It's OK to Be a Small Shop

It's all about your thinking

If you engage in small thinking, you subconsciously trap yourself into small fundraising and small growth (if any). Small thinking is restrictive. It squashes creativity. It values status quo.

Here are some signs that you may be engaging in small thinking:

• You use the words "little" and "just" to describe your nonprofit. ("We're just a little nonprofit.")
• You don't see your organization ever bringing in big gifts.
• You procrastinate on those things that you're uncomfortable doing.
• You blame your board for your lackluster fundraising results. ("If the board would just help …")
• You blame the economy for your fundraising results.
• You blame the competition. ("There are too many nonprofits competing for dollars. We'll never be able to raise much.")

When you engage in small thinking, your nonprofit is doomed to remain small. In other words, when you do what you've always done, you get what you always got. If you're happy with the amount of money you're raising, you can keep doing things the same way. But if you want to raise a lot more money and help more people or make a bigger impact in the world, you have to start thinking bigger. Remember: