Why the Importance of Defining Your Organizational Culture?
It’s the foundation of your organization, molding the collective understanding of how your nonprofit operates. Beyond that, it can also impact donor satisfaction, and the excitement and commitment with which your team will do its work.
Most importantly, it protects and demonstrates the core values you uphold.
When your staff and supporters understand your organization’s core values, you can trust them to make the right decisions, no matter their role. And it’s vital that you take the time to assess your organization’s values to ensure your team members are on the same page.
To get started, you can ask yourself:
- What is the atmosphere like in our working environment?
- How do we communicate with each other and our donors?
- How do our team members work together?
- What does our decision-making process look like, and who does it involve?
- How do we define our work hours and typical day at the office?
- Do we rely on a system that works? Do we strive to learn and innovate?
- How do we define our approach to our work and mission?
I will ask these, along with some other targeted questions to sharpen the focus of your organization!