Asking a “LIFE” question: Are We There Yet?

It has been close to a month since I last posted. My life in general has been as you might expect with good days and bad days. However, I’m still in a quandary trying to figure out which is the best direction for me to go as far as continuing to help people. Several major questions are still unanswered!

Should I keep maintaining the website www.nonprofitexpert.com?

Obviously it has been my choice to dedicate ten years of life maintaining a free informational site for individuals and nonprofits with over 300 pages, 6,000 links. One positive note is that the site itself has been my window to the world with approximately 50,000 monthly unique visitors and 100,000 pages views. Not bad for a niche site.

I never intended the site to make money yet regardless without really trying it still generates approximately $6,000 annually.

Obviously the site itself is useful. Could more be done? Sure, but I am ready to let it go i.e. sell, trade, or donate it. But finding someone willing to maintain this and keep the general integrity in tact is another story!

It is amazing to me that over the years I have heard from foundation staff bemoan the fact that there are too many small nonprofits trying to do similar programs. Also, I think there is a general frustration knowing many of the nonprofits that apply for grants lack the information and capacity building tools they need to not only sustain themselves long term but to go to the next level to be more successful. Likewise, it is also ironic that few foundations give general operational monies but everyone expects nonprofits to not only do the program for which they were established for but also raise all the money they need. Most nonprofits are lead by volunteers that all have day jobs with busy lives themselves and nonprofit organization in general considers them self fortunate if there needs are even an afterthought.

Anyway back on point: I am in a very unique situation and part of me likes the fact that I can do all pro-bono work. However simply helping people for free makes it hard to measure success. I guess for me I would like to have a general sense of the impact I might be making. Maybe this is for selfish reasons knowing my ego needs to stroked a bit to feel good. Regardless, the reality is doing good things for good people just because it is the right thing to do has, on many days, been less than satisfying and quite frankly frustrating!

I have been pondering other “job” opportunities as well in my search. However, as I posted in my last blog entry on June 30, 2008 I’m not looking for a conventional job because I don’t think a conventional job has anything to offer me that I want or need.

In trying to identify certain aspects of the type of work I enjoy I think I have come up with several key factors.

First, I want to continue to have the flexibility of time and be able to pick and choose the project or projects I might want to work on. It seems that I enjoy structure and like a beginning, middle and end rather than having something that drags on forever. When I get the latter situation I find it extremely nauseating!

Second, I need a pay off. I need to either see something become successful or at least work as it was intended. In general terms, I need to know that what I did made a difference.

Finally, my time, energy, talent and money are all resources I am willing to put on the table to use. I think what I offer is unique because when I decide to really take on something it becomes personal and a part of who I am. I don’t see something as a job per say but as an opportunity to change a life. This is why I am here, not to make money, not to necessarily enjoy myself or my surroundings, but to make a difference, period end of story! So, now the door is open and I am waiting to see who or what walks in. ~John~