Good Questions to Ask a Nonprofit Organization
Strategic questions to ask nonprofit organizations to understand their mission, impact, financial health, and how you can best support their work.
1What is your organization's mission and how do you work to achieve it?
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What is your organization's mission and how do you work to achieve it?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand the organization's core purpose and their approach to making a difference in their community or cause area.
2What are your organization's biggest accomplishments and how do you measure success?
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What are your organization's biggest accomplishments and how do you measure success?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's track record of impact and their approach to measuring and demonstrating their effectiveness.
3What are your current programs and services and who do they serve?
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What are your current programs and services and who do they serve?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand the organization's current activities and the populations they serve, providing insight into their scope and reach.
4What are your biggest challenges and how do you plan to address them?
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What are your biggest challenges and how do you plan to address them?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's awareness of challenges and their approach to problem-solving and strategic planning.
5How do you use donations and what percentage goes directly to programs?
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How do you use donations and what percentage goes directly to programs?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand the organization's financial efficiency and how they allocate resources between programs and overhead.
6What are your organization's financial health and sustainability strategies?
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What are your organization's financial health and sustainability strategies?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's financial stability and their approach to ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.
7How do you engage with volunteers and what opportunities are available?
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How do you engage with volunteers and what opportunities are available?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand the organization's volunteer engagement and what opportunities exist for hands-on involvement.
8What are your organization's values and how do they guide your work?
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What are your organization's values and how do they guide your work?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's core values and how they influence their decision-making and approach to their mission.
9How do you collaborate with other organizations and what partnerships do you have?
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How do you collaborate with other organizations and what partnerships do you have?
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Why this works
This question shows the organization's approach to collaboration and their network of partnerships within the nonprofit sector.
10What are your organization's goals for the next 3-5 years?
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What are your organization's goals for the next 3-5 years?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand the organization's strategic direction and their vision for future growth and impact.
11How do you communicate with donors and supporters about your impact?
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How do you communicate with donors and supporters about your impact?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's approach to donor communication and their commitment to transparency and accountability.
12What are your organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives?
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What are your organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives?
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Why this works
This question shows the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion and their approach to creating an equitable and inclusive environment.
13How do you handle fundraising and what are your revenue sources?
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How do you handle fundraising and what are your revenue sources?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand the organization's fundraising strategies and their approach to diversifying revenue streams.
14What are your organization's advocacy and policy work?
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What are your organization's advocacy and policy work?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's approach to advocacy and their involvement in policy work and systemic change.
15How do you evaluate and improve your programs and services?
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How do you evaluate and improve your programs and services?
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Why this works
This question shows the organization's commitment to continuous improvement and their approach to program evaluation and enhancement.
16What are your organization's technology and innovation initiatives?
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What are your organization's technology and innovation initiatives?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's approach to technology and innovation and their commitment to modernizing their operations.
17How do you handle crisis situations and what is your emergency response plan?
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How do you handle crisis situations and what is your emergency response plan?
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Why this works
This question shows the organization's preparedness for crisis situations and their approach to emergency response and risk management.
18What are your organization's environmental and sustainability practices?
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What are your organization's environmental and sustainability practices?
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Why this works
This question reveals the organization's commitment to environmental responsibility and their approach to sustainable operations.
19How do you engage with the community and what feedback mechanisms do you have?
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How do you engage with the community and what feedback mechanisms do you have?
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Why this works
This question shows the organization's approach to community engagement and their commitment to listening to and responding to community feedback.
20What are the best ways for me to support your organization's mission?
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What are the best ways for me to support your organization's mission?
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Why this works
This question helps you understand how you can best contribute to the organization's work and what support opportunities are available.
Best Practices for Nonprofit Organization Questions
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Start with Mission and Impact
Begin by understanding the organization's mission and their approach to achieving impact, as this provides the foundation for evaluating their effectiveness.
Focus on Financial Health and Transparency
Ask about financial efficiency, transparency, and sustainability to ensure the organization is well-managed and uses resources effectively.
Explore Engagement Opportunities
Understand how you can get involved and support the organization's work, including volunteer opportunities and other ways to contribute.
Question Sequences
The Mission and Impact Explorer
The Financial Health Assessor
Common Pitfalls
Don't Ask About Personal Information
Avoid asking about personal details or private information. Focus on organizational topics and mission-related matters instead.
Avoid Asking About Sensitive Business Information
Don't ask about confidential business information or competitive strategies. Focus on general organizational practices and public information.
Don't Make Assumptions About Nonprofit Operations
Ask open-ended questions that allow the organization to describe their approach rather than making assumptions about how nonprofits operate.