I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on The Robyn Graham Show to talk about something I care deeply about—helping small nonprofits and associations finally get their systems and workflows under control. If you’re like many of the organizations I work with, your goal is organizational efficiency, but achieving that goal is somehow elusive. You can’t shake that nagging sense of underlying chaos.
Is this your current reality?
- SOPs? Never heard of them…or perhaps even worse, “I think we did those a few years back…”.
- Knowledge silos are a real thing – when staff leave or are out, everything grinds to a halt.
- Event or donor management feels held together by sheer willpower….and that does not scale.
- Everything feels reactive–fires keep popping up because systems aren’t set up to work proactively.
Does this sound familiar? That’s where The IMPACT Method comes in.
Why I Developed The IMPACT Method to Address Organizational Efficiency
I work with small nonprofits, associations, and membership organizations every day. They’re passionate about their missions, but the behind-the-scenes operations? Well, they could use some help. I’ve seen how disjointed systems and outdated processes can hold organizations back from doing their best work.
That’s why I created The IMPACT Method—a simple framework to help you audit, streamline, and codify your processes so your team can achieve organizaitonal efficiency.
Here’s how it works:
- Investigate
First, take a hard look at what’s working and what’s not. This means auditing your workflows, systems, and processes to pinpoint where things are breaking down. - Map
Once you’ve identified the problems, map out solutions. Could you streamline a workflow or process? Automate repetitive tasks? Are you underutilizing tools you already have? - Prioritize
Not everything can be fixed at once—trust me, I’ve tried. Prioritize the changes that will make the biggest impact right now. - Act
Take action. Even small improvements will start to build momentum for larger changes. - Codify
Write it all down. Document your processes as SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) so the knowledge lives in your systems, not in people’s heads. This step is critical for handling staff turnover or absences and for engaging your volunteers. - Train
Finally, train your team so everyone is on the same page. A great system only works if everyone understands how to use it.
What Happens When You Get This Right?
When you implement the IMPACT Method, things start to click.
- Staff aren’t wasting time searching for answers—they know their roles.
- Volunteers feel confident and engaged because expectations are clear.
- Members and donors see a professional, organized operation and feel proud to be part of your mission.
Best of all? You’re no longer stuck in the weeds. Instead of scrambling to keep up, you’re moving forward with confidence. Suddenly those new initiatives no longer seem out of reach.
Ready to Take Action?
If this sounds like something your organization needs, start small:
- Ask yourself, “What’s the one area where things keep falling apart?”
- Use that as your starting point to investigate and streamline.
For a deeper dive into The IMPACT Method and more actionable strategies, check out my episode on The Robyn Graham Show.
Organizational efficiency doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right systems, your team can work smarter, not harder—freeing you up to focus on what truly matters: moving your mission forward.