4 Steps From A Simple Passion to Reaching New Heights

By Lois Tuffin

Two years ago, I watched a problem fester in the community I love and wondered how to make people feel better and create more positive vibes. That’s thinking big, right?

Well, that passion for change led to me finding like-minded people, setting up new partnerships and finding the money to build a new non-profit. Now, thanks to Volunteer Peterborough, disenchanted people can find roles that connect them to peers via common causes. 

It may sound oversimplified, but it actually took a complex understanding of human dynamics, data and drive. And I could apply it to your program, program or business too.

First, articulate the idea

As a group of us met on a front porch, we identified what we suspected caused people to divide into silos. But we knew others had better insights, so we went and found them. Soon, our team and our network grew.

After all, a good idea draws people in. Essentially, everyone wants to solve the problem but they may not know how. As much as we knew others had tried it their way, we stayed open to a new approach. That way, we didn’t get hemmed in by bad habits that we would regret later.

Surprisingly, this step opened up even more doors than we even imagined possible. We discovered that we needed to build our own version of volunteer match-making software to meet our high bar. Thankfully, two innovators wanted to share their talents and worked well together.

At this point, our idea was a strategy, then a series of tactics built into a plan. It was really starting to take shape!

Next, spread the word

Since communication is one of my fortés, it seemed easy to create a summary about what we were doing and why. Everywhere I went, I shared that elevator speech until I found my tribe of people.

Soon, I was asked to speak to more people, then Rotary Clubs. That web expanded as I met people who wanted to help. So, I gathered their names and their interests. Each month, I sent out updates, even when there wasn’t much to say. However, they knew my team and I hadn’t given up. That energy brought in even more leads.

During the process, we discovered what talents we needed – then networked until we found them. Knowing my community well, it didn’t take long to reach out and find fresh blood. More than anything, I’m proud to see how many new leaders work with us.

By now, we had clarified our audiences and how they find and ingest information. I mapped it out and shared the robust plan with other media experts. Yes, they agreed, you’ve hit just about every note.

As with every campaign, we collected names and prices for companies who could reach our future followers. Sensing my own bias, I recruited an arm’s length person with experience to vet them all. She came back with strong recommendations and we trusted her guidance. 

Wow, were we really about to take this out into the world? You bet we were.

Fuel the finances

All along, I knew we would need substantial money to make this happen. Thankfully, I know some good people who trust my judgment. Over time, I shared our plans and matched our needs with their interests.

In almost every case, potential donors said yes. Why? Because I anticipated their questions and knew what motivates them to give. Also, I laid out exactly where their dollars would go and what it would achieve.

That tangible aspect makes it crystal clear that an investment in our project would build something that would be accessible – and solve that darn initial problem. 

As we made progress, I informed every donor how we were progressing – good and bad. That created empathy and more trust. When they pointed out that I neglected a step or one type of clientele, we adjusted our plans. That reflected real teamwork as we neared our launch.

Build it to last after launch

Finally, we went live in July 2023. It didn’t go perfectly, but to the public it worked. Over time, we have continually improved and stayed humble in that experience.

Rather than sit back quietly, we have gathered up client testimonials and tracked our analytics religiously. When people ask, we can show our growth and how our dream of connecting people worked out.

Behind the scenes, we work hard to stay abreast of this fabulous growth. Vitally, I added legal, organizational and policy expertise. All the while, I keep the current core group engaged and contributing in ways that work for them.

Growing from an idea to a functional organization isn’t easy. It takes great will and competence. In the past 30 years, I’ve done the same with youth drop-in centres, affordable housing groups and small non-profits, plus my own business.

While the formula stays similar, each adventure comes with its own strategy. But the need to listen, dig into research and explain complexity never does.

If you’re struggling to rebuild or rebrand, the same process could work for you. If you’re overwhelmed and need some clarity, I can help. Don’t be shy about reaching out. We all need help from a team and I could add some serious bench strength to yours.