Thinking Like a 21st-Century Non-Profit Leader

Mission Matters

Rick Lochner is the President and CEO of RPC Leadership Associates, a leadership and business consultancy that helps develop entrepreneurs, executives, nonprofit board members, and professionals. He honed his skills while serving 11 years in the military, leading soldiers in challenging environments worldwide. Upon leaving the Army, Rick spent the next 18 years in corporate leadership, ranging from front-line management to senior executive management. He successfully led organizations in Fortune 100 corporations and privately held entrepreneurial ventures in various industries. Rick is a revered coach, facilitator, and workshop and keynote speaker. He has also authored seven books, including Finding the Missing Piece: The Impact of Effective Communications on Sustainable Success. Rick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In this episode…

Because foundations hold agencies more accountable for their budget spending, the idea of feel-good funding is less prevalent. So how can nonprofit business leaders operate a sustainable organization and serve their target demographic?

Rick Lochner, a thought leader in charitable organizations, argues that nonprofit directors must adapt their thinking to the 21st century. One way to do this is to adopt the following five pillars: social enterprise, storytelling, social media, partnerships, and measures of success. Social enterprises differ from traditional charitable agencies in planning operations and seeking financing rather than relying on grant allocations. It is, therefore, imperative to create impactful narratives that will amass more donations and partnerships. Organizations can use social media to share these stories and connect with potential donors and partners. Finally, nonprofit leaders must establish measures of success so that they can track their progress and make necessary adjustments.

In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith once again welcomes Rick Lochner, President and Head Coach at RPC Leadership Associates, to discuss the five pillars of thinking like a 21st-century non-profit leader. Rick explains the difference between thinking versus doing, the social enterprise model, and why storytelling is essential to a nonprofit’s mission.