Giving Compass' Take:

• Forget pie charts. Propel Nonprofits explores how we can visualize overhead costs for organizations through a more detailed and dynamic Core Mission Support graphic.

• This can show how expenses are distributed in greater clarity, detailing when funds are being directed away from an org's primary mission.

• Here's why we must stand up for overhead in general.

Most nonprofit leaders agree that we need a new way to communicate about the true costs of our programs and the vital importance of strong organizational infrastructure. But we have not yet developed a simple, consistent message when sharing our view with potential supporters and investors. We are stuck with old terms and old images.

The following series of images and descriptions is really a blog in pictures. How we visualize our understanding of nonprofit structure and programs shapes the overhead debate. It’s time to get graphic about our new ideas — to deploy fresh images to help educate the public, our funders, and ourselves.

When nonprofits are viewed this way, no matter how hard we try to think differently, we imagine important infrastructure of our organization as taking a slice out of the pie — as diminishing the “real” work of our mission.

Strategic financial functions, good governance, and the development of key funding partnerships are vital to strong organizations. We need a new way to communicate this truth.

Rather than thinking of our investment in key infrastructure as diminishing our programs, it should be seen as valuable Core Mission Support.

Core Mission Support functions are necessary, vital, and integral.

  • Strong, strategic finance and accounting
  • Progressive human resources practices
  • Capable, responsive board governance
  • Talented and engaged development staff

Read the full article about re-visioning nonprofit overhead by Curtis Klotz at Propel Nonprofits (via Nonprofit Quarterly).