Thought Leadership: The Often Overlooked Strategy to Build Organizational Capacity
When we talk about nonprofit capacity building, we typically refer to ways we can strengthen our organizations’ leaders and internal systems so that we can make a stronger impact to our clients and communities. We usually look at factors like board development, human resource development, financial management, networking ability, impact, and program management.
What about using thought leadership as a tool for nonprofit capacity building? Thought leadership is a long-term strategy, but, if used effectively, it may be leveraged to attract more funding; influence policy to create a more favorable environment for nonprofits; encourage funders to be more responsive to community needs; attract strong board members and community partners, and the list goes on. When organizations become thought leaders in their particular areas of expertise, life gets better for everybody involved. We will explore the various perspectives on thought leadership, what it is, and how to get there.