Although not all nonprofits rely on support and other not-for-profits, such as private colleges, have many of their financial needs met by private donations, community outreach is usually beneficial to the missions of these organizations. Beyond financial support and key objectives, community outreach is important for all businesses, especially nonprofits. The support of communities and individuals can determine success for any organization, yet nonprofits truly depend on this support.
A strong and diverse social support network is pivotal for the success of any organization or person. By operating outreach in the public eye beyond the need to meet financial goals, nonprofits can gain community support that translates into increased involvement on behalf of beneficiaries, less opposition to an organization’s goals, and greater opportunities for success. While monetary support of all amounts more often than not infers moral support as well, there is no substitute for being an active part of the community.
Meanwhile, community outreach also offers benefits to the nonprofit in terms of management and employee engagement. Like any organization, an all around disconnect from the people a nonprofit serves can lead to quality issues as well as poor decision making on behalf of management. For nonprofits, the result is stagnation in terms of service. If a nonprofit is supported by governments or has amassed a solid financial footing, the onslaught of stagnation translates into wasteful, ineffective, and bloated organization that serves no real social need.
Furthermore, community outreach can help a nonprofit bolster its own mission. Whether for-profit or a charity, businesses exist solely, because they serve a role in our society and can garner financial reward for their efforts. Businesses are not like people, who keep living no matter their value to society, so the continual existence of an organization is dependent upon community support and the individual supporters who value the organization. If a nonprofit is engaged in the community, its mission will be more likely to stay aligned with the needs of society, which is particularly important as it ages.
Moreover, community outreach is the way in which all organizations anchor themselves to the communities where they operate and serve a public need. The benefits of community outreach for any organization is greater community support in terms of monetary reward, moral support, and organizational success. For nonprofits, support is especially important while it helps ensure these organizations continue to serve a purpose and meet the needs of society. Consequently, community outreach should be the cornerstone of any nonprofit mission.
