AWA Home > Not-for-profit
Industry experience
At AWA, we understand not-for-profits. Over the last 8-10 years, we have worked with this sector in the UK, the US and globally.
Our experience and knowledge around not-for-profit governance structures, complex stakeholders, brand and security issues, advocacy and fiscal responsibility in funded environments has allowed us to provide exceptional value to hospitals, universities and charities.
We appreciate that the vision you project to the world must attract supporters and funding to your cause as well as recruit the talent required to fulfill your mission – and strike the right balance between all three.
To that end, our work with not-for-profit organisations endeavours to support change in all aspects of the business. We help you build hybrid models of work and place to support high-performance, equitable cultures that empower your people to further the mission of the organisation.
Industry challenges
Not-for-profits are arguably more susceptible to the vagaries of social and economic change than many of their for-profit counterparts.
Clear and consistent messaging helps not-for-profits to survive and thrive. Clever marketing efforts that include the use technology, research data and social media platforms target donors and expand audiences. Savvy organisations even engage in co-opetition – partnering with synergistic organisations to share costs and further enhance visibility.
But messaging is not just an external function. Internally, vision and mission permeate every aspect of the organisation and encourage employees to become ambassadors to the cause. By reflecting and promoting a culture of philanthropy both within and outside of the work environment, employees become de facto recruiters of new colleagues and donors alike.
Not-for-profits that elicit this kind of enthusiasm from employees support and promote a sense of purpose and meaningful work for individuals – as well as the community. Employees seeking purpose and meaningful work, however, may also expect greater flexibility regarding when, how and where they work. This dynamic is prompting a shift in thinking around how the workplace can and should be used.
We used to think of ‘place’ as just where we ‘go’ to work. Today ‘workplace’ can be used both to support your workforce as well as function as a shared community environment for clients, beneficiaries, funders and partners.
