Running nonprofit art organizations is no easy task, and making sure you’re getting bang for your buck, running efficiently, and marketing effectively is all essential to meeting your mission.
At IPaintMyMind, a Chicago-based nonprofit, we’ve really embraced a spirit of testing and iterating that has helped us gravitate toward better solutions for our organization.
Whether it’s project management tools, creative shortcuts, targeted strategy, streamlined communication, or relationship building, it’s imperative that as small nonprofits arts organizations that we’re being creative in running our organizations in addition to supporting creative missions.
Nonprofit art organizations often have the added dilemma of being asked to work for free. Since many nonprofit programs have typically been funded through grants and donations, a bias has been cemented in the sector which limits our ability to sustainably fund our work, and which minimizes properly telling our story in favor of putting our heads down and doing “the work.”
That said, streamlining processes and doing more with less frees up time to focus on honing messaging, storytelling, and relationship building, which are always sure ways to expand your reach and connect with people who believe what you believe, and want to make the world a better place via your work.
As one of many incredible nonprofit art organizations in Chicago, we’ve benefited a ton from witnessing others growth and learning. We’ve also been excited to contribute thought leadership around funding strategies while adopting an inherently entrepreneurial approach that has been made possible in large part by implementing practical systems, making use of resources made available to nonprofits, and retaining a beginner’s mind to keep us fresh.
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LET'S TURN ART INTO IMPACT.
