Americans gave unprecedented sums to charity in response to the devastating hurricanes last year. Large organizations, such as the American Red Cross, were equipped to handle the huge influxes of donations. However, some smaller charities were overwhelmed. Although it may seem like an unlikely problem, your not-for-profit needs a plan to handle a potential outpouring of support.<\/p>\n
Know what\u2019s normal<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps the biggest lesson to learn from recent disasters is to always have an expansion plan in place. When the influx of online giving reached critical mass, many organizations found that their websites overloaded and went offline. Their sites had to be moved to more powerful servers to handle the increased traffic.<\/p>\n Keep track of \u201cnormal\u201d website hits, as well as the numbers of calls and email inquiries received, so you won\u2019t be caught off guard when you start to surpass that amount. Also, know your systems\u2019 ultimate capacity so you can enact a contingency plan should you approach critical mass.<\/p>\n Mobilize your troops<\/strong><\/p>\n Having an \u201cearly warning system\u201d is only one part of being prepared. You also need to be able to mobilize your troops in a hurry. Do you know how to reach all of your board members at any time? Can you efficiently organize volunteers when you need extra hands quickly? Be sure you have:<\/p>\n \u2022 An up-to-date contact list of board members that includes home, office and mobile phone numbers, Also conduct a mock emergency with staff and volunteers to learn where you\u2019re prepared to ramp up and where you\u2019re not.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 A process, such as a phone tree, so you can communicate with the board quickly and efficiently, and
\n\u2022 One or more emergency volunteer coordinators who can call and quickly train people when you need them.<\/p>\n