I have had the privilege to work in a large not for profit; serve as an elder in the church and consult with many not for profit organizations. It fascinates me that people in not for profits fixate on the lack of resources as opposed to the resources that they currently have.
Regardless of your spiritual background, there is a wonderful bible lesson that comes from Mark.
From: http://
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A30-44&version=NIV
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late.
36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." (bold and underline added for emphasis)
They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." (bold and underline added for emphasis)
When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42 They all ate and were satisfied,
43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
I added the bold and underline above to emphasize the key point. Jesus was not concerned with the size of the crowd but with: 1) the mission or goal (feed the people) and 2) what resources are available ( Five loaves and two fish).
Many not for profits would do well to focus on the resources they have (supporters, money, employees, significant purpose, etc.) and make them fit the need. If the organizations allow them to be overwhelmed by the need (the five thousand people) they will be ineffective. Therefore celebrate that which you have. There will always be more need than supply – do good where you can and you will be surprised by what is accomplished.
© 2009 Jim Lindell