A nonprofit’s business model usually focuses on grants and personal donations. But what happens when the giving starts to wane, and you’re running out of resources? In their less-than-traditional panel, Technology For Results, Not Profits, “Digerati Pastor” Terry Storch and Head Pastor Bobby Grunewald of LifeChurch.tv opened discussion on ways nonprofits can maintain and even grow their support base. After about an hour of back-and-forth with audience members, engagement seemed to be the buzzword.

“Profit isn’t a bad thing. When you incorporate free tools to engage your users (like LifeChurch.tv’s youversion), you are funded from a philanthropic perspective – people donate to support the cause,” Grunewald said.

Collaborate.
Grunewald also mentioned the value in partnering with other “competitors” in the industry. Where most “for-profit” businesses might never think to collaborate with a rival, nonprofits often value their cause over anything. Audience members also shared their ideas and successes in trying to garner passionate users while still making money. Some talked up selling merchandise while giving everything else away for free. Others cited the Cafepress store as their moneymaker. Some people even develop software for other nonprofits to use. Any way you slice it, finding new and interesting ways to engage the audience was a running theme.

Watch this video of Bobby discussing the importance of collaboration with commercial and non-commercial organizations for nonprofit sustainability:

Quantify Results.
It can be even more important for nonprofits to use online analytic services to stay in touch with their communities. Because many nonprofits are local, it’s important for members to feel connected and to know that their organization is in touch with them. As a nonprofit, it’s important to see your measurable results compared to how your community is actually doing. Crunch the numbers. See if you’re making an impact.