Jennifer Katongole’s Post

Overhead is fuel. Not fluff. Overhead is a virtue. Not a vice. Overhead is pivotal. Not peripheral. Overhead is operational. Not optional. Overhead is dynamite. Not deadweight. Overhead is investment. Not indulgence. Because the right overhead 𝘤𝘢𝘯 make ’a lousy charity good.’ So here are 33 essentials worth funding: Brand Salaries Technology Fundraising Recruitment Infrastructure Mental health Staff retention Theory of change Spiritual wellbeing Legal consultation Strategic planning Employee benefits Risk management Contingency funds Positioning strategy Succession planning Organizational culture Advocacy and lobbying Team-building activities Equipment and supplies Innovation and research Leadership development Monitoring and evaluation Marketing communications Accessibility enhancements Diversity, equity, and inclusion Intellectual property protection Partnerships and collaborations Financial management systems Ethical standards and compliance Climate and environment initiatives Board development and governance But these critical factors in #nonprofit performance are still underfunded and deprioritized. Somehow they’ve been considered inessential bloat. “The focus on overhead is no longer just annoying, it’s perpetuating inequity and injustice,” says Vu Le at NonprofitAF. 🦄 Unlike some social justice challenges we’re fighting — with no known solutions yet — the overhead myth is a framing, #storytelling, and positioning problem. In other words, a #brand opportunity. Sadly, says Le, nonprofits are one of the biggest drivers of this narrative. “It’s time for a change. Stop furthering the idea that ‘overhead’ is bad. Operating, administrative, and fundraising expenses are necessary for us to do effective work.” In particular, I propose that the “100% to the cause” pitch is the worst offender. It’s a short-term win, but a long-term loss — for you and the sector. It gains you cents but costs you sense. Although #foundations need to evolve too. “Funders and donors, if you are restricting funding and focusing on ‘overhead,’ you are actively preventing nonprofits from doing their work. You are helping to spread the fires of injustice. And at the same time, you are also disenfranchising the organizations led by communities of color and other communities most affected by inequity.” What am I missing from this list of 33 ‘overhead’ essentials? Which internal investments have made your charity good? Comment below with your additions. And let’s shift the narrative. Because myths hold power only if we let them. 💪🏽💛 ________________________________ If you enjoyed this daily brand insight: 1. Follow Kevin L. Brown to maximize your funding 2. Click the 🔔 to get notified about new posts 3. Like, comment, or repost below 👇🏽

Overhead is fuel. Not fluff. Overhead is a virtue. Not a vice. Overhead is pivotal. Not peripheral. Overhead is operational. Not optional. Overhead is dynamite. Not deadweight. Overhead is investment. Not indulgence. Because the right overhead 𝘤𝘢𝘯 make ’a lousy charity good.’ So here are 33 essentials worth funding: Brand Salaries Technology Fundraising Recruitment Infrastructure Mental health Staff retention Theory of change Spiritual wellbeing Legal consultation Strategic planning Employee benefits Risk management Contingency funds Positioning strategy Succession planning Organizational culture Advocacy and lobbying Team-building activities Equipment and supplies Innovation and research Leadership development Monitoring and evaluation Marketing communications Accessibility enhancements Diversity, equity, and inclusion Intellectual property protection Partnerships and collaborations Financial management systems Ethical standards and compliance Climate and environment initiatives Board development and governance But these critical factors in #nonprofit performance are still underfunded and deprioritized. Somehow they’ve been considered inessential bloat. “The focus on overhead is no longer just annoying, it’s perpetuating inequity and injustice,” says Vu Le at NonprofitAF. 🦄 Unlike some social justice challenges we’re fighting — with no known solutions yet — the overhead myth is a framing, #storytelling, and positioning problem. In other words, a #brand opportunity. Sadly, says Le, nonprofits are one of the biggest drivers of this narrative. “It’s time for a change. Stop furthering the idea that ‘overhead’ is bad. Operating, administrative, and fundraising expenses are necessary for us to do effective work.” In particular, I propose that the “100% to the cause” pitch is the worst offender. It’s a short-term win, but a long-term loss — for you and the sector. It gains you cents but costs you sense. Although #foundations need to evolve too. “Funders and donors, if you are restricting funding and focusing on ‘overhead,’ you are actively preventing nonprofits from doing their work. You are helping to spread the fires of injustice. And at the same time, you are also disenfranchising the organizations led by communities of color and other communities most affected by inequity.” What am I missing from this list of 33 ‘overhead’ essentials? Which internal investments have made your charity good? Comment below with your additions. And let’s shift the narrative. Because myths hold power only if we let them. 💪🏽💛 ________________________________ If you enjoyed this daily brand insight: 1. Follow Kevin L. Brown to maximize your funding 2. Click the 🔔 to get notified about new posts 3. Like, comment, or repost below 👇🏽

Overhead is fuel. Not fluff. Overhead is a virtue. Not a vice. Overhead is pivotal. Not peripheral. Overhead is operational. Not optional. Overhead is dynamite. Not deadweight. Overhead is investment. Not indulgence. Because the right overhead 𝘤𝘢𝘯 make ’a lousy charity good.’ So here are 33 essentials worth funding: Brand Salaries Technology Fundraising Recruitment Infrastructure Mental health Staff retention Theory of change Spiritual wellbeing Legal consultation Strategic planning Employee benefits Risk management Contingency funds Positioning strategy Succession planning Organizational culture Advocacy and lobbying Team-building activities Equipment and supplies Innovation and research Leadership development Monitoring and evaluation Marketing communications Accessibility enhancements Diversity, equity, and inclusion Intellectual property protection Partnerships and collaborations Financial management systems Ethical standards and compliance Climate and environment initiatives Board development and governance But these critical factors in #nonprofit performance are still underfunded and deprioritized. Somehow they’ve been considered inessential bloat. “The focus on overhead is no longer just annoying, it’s perpetuating inequity and injustice,” says Vu Le at NonprofitAF. 🦄 Unlike some social justice challenges we’re fighting — with no known solutions yet — the overhead myth is a framing, #storytelling, and positioning problem. In other words, a #brand opportunity. Sadly, says Le, nonprofits are one of the biggest drivers of this narrative. “It’s time for a change. Stop furthering the idea that ‘overhead’ is bad. Operating, administrative, and fundraising expenses are necessary for us to do effective work.” In particular, I propose that the “100% to the cause” pitch is the worst offender. It’s a short-term win, but a long-term loss — for you and the sector. It gains you cents but costs you sense. Although #foundations need to evolve too. “Funders and donors, if you are restricting funding and focusing on ‘overhead,’ you are actively preventing nonprofits from doing their work. You are helping to spread the fires of injustice. And at the same time, you are also disenfranchising the organizations led by communities of color and other communities most affected by inequity.” What am I missing from this list of 33 ‘overhead’ essentials? Which internal investments have made your charity good? Comment below with your additions. And let’s shift the narrative. Because myths hold power only if we let them. 💪🏽💛 ________________________________ If you enjoyed this daily brand insight: 1. Follow Kevin L. Brown to maximize your funding 2. Click the 🔔 to get notified about new posts 3. Like, comment, or repost below 👇🏽

Overhead is fuel. Not fluff. Overhead is a virtue. Not a vice. Overhead is pivotal. Not peripheral. Overhead is operational. Not optional. Overhead is dynamite. Not deadweight. Overhead is investment. Not indulgence. Because the right overhead 𝘤𝘢𝘯 make ’a lousy charity good.’ So here are 33 essentials worth funding: Brand Salaries Technology Fundraising Recruitment Infrastructure Mental health Staff retention Theory of change Spiritual wellbeing Legal consultation Strategic planning Employee benefits Risk management Contingency funds Positioning strategy Succession planning Organizational culture Advocacy and lobbying Team-building activities Equipment and supplies Innovation and research Leadership development Monitoring and evaluation Marketing communications Accessibility enhancements Diversity, equity, and inclusion Intellectual property protection Partnerships and collaborations Financial management systems Ethical standards and compliance Climate and environment initiatives Board development and governance But these critical factors in #nonprofit performance are still underfunded and deprioritized. Somehow they’ve been considered inessential bloat. “The focus on overhead is no longer just annoying, it’s perpetuating inequity and injustice,” says Vu Le at NonprofitAF. 🦄 Unlike some social justice challenges we’re fighting — with no known solutions yet — the overhead myth is a framing, #storytelling, and positioning problem. In other words, a #brand opportunity. Sadly, says Le, nonprofits are one of the biggest drivers of this narrative. “It’s time for a change. Stop furthering the idea that ‘overhead’ is bad. Operating, administrative, and fundraising expenses are necessary for us to do effective work.” In particular, I propose that the “100% to the cause” pitch is the worst offender. It’s a short-term win, but a long-term loss — for you and the sector. It gains you cents but costs you sense. Although #foundations need to evolve too. “Funders and donors, if you are restricting funding and focusing on ‘overhead,’ you are actively preventing nonprofits from doing their work. You are helping to spread the fires of injustice. And at the same time, you are also disenfranchising the organizations led by communities of color and other communities most affected by inequity.” What am I missing from this list of 33 ‘overhead’ essentials? Which internal investments have made your charity good? Comment below with your additions. And let’s shift the narrative. Because myths hold power only if we let them. 💪🏽💛 ________________________________ If you enjoyed this daily brand insight: 1. Follow Kevin L. Brown to maximize your funding 2. Click the 🔔 to get notified about new posts 3. Like, comment, or repost below 👇🏽