Changemakers: How to Draw the Right Leaders to Your Nonprofit
Changemakers are passionate, creative, and persistent individuals who take action to solve a problem. Their goal is to bring about revolutionary change, and their involvement can achieve feats that may seem impossible. Collaboration between changemakers and organizations can benefit all involved in striving to make a difference. Read on to learn how to attract changemakers to your nonprofit and find ways to motivate and engage your community.
The term changemaker has become common in the software, education, and business world, but what does it really mean? While anyone can make a change, true changemakers are rare and require a level of passion, patience, and persistence that can be uncomfortable for many. After all, famous changemakers like Martin Luther King Jr, Ceasar Chavez, and Malala Yousafzai weren’t always loved.
That doesn’t mean you have to put your life on the line to be a changemaker but know that you may face strong opposition. Nonprofit organizations that are willing to go to bat for changemakers and are open to making internal changes have the chance to be involved in some exceptional things.
In this article, we’ll discuss what makes a changemaker, how you can be one, and how nonprofits can create an environment that welcomes and helps develop changemakers to fulfill their mission.
What is a Changemaker?
A changemaker is someone willing to take action to solve a problem. That description can cover anyone in the nonprofit world, but true changemakers tend to take this to another level.
The goal of a changemaker is to revolutionize the system, not just provide support. They fight for equality and diversity, dedicating themselves to truly making a difference for a cause close to their heart.
But changemakers do not have to work alone. In fact, they accomplish more when they don’t! The passion, creativity, and persistence of changemakers can benefit nonprofit organizations, while nonprofits can provide changemakers with resources, a platform, and more.
Next, we’ll cover how changemakers and nonprofits can team up to reach achievements they never even dreamed of.
How Changemakers Can Serve Nonprofits
Nonprofits that are willing to develop a changemaker culture will see more benefits than they thought possible. Changemakers are creative and innovative. They will bring unique ideas to your organization and, if supported, will fight tooth and nail to make them work. Here are a few ways that changemakers can benefit your nonprofit organization:
Inspire your staff and donors
Bring fresh, new ideas
Connect you with new groups and communities
Offer unique expertise
Create tools and programs
Donate and fundraise
What roles can they fill?
If you’re interested in creating a changemaker culture, it’s important to develop a system that allows them to grow within your nonprofit. Look at your nonprofit’s organizational chart and employee descriptions to see where you can move individuals from one level to another. You can involve changemakers in various ways, including –
Changemakers can come from any demographic and background. Powerful changemakers who volunteer with your organization can be some of the most dedicated advocates for your cause and turn into your biggest donors.
As the popularity of changemakers has grown, many younger individuals are excited and searching for ways to make a difference. Nonprofits can focus on this excitement and find ways to involve younger supporters in their strategic goals. Some ways to do this include:
1. Focusing on people, not just your mission
According to this study, 91.6% of young changemakers say that gaining visibility, recognition, and legitimacy for their work is essential or very important. Here’s how you can accomplish this –
Ensure that employee descriptions include changemaker attributes
Search out board members with passion and skills that align with your mission
Eliminate internal hierarchy within your organization and create a way for staff to make a real impact
Offer personal and professional training and development opportunities
Highlight your staff members and volunteers on your blog and social media channels
2. Prioritizing wellbeing
70% of young changemakers state that a lack of personal financial stability impedes their involvement. 46% state a high risk of burnout. Check out these tips to address this –
Respect the time of your staff and volunteers
Offer equal resources and knowledge opportunities
Keep an eye out for signs of burnout in staff
Encourage open discussions between board members and staff
Provide adequate compensation
Listen to this episode of The Nonprofit Podcast to find self-care tips and avoid burnout –
Collaboration
94.1% of young changemakers say collaboration is important or very important. There are many ways you can create a culture of collaboration in your organization, such as –
Make it easy for changemakers to fundraise for you
Provide fundraising and business know-how training for staff and volunteers
Develop a mentorship program
Place more young people in key leadership positions
Individuals – How to Be a Changemaker
Are you passionate, creative, and persistent? These are the first steps to becoming a changemaker! If you want to make revolutionary change, however, you must have the courage and willingness to act.
Here are a few steps you can take to become a changemaker.
1. Find a cause
It’s simpler to be passionate about a cause you understand and feel personally.
92% of changemakers want to do something for the community they come from or live in. They’re deeply concerned and connected to the problem and passionate about finding solutions.
2. Educate yourself
Passion is important but can only take you so far. If you truly hope to make a difference, you must understand different avenues of the problem. Do your due diligence and delve into books, articles, and other research to learn how other organizations and individuals have addressed the problem, and what challenges are still present today.
3. Come up with a solution
Once you have a better understanding of the issue, it’s time to find ways to fix it. Set clear goals and stay focused on finding ways to meet them. Measure your progress and track the difficulties you’re destined to meet.
4. Network and collaborate
Connect with other individuals and nonprofit organizations that are working on the same problem. Offer your expertise, share your experiences, and stay open to learning from others. Collaboration means staying open to diverse perspectives and can greatly increase the impact of your efforts.
5. Develop skills outside your area of expertise
Changemakers who want to become leaders will be forced into situations outside their comfort zone. The best way to be ready for these challenges is to develop skills and expertise in advocacy, fundraising, community organizing, and other leadership roles.
6. Take action
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start taking small steps towards your goals by volunteering with nonprofit organizations that align with your ideals, raising funds online with peer-to-peer campaigns, or advocating on social media.
7. Adapt to change
Nothing is perfect. You will find people who want you to fail, and you will feel stuck without a solution. It’s essential to keep moving forward and be open to adjusting your strategies based on feedback and external circumstances.
Bonus Resource:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to get videos and podcasts on trending fundraising strategies every week!
Conclusion
Understanding the power of changemakers can help nonprofits attract and nurture them to amplify their impact. Collaboration between organizations and changemakers opens opportunities for unique perspectives and ideas, as well as strengthens them.
Kristine Ensor is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working with local and international nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development.
Kristine Ensor
