Category: Business Coach

6 Places to Get Your Voice Heard

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Have you ever attended a keynote and been moved? Watched a Ted Talk over and over? Liked and shared a social media post that was powerful?

You have a voice, too, and you can be empowered to share it with others. All of us have the power to be influential, whether in the digital world or the real one.

Here are 6 places to get your voice heard and spark change.

1. Your Blog

Blogs may have started with moms sharing their experiences, but they’ve become a vital part of business. In fact, many people make money sharing their expertise on their own blog and industry, such as travel.

If you have a blog, start sharing your thoughts and ideas. If you don’t, get started! This is a great way to get your voice heard and establish yourself as an authority. It may take time, but it’s worth the payoff.

2. Email

Despite the rise of other types of marketing, email is still an effective way to share content with an audience and capture their attention. You can begin with a newsletter that comes out once a month, or a few times a month, to build your audience.

3. YouTube

Video is a persuasive medium that many have leveraged for success. Whatever your business venture or cause, just about anyone can create professional videos or promos to share on YouTube. The cleverer and more creative the idea, the more traction you’re likely to receive, but don’t be afraid to just jump into it.

4. Social Media

Social media is incredibly powerful. From politicians to brands to influencers, just about everyone is using social media to connect with others and share ideas and opinions, and you can do the same.

Major platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are excellent places to start, but you could also share your expertise on platforms like Quora and Reddit. People often use these platforms to ask questions or seek discussions within certain industries or topics, and that’s your time to shine.

5. Publications

Most publications accept pitches from writers to feature in their upcoming issues. With the rise of digital publications, you have more opportunity than ever before to get a feature article with the right pitch and audience.

Pitching takes time, however. You may not get published at the first try, or the second, or even the 10th, but keep going! Eventually, you’ll find the right fit for your article. And even if you’re rejected once, don’t be afraid to pitch again in the future! Maybe your article is a good fit, but not for right now.

6. Local Venues

Similar to pitching publications, you may be able to book local speaking engagements at small venues. Like publications, venues typically have a long lead time and specific guidelines and requirements for speakers.

You may need to approach a dozen different venues before you get booked, but that’s just part of the process. Don’t get discouraged! Keep trying.

Get Professional Coaching

Learning how to channel and share your voice isn’t easy, but you have plenty of outlets to be heard. The most important thing is having the confidence in yourself, and coaching from an expert like Allison Todd can help! Work with Allison Todd directly!

Contractors vs. Full-Time: The Small Business Guide

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One of the most effective ways to scale your business is to grow your team. But that can be a difficult undertaking with several considerations before you even start taking applications or interviewing contractors. 

The Difference

A freelance contractor works for you independently and covers taxes on their own. An employee is an in-house team member that answers to you. You’re responsible for reporting their earnings to the IRS. 

You hire a contractor as a 1099 employee after the terms and scope of services provided are agreed upon, as well as the cost. In this role, you will not have control over their process, pricing, or working hours, unless these were stipulated in the agreement. 

This category would include:

  • – Freelancers
  • – Consultants
  • – Temp-to-hire
  • – Agencies

 

A W2 employee is usually a long-term arrangement where you provide consistent direction and supervision. You dictate their hours, their job expectations, and pay. For a W2 employee, you may also have to offer other benefits or insurance.

There is also no competition for their time. A contractor will have other clients and projects in the works that require their attention, whereas an employee is someone you don’t have to share. 

The Cost

Independent contractors typically get paid with a flat fee for any services rendered or deliverables provided. This is usually determined in contract negotiations prior to any work taking place. 

With a contractor, you’re paying for their talent and expertise. While you’re in control of your overall project, they will play a more collaborative role, like a consultant. As a business owner in their own right, consider them a partner in your business, not an underling.

For a W2 employee, you can pay an hourly wage or salary that fits within your budget. Talent that is interested in that pay scale will apply and may or may not negotiate pay. Keep in mind that when you hire a W2 employee, you will also have to cover any benefits, 401K, as well as cover tax payments.

Contractors will typically cost you more upfront with deposits and initial fees, whereas employees will require very little upfront but could cost you more over time. 

The Bottom Line

What do you want most out of this new team member? Do you want total control over their schedule? Are you looking for someone you can train up who will buy into your company culture and mission? 

Do you want exclusive access to their attention and talents? Are you hoping this person can wear multiple hats to take even more tasks off your plate? If you can afford all of the incidentals that come with an in-house employee, this may be the best path.

Or are you more interested in saving on hiring costs and benefits? Do you need more flexibility with short-term contracts? Is your need more immediate, and you don’t have time to train someone? 

If you’re not sure what you need or who to bring on, let’s chat! Helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses is my sweet spot! Book a consultation!

6 Things You Absolutely Need to Have in Your Contracts

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Contracts are legal agreements between two or more parties. But just because something is called a contract doesn’t mean it’s legally binding, nor does it mean that all parties involved are equally protected.

All contracts must have several essential elements to be enforced in court. Contracts may be missing a few elements and still be legally enforceable, but you’ll still want them in there to be safe.

Here are 6 things you absolutely need to have in your contracts.

1. Capacity

Contractual capacity is an individual’s ability to enter into an enforceable contract. Just because someone can sign a document doesn’t make it legal.

There are a few classes of people who may not be considered legally capable of entering a contract, including minors, people with mental disabilities, and intoxicated people.

If a person without contractual capacity enters an agreement, it becomes voidable, meaning that that party can end the contract at any time.

2. The Offer

The offer is the statement of terms and conditions to which the person making the offer is bound. This clearly expresses the willingness to abide by the terms of the contract, which are binding as soon as the other party accepts.

For example, if you have a dog-walking business, your offer would include a promise to walk someone’s dog in exchange for compensation from the owner, the offeree.

3. Acceptance

The acceptance of an offer expresses the willingness to abide by the terms and conditions of the contract.

Three things must occur for an acceptance to be valid:

  • – The offeree knows the offer
  • – The offeree has intent to accept the offer
  • – The acceptance is expressed as an agreement to the conditions of the offer

4. Legality

The contract’s legality refers to whether the terms and conditions are consistent with the law. If the subject of the agreement isn’t legal, the contract won’t be valid.

For example, you can enter into a contract to pay someone for a legal service, but not to perform illegal services or sell illegal goods. No matter the contents of the contract, it won’t be valid and enforceable in court if the subject itself is not legal.

5. Consideration

Both parties entering into a contract must offer something of value that makes the other want to agree to it. This could be money, goods, the completion of an action, or the act of refraining from an action.

If there’s no exchange of money, the parties should ensure that the court would see the trade as valuable.

6. Mutuality

Also known as the meeting of the minds, mutuality states that both parties must be bound to perform the obligations stated in the contract. If that doesn’t happen, the law will rule that neither party is legally bound to the contract. Both parties need to be bound to the contract, or neither is bound to the contract.

Ready to Sign on the Dotted Line?

Legally binding contracts are complicated. Before you make an agreement, make sure your contract covers the 6 key elements of a contract.

Need more guidance with your business contracts from an experienced business coach? Work with Allison Todd directly! 

Why Your Brand Guidelines Matter

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Brand guidelines or a brand book are a set of properties that explain how your brand operates, what it looks like, and who you are. It usually includes your mission, values, vision, tone, personality, and messaging. 

Built on your vision, personality, and mission are your brand assets, such as your color identity, logo, and visual styling. While it may seem superfluous, your goal is to attract a specific type of customer, and knowing what appeals to them is important. 

Here are my top reasons creating your brand guidelines is essential for your business. 

Brand Consistency

By creating a standard for how your brand appears, you will have a consistent identity in front of your audience. Changing graphics, colors, fonts, and associated with your brand makes you appear flighty and indecisive. 

Consistency in messaging and design shows you’re steadfast and reliable. It builds trust with your audience, who feels they know what to expect and are more comfortable working with you.

Brand Guidelines Encourage Relationships

It’s not just about colors and fonts. Comprehensive guidelines also advance your company’s values and mission. It’s an easy way to communicate what you stand for and how you intend to accomplish your goals. 

People connect with purposes, not brands. By showcasing a relatable, human element of your brand, you’re building authentic connections and relationships with your market.

Brand Recognition

We all know brands like Nike, Mcdonald’s, Ford. You only have to see their logo, and you instantly recognize who they are and what they offer. 

How? Because we’ve seen them over and over again, never changing, always consistent. 

While you’re probably not to mega-brand levels just yet, creating brand guidelines that your company lives and breathes by makes you instantly recognizable to your target audience. 

Brand Value Perception

Brand guidelines help you create a strong brand identity. When it’s designed to target your desired audience shows that you know your market. 

You understand their needs, desires, goals, and even a bit of their style. Together, this increases your value in their eyes, and they’re more open to paying what you’re worth. 

Brand Tone and Target Market 

Knowing your audience is key to developing a unique brand voice. If you’re a suit and tie brand, your tone and voice will trend more skilled and professional, and your brand visuals will be dark and sharp. 

If your market is families with small children, bright colors, bold fonts, and light, happy messaging is what connects with that aesthetic. 

If you go to market with any old logo you whipped up on Canva, and whatever font you happen to like, there is a strong likelihood that none of that will suit your brand. It doesn’t match who your customer is, and they may not trust your offer.

Your Brand Guidelines Matter Because Your Brand Is Selling Something

If you don’t have comprehensive brand guidelines keeping you on track, you may find your marketing is off, and you’re not reaching the right audience. I can help you develop robust and consistent brand guidelines that advance your messaging and your value. Book with me!

Break the Cycle of Toxic Productivity with Self-Love 

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With our always-on, always-available, fake-it-til-you-make-it hustle culture, there’s glory in being the workaholic, the go-getter, the workhorse.

We’ve normalized hustle culture, made it so that if you’re not always rushing, busy, and stressed, you’re not trying hard enough. Always go the extra mile.

Answer an email late in the evening? Sure! Put in extra hours on the weekend? No worries, you didn’t have plans anyway.

That’s not glory. That’s a fast-track to burnout and toxic productivity.

Being stressed and overworked is a toxic mindset skewed positive to keep you pushing harder and harder. But once you recognize it, you can prioritize self-love and break the toxic cycle.

What Is Toxic Productivity?

In recent years, our culture has been about the hustle and the grind. The “first-in, last-out” type is the one who gets the promotion.

The shift to hybrid and remote work only worsened this mindset. The boundaries between our work lives and our personal lives blurred more and more. Our phones and laptops are always on, we’re always available – and expected to be.

It’s difficult to turn the notifications off, especially with no physical separation between work and home. Our home office, couch, recliner, or even our beds may have become the new workspace, so of course we can’t just turn our work minds off.  

With no rest, no downtime, and no boundaries, we can’t enjoy our free time or focus on self-care and self-reflection. We may prioritize a project over date night, our child’s sports game or recital, or our own sleep.

Productivity is important, for sure, but it can be detrimental if it consumes our lives. If we think work is more important than anything else, to the point that we can’t relax and enjoy our families, hobbies, or time relaxing on our own, that’s when productivity builds to burnout.

Balance, rest, and self-love are vital to true productivity. If you’re running on fumes or struggling with concentration and focus, are you truly productive? Is the work you’re doing the best quality it can be?

Probably not. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

My Struggle with Toxic Productivity

“Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

We’ve all heard some variation on this quote, implying that if you’re passionate about what you do, it’ll never feel like work. You can’t get overworked, stressed, or burned out doing what you love, right? Wrong!

I was nearly claimed by my own toxic productivity. I worked all the time. It was easier to be productive.

Then COVID-19 hit. The lockdowns, stillness, and the claustrophobia of the pandemic made me feel like I had to move faster, produce twice as much, and push toward my ultimate goal.

I was buried in toxic productivity without realizing it – only to be buried by the bad news avalanche.

It was time to reconnect and recharge, focus a little on me. Time for a reset.

How to Overcome Toxic Productivity

The most important tool for overcoming toxic productivity is knowing how to recognize it.

Are you always focused on work – always checking email, even during time with your family or friends?

Are you checking or answering communications during off-hours, such as nights and weekends?

Are you measuring your self-worth through your work? Is excelling at your job or career the most important thing to you?

Are you missing out on quality time with your family, friends, pets, or hobbies in order to work?

Are you using work as a way to escape difficult life situations, such as a significant death or conflict with your partner?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you may be struggling with toxic productivity.

Fortunately, you can break the cycle of overworking.

Take an Extended Recess from Work Responsibilities

If you’ve been going and going, it’s time to take a break. Taking time away from work responsibilities to focus on fun and passions is important at any time, but it’s even more important after the tumult of the past two years.

We experienced a collective trauma together during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s time to take a moment to breathe, reflect, and shift the focus back to yourself for a bit.

Spend time recharging and reconnecting. Feed your soul, reflect, and reset. Rediscover a lost hobby, or take up a new one.

Go for a walk or a drive with no destination in mind. Lie in the grass and watch the clouds. Do the least productive things you can think of to give your mind and body a rest.

However you choose to spend your time, it’s important that it’s about what you want, not the professional you, but the personal you – the multifaceted you. Close your laptop, turn off your phone, and just enjoy.

Over time, you’ll get used to unplugging and enjoy some much-needed time for yourself.

Prioritize Work-Life Balance

Even if you work from home, you need clear boundaries between work time and private time. You can set a work schedule for yourself, much like office hours, or designate time slots when you can be productive that work around your family’s schedule.

Whichever you choose, it’s important to stick to your schedule. Adjust as needed but be disciplined in your work time and your personal time.

During your personal time, do the things you enjoy. Practice your hobby, spend time with family, cook yourself a meal, watch your favorite television show, meditate, or do whatever makes you happy. When you return to work, you’ll be refreshed and ready to go.

Create a Self-Love Box

We all need reminders to develop healthy habits, and the self-love box is just that. Having a self-love box on hand can reinforce the message and give you tools to prioritize you.

Drawing from my experience as a confidence and business coach, I put together a self-love box that has all the tools and resources you need to love you greater! I’m always telling clients to create flashcards for their niche, and now I’ve taken that idea 10 steps further to build the ultimate toolkit to end your toxic productivity.

End the Toxic Cycle with Self-Love

Toxic productivity can sneak up on you, but when you know what to look for, you can promote better work-life balance and unplug to unleash your true productivity.

Are you struggling with your career or business? Let’s chat! Schedule a discovery call with me!

3 Mistakes Women Make In Their Business Communications

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Language and speech are what separates us from the animal kingdom. It’s a powerful tool when wielded properly. 

But it can also just as easily deflate our power as women when we fall prey to some of these common mistakes in business communications.

#1 Lack of Confident Language

You know I love to talk about confidence! Phrases and words that imply hesitation or fear are more common in women’s communications than men. 

Hedges, qualifiers, and tag questions siphon the power from your language and thoughts. You appear indecisive and ill-equipped. 

Phrases To Avoid:

  • –“It should be…, shouldn’t it?”
  • –“I’m not an expert, but…”
  • –“I just think…”
  • –“I actually think that maybe…
  • –“Am I making sense?”

 

These phrases all introduce “shrinking” language — an attempt to make your thoughts and words less intrusive or confrontational. You’re preemptively avoiding criticism by suggesting that even you think that what you said may not be right or coherent. 

If you don’t agree with a point or concept, you can still be diplomatic without being unnecessarily aggressive. “I don’t see it that way, here’s why.” or, “I think there’s a better way. Here’s my idea.” are easy phrases to infuse into the meetings that display confidence in yourself and what you bring to the table. 

If you’re attempting to invite feedback or spark further discussion, ask for it without denigrating your contributions to the conversation. “What are your thoughts on this?” or “I look forward to hearing your perspective.” are more confident ways to elicit connection and discussion.

#2 Over-Explaining = Asking Permission 

Many women are still working to earn their place in their career fields. This breeds a desire to over-explain their positions and thoughts in an attempt to prove they deserve a seat at the table.

If you’re waiting for someone to tell you that you deserve a seat at the table, we have a little work to do! I’m telling you, here and now, you don’t have to write the textbook to prove you deserve to be where you are. 

How do I know this? 

Because you’re there! 

Your ability to confidently communicate your thoughts and position will advance you much farther than simply filling the space with words. If you can say in ten words, don’t use twenty.  

Pauses are powerful. Use them to your advantage. 

#3 Deflating Tone and Emphasis

English is one of the most complicated languages on planet Earth, but like most languages, tone plays a significant role in emphasizing our meaning or intent. When you raise the pitch of your voice at the end of a statement, your language automatically sounds like you’re questioning your own words. 

It makes you appear tentative, as if you were unsure of your opinion or even yourself before you ever opened your mouth. Practice lowering the tone of your voice at the end of sentences and see what a difference that makes in how you sound and feel. 

Clear and Confident For The Win

Helping women take fearless action is what I do. Book a confidence consultation and learn  how to boost your business communications.

4 Ways Confidence Changes How You Do Business

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I truly believe that confidence is the key to every other puzzle in life. 

When you’re confident in your business, you’re not afraid to make bold moves and take on a new challenge. You’re not fearful of what others may think and reduce your dreams or abilities to fit someone else’s mold. 

Here are my top four ways that business confidence changes how you do business. 

#1. Confidence Improves Communication Skills

Confidence helps you speak with clarity and with precision. You’re able to impart exactly what you want more efficiently and with conviction. 

Because you’re confident in your intent or purpose, you are more relaxed and in control of your speech and how you communicate emotions. 

Business confidence helps you clearly define what you bring to the table, why you’re worth what you charge, and why your clients and industry partners should care. It’s the ultimate business boost!

#2. You’ll Get More Enjoyment Out of Your Work

The more business confidence you have in yourself, and the more you own your worth, the less likely you are to seek external validation. You stop running your business to please other people or meet their expectations. 

You start doing what you love for YOU! You are empowered to think for yourself and act on your desires and ambitions. This is what keeps you showing up every day, happy to do the work. 

This kind of confident operation overflows into your client and partner relationships. It will ooze into your marketing and messaging. It will be obvious to them that you love what you do, and that’s infectious! 

#3. Your Conflict Resolution Will Be More Successful

Like it or not, conflicts and disagreements will occur in business just as they do in life. When you lack confidence in a conflict, you start to doubt your own abilities and second-guess every decision. 

You start to lose trust in your own judgment and are hesitant to take on a confrontation in order to reach a resolution. When you have confidence in yourself and your capabilities, you believe what you say with conviction, and others will believe it, too. 

#4. Business Confidence Makes You A Better Leader

As a leader, the level of self-confidence you have can be directly associated with the level of trust your team has in you. The more confident you are in yourself, your abilities, your ideas, and what you bring to the table, the easier it is for those under you to trust what you say and do.

Business confidence helps you set ambitious goals and inspires your team to meet them. It helps you hold those you lead accountable for their actions or performance. When you’re more confident yourself, you see and recognize success and progress in others. 

Never underestimate the power of confidence in your life or in your business. If you need that ultimate business boost, or you crave to live a more confident life, I’ve got you! Inspiring and cultivating confidence in others is what I do! Reach out to me here, and let’s chat about how you can live more confidently.

SAHM And Business Owner? Yes, You Can Do Both

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It can be overwhelming for anyone to start and grow a business, let alone someone who is already managing a household. You’re in charge of housekeeping, child-rearing, meal planning and preparation, running errands, constant chauffeur duties, and a kiss for any boo-boos. 

But in the midst of all that chaos, are YOU getting lost? Do you crave something that is all yours, with your stamp on it? Something to eventually make your life easier?

Friends, you can do both. And I’m going to show you how!

Be Flexible

Your LIFE is your priority, not your job or your business. If you are inflexible with your schedule or roles, you could end up making unnecessary sacrifices that will cost more in time, energy, and money. 

I know the “mom guilt” comes on strong, and it’s easy to feel trapped between two worlds. Stay the course! When things crop up, and they will, that threaten to disrupt your progress, stay flexible and open. 

Remember your priority. As a business owner, you are in charge of your schedule. You CAN make choices that suit your lifestyle. 

Designate a Business Zone

Hotels have them, and so should your home! Whether it’s a tucked-away corner where you can still hear the children or a sound-proofed office with a do-not-disturb sign, your space should be treated like your working sanctuary. 

When you sit in your sanctuary, focus on what you must do, decide what else you can do, and put off whatever is left. A separate space for only work-related tasks keeps you from being unnecessarily distracted. 

Draft a Clear, Ambitious Plan That’s Still Achievable

If anyone can do it, a mom can! But if you don’t have a map, how do you know where you’re going? Of if you’ll get there? 

Map out your big goals for the year.  Where do you want your business to be one year from now?

Great! Now you know where you’re going, let’s create the route to get there. Break down your yearly goals into smaller steps that you can realistically achieve each month. When you reach the beginning of a new month, map out an overview of each week. 

Intentionally schedule times when you can work uninterrupted but remember to stay flexible. Do not squeeze every spare moment of your day, or the slightest inconvenience will set you back. 

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

Yes, you can do both, but you also don’t have to. It’s also okay to admit that you can’t, or don’t want to, do it ALL. Something can give, I promise. 

Your kids can hang out with a sitter or grandma on occasion. You can hire a freelance assistant or specialist to help you execute tasks in your business. You can work with a consultant that will help you make intentional decisions and stay on target. 

Friends, whether you’ve launched your business or aren’t sure where to start, you can reach your goals faster with the compassionate support of someone like me: a confidence and clarity coach for business owners. Let’s chat!

5 Ways Business Women Can Avoid Burnout

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As busy businesswoman, it’s hard for us to take a step back and put ourselves first. IT’s especially difficult when also faced with other demands on your time, such as children and family. 

Burnout is often hard to pinpoint or acknowledge. In a post-pandemic world, many of you may be running on autopilot because your cup is empty and dry. This leads to unaddressed trauma, unresolved emotions, and burnout that leaks into other areas of our lives.

Here are my top tips for avoiding burnout in your business and in your life. 

#1 Regularly Take A Well-Deserved Break

This one shouldn’t be surprising, but I know firsthand that when you have a jam-packed schedule, it feels impossible. Friend, you have to schedule time off intentionally. You have to choose yourself.

Block out time for a break on your calendar as if it were an incredibly important meeting that you cannot miss. This time should be at least 30 minutes to an hour every week or bi-weekly if that’s not possible. 

Sit outside and meditate in the fresh air, lay down and listen to an audiobook to rest your eyes, or go for a walk. Choose any relaxing or leisurely activity you enjoy. 

#2 Delegate

In order to preserve as much energy as possible, it’s essential to delegate tasks you don’t have to do yourself. This is the best use of your time and skills. 

Determine the tasks you’re weak in or that you simply don’t enjoy. What are the time-consuming little things that drive you crazy every week? What projects never quite turn out how you like, and you wish they were better? 

Assign these to your team or a virtual assistant who can ease the burden on your time and your energy. 

#3 Say No With Conviction

Burnout often shows up when you’re trying too hard to multitask on too many projects and are overwhelmed. Even the top performers in your industry, or any industry, must prioritize their time and manage projects efficiently. 

When new projects spring up, it’s ok to say no if it will help you avoid burnout. This is true for any stage of your career. Whether you work for someone else or own your own company, you need to focus on what matters. 

#4 Learn To Unplug

Unfortunately, most working women still perform as if we have something to prove. We take on projects that drag into the night and eat up our weekends. We miss out on things we value to “stay on top.”

Greater productivity is unlocked while you work only when you completely unplug when you’re not. Turn off your notifications and delete apps from your phone if you have to. Resist the urge to “check-in” after hours. 

#5 Get Compassionate Support and Accountability

I help businesswomen like you everyday to grow through burnout without sacrificing their careers or business. It’s my job! I love it, and I’m not ashamed to say I excel at it. If you’d like to take advantage of compassionate support and avoid burnout, let’s chat! Schedule with me here!

Mitigating the Impact of Inflation on Fundraising

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Everyone is seeing the impact of inflation, from a trip to the grocery store to monthly utility bills. In the past year, inflation amounted to 7.9% — the fastest pace since 1982 – according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

Inflation isn’t likely to resolve anytime soon, especially with the increasing energy costs due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This is especially troubling for nonprofits. Many charitable organizations receive a significant amount of funding at the fiscal year’s end – June 30 – and the budget implications are only just now obvious.

Nonprofit leaders need to navigate uncertainty and position the valuable work as critical, regardless of what economic indicators show.

What Is Inflation?

The simple definition of inflation is that it’s a sustained upward movement in the price of goods and services in an economy. If all else stays constant, this reflects a loss of purchasing power for a currency. It takes more currency units to buy the same goods and services.

Simply put, your money doesn’t go as far. You can’t buy as many groceries or essentials for the same amount as you did previously.

Many consumers associate inflation with the rise of a few key goods or services, such as oil or the real estate industry. but inflation is only present when the overall price of goods and services is increasing across the board.

When inflation increases faster than wages, it leads to a decrease in purchasing power that causes people to put up more money to buy necessities, but getting less for it. For the average consumer, this can create financial strain and reduced discretionary spending.

The problem here is that many people don’t understand what inflation really is. They believe the prices are increasing, when that’s not what’s happening. The value of each dollar is declining.

Why the distinction? If people believe that it’s prices, not dollars, donors may unknowingly reduce the value of their donations because they don’t regard inflation as the reduced value of money.

They’re not deliberately giving less – they’re accidentally giving less because they’re failing to recognize the diminished purchasing power of their donations.

Even if inflation were to return to its previous levels, it would take time before we see the effects of that. With the end of the year approaching quickly, fundraisers need to take a proactive approach to combat the effects.

Plan Ahead in Thinking, Giving, and Strategy

Donors want to make a difference – that’s why they donate. They’re not trying to decrease their gift, but they just don’t appreciate that it doesn’t have the same purchasing power.

We can’t expect them to know this on their own, however. They can be politely reminded that inflation affects nonprofits, too, and the cost of staffing, supplies, services, and more. It also impacts the lives nonprofits serve – if it’s this difficult for the people who can pay, imagine what it does for those who can’t?

Bottom line – we need more money to make the same impact. We need to ensure donors understand the need for the work and how the dynamics of the world impact it. Donors want to hear stories about those served by their donations, and how, so highlight some of your top stories.

If possible, show metrics of how donations allow impact. Whether the nonprofit is focused on food security, education, literacy, clean water, or support for families, showing the metrics ensures that donors know the impact of their investment – and why it matters if money doesn’t go as far.

How Can We Help?

External pressures like inflation can be a big catalyst for creativity and collaboration. How can we, as community leaders, partners, and corporations, plan ahead and be proactive in our efforts?

The simple solution is to increase the gift to account for inflation and ensure that nonprofits have equivalent purchasing power. But writing a check isn’t the only thing we can do.

Inflation not only decreases what can be done with the donations, but increases the costs for the nonprofits. Volunteering helps nonprofits do more with less, reducing the burden and ensuring that help goes where it’s needed.

Finally, there’s advocacy. You can spread the word about the efforts of nonprofits and encourage others to get involved. Whether they offer monetary gifts, volunteer their time, or spread the word themselves, it all makes a difference. 

Let’s Talk About It!

I’ve had wonderful conversations with innovative leaders ready to grow their community and “put their back in it.” I’d love to talk to other leaders and business owners who feel the same. Schedule a 15-Minute Discovery with me and let’s get started!