Saint Wall Street - The "S" Test

Saint Wall Street - Where Good Programs Become Great Investments

Nonprofit Sustainability Test

The following test presents seven questions that can help you determine the sustainability of the program(s) you serve or support. The inability of a program to answer even one is a sign of danger for sustainability beyond current funding.

1. Sustainable programs have clear value. How is your program different and better at solving the problem?

2. Grant makers today invest rather than give. What makes your program investment-worthy?

3. People support people they trust. What's your strategy to build and sustain relationships that pay?

4. Growth occurs from the inside, out. How well are you leveraging the value of existing resources – including board, staff, program participants and volunteers?

5. The giving public has three priorities: child and family well-being; public safety/justice; and economic development. What return-on-investment value does your program produce for one or more of these?

6. People want to see, not just outcomes, but impact. What are your program's impacts and how are you sharing this value with the public?

7. Diverse income streams ensure sustainability. What value distinctions give your program an advantage over the million-plus nonprofits now seeking grants, donations, and social-enterprise financing?

Inquire now about Program Return on Investment (PROI) training to discover the answers you need to achieve sustainability for the grassroots program(s) you serve or fund.