photo by the Smithsonian Institute

A funder recently said to me that unless they saw a pre existing funding base already in place and money in the bank, they would not support the project.   Another funder said they preferred funding projects that were collaborative among specific genres or geographic areas.  And yet another funder asked for numbers – headcount, exposure and attention from new audiences.

What everyone wants is a networked nonprofit.

A nonprofit that thinks of itself more as  a network of influences, common and unexpected goals, social capital and access.  This mindset will propel this sector towards undermining existing practices and structures in funding, in governance and in missions.  Do you generate income in providing your programs?  You may provide valuable access to a customer base that you have in common with a business community.  Are you respected in desirable voting districts?  This can be leveraged into public funding of programs for a common constituent base.  Do you attract or create media coverage?  People do the craziest things around a camera.

Think what the world could look like if funders of like minds and missions also networked around similar passions?  What would projects look like?

Here’s where my head is:

• I am thinking teams of artists commissioned by real estate developers to create mobile phone apps supported by tech start ups that invite the arts curious to stake out and share their cultural discoveries with their friends via online social networking sites.
• I am thinking of an awards ceremony of grants recipients funded by a groups of funders, underwritten by sponsors representing commercial, marketing or philanthropic interests, keynoted by political supporters and captured by press, bloggers and media.
• I am thinking that a nonprofit can become its own angel investor to an emergent sector of its field.

There is an excellent book out by Beth Kanter and Allison Fine, The Networked Nonprofit that I have just ordered, slightly disgruntled because it is not yet available for the iPad, but I will be a good sport about it.   The book explores the convergence of the nonprofit sector and technology.  This stuck with me:

Nonprofits must “reimagine” their relationship with supporters.

Those who can build those movements will often be more successful than the traditionally-prominent nonprofits. Kanter brought up Mark Horvath, who tweets as @hardlynormal. Formerly homeless, Horvath now films interviews across America with those still on the streets. While he doesn’t accept donations and is not a nonprofit entity, Horvath and others like him are what Kanter and Fine call “free agents.”

“Nonprofits who are really smart are going to be listening on social media channels and identify who these free agents are,” said Kanter.

She thinks the nonprofits that will have the greatest success are those that lead creatively and utilize free agents to catalyze their supporters.

Have I missed anything?  Do you have what it takes to be a networked nonprofit?  I’d love to know what you know.

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