Non Profit Organization Resource Center
Ten Rules of Organizing
1. People need to know there is a meeting, event, action taking place in order to attend:
a. Public Relations needs to be done: Put notices of meetings in newspapers, onthe Internet, in a mailing and make follow up
phone calls to remind people to attend.
b. Judge your performance: The average attendance ration for an organization is 10 out of
every 100 people contacted will attend. Are you getting these kinds of results? If yes, then
you need to do more outreach into the community so you have a larger mailing/potential list.
If no, then you need to restructure your approach to people to encourage their attendance.
2. No one will come to a meeting, event, action without a reason:
a. People must belive that their presence counts. Methods to ensure this are getting their
participation in planning the meeting, or bringing supplies to the meeting, (coffee, cups,
etc.). Telling them they are needed to participate in the discussion and votes and having
speakers which interest them and of whom they can ask questions.
3. Plan your meeting:
a. Get organized: set an agenda.
b. Don't forget to include victories on the agenda, such as; successes, past events and actions, accomplishments, etc.
c. Remember details: Day care for kids, arranging transportation and reminder notices.
4. Debriefing:
a. Hold an organizational meeting after the general meeting (go out for coffee) and talk
about:
1. What went right, THE GOOD STUFF
2. What needs to be changed: What was wrong and plan a way to fix it.
3. Talk about responsibilities: Who was supposed to do it? Did they? Do they need
help to do better? Encourage responsibility by praising those who did well and by
acknowledging those who didn't meet their responsibilities and making plans to
ensure that responsibilities are met.
5. Give jobs: If you ask people how they got involved in an organization, most will respond, because _______ asked me to help."
6. Action - DO IT! Make a plan!
a. Define issues: What is the problem? Have people participate in the discussion to build
ownership of the issue and gain strength in the discussion process.
7. WIN! Pick winnable issues to fight the system about.
8. CELEBRATE!
a. Have a victory party. Give ribbons to the planning committee. Publicize your victories!
9. Fun Raising:
a. Have some fun! Turn the newsletter collating, envelope stuffing, addressing job into a
pizza party. Have a picnic, annual dinner etc.
10. No rules are written in concrete - Make your own:
a. When you are trying to change the system and you have a great idea about how to fix the
problem - go for it!!
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