changing needs of their recipients. Additionally, we need to maintain constant communication with the outside world to understand changes in our peers and the industry. Often, we face multiple external factors. For instance, alterations in domestic policies, variations in the overall economic conditions, and the demands of our associates.

Nonprofit programs should also consider changes within the organization, including stakeholder needs and team development.

Stakeholder demands can also lead to changes. With changes in corporate philosophy, corporate foundations may face more specific requirements from the board of directors. As a result, the foundation team must identify key issues and create a focused project matrix.

The program team may also have new needs. They may want to enhance the foundation’s current programs by exploring ways to solve problems more systematically and comprehensively. 

After understanding the needs and changes of both inside and outside factors, how can NGOs and project teams adapt their project strategies? SZT suggests the following:

1. Alter the starting point

By adapting to the evolving needs of service users and the industry setting, project teams should be able to adjust their work’s starting point with agility. Using autism as an example, NGOs can deviate from the standard approach of aiding autistic individuals between 0-16 years old. Instead, the focus can shift to those aged 16 and up, offering unique services and products to cater to their individual needs. Changing the starting point of the project can inspire the team to enhance their abilities, gather resources more broadly, engage in issue construction more extensively, and solve social problems more effectively.

2. Shifting roles

Social issues often continue to exist. NGO can change their approach to problem-solving and adapt to internal and external changes. For instance, in the previous section, we mentioned a foundation’s youth vocational program that transformed from a direct service provider to a platform builder. This shift in responsibility could be the start of a more skilled and effective approach for NGOs to tackle community issues.

3. Conducting projects more systematically

With the same entry points and roles, NGOs can think about how to engage in issue building and carry out projects more systematically. Social issues are often complicated, and there are many ways to solve them. The key to efficient public service is to combine and harmonize the various methods. If NGOs want to address social problems effectively, they must develop project management that is more organized and based on scientific principles.

NGOs should be ready for internal and external changes at all times. A change can require a significant alteration but can lead to renewing programs and organizations, giving the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter in public interest issues, fields, and sectors.