In many nonprofits, programs are treated like heirlooms – carefully preserved, rarely questioned, and often kept long after their shine has worn off.
Yet programs are not artifacts. They are living expressions of your mission. And like anything alive, they require care, attention, and sometimes, tough decisions.
The Pain Points You Already Feel
Most CEOs have seen the signs:
• Programs on autopilot. Staff keep delivering them, but nobody can articulate the true impact.
• Legacy initiatives. “We’ve always done it this way” becomes the only rationale for keeping them alive.
• Shifting needs, static responses. Client realities evolve, but programs don’t keep pace.
• Donor disconnect. Funders quietly lose confidence when outcomes can’t be demonstrated.
• Exhausted staff. Teams are stretched across too many priorities, with little clarity on what actually matters.
Individually, these issues are frustrating. Collectively, they erode trust, waste resources, and stall your mission.
Why Program Upkeep Matters
Programs need to be maintained and recalibrated just like any other organizational system.
The best nonprofits regularly ask:
• Are we still meeting our clients where they are — or where they used to be?
• Do our programs clearly ladder up to our mission and strategy?
• Are we measuring impact in a way that tells a story to funders and stakeholders?
• If we started fresh today, would we design this program the same way?
These questions aren’t threats to legacy work. They are lifelines that keep programs alive, relevant, and impactful.
The CEO’s Role
The health of your program portfolio cannot be delegated away. It demands CEO attention because it shapes reputation, funding, and the lived reality of your mission.
A CEO who neglects program upkeep risks leading an organization that is busy – but not effective.
This doesn’t require a full strategic overhaul. It starts with a clear, honest look at your programs.
That’s why I created the Free NFP Program Health Assessment – a straightforward tool to help CEOs see where their programs are thriving, where they’re lagging, and where they need realignment.
It’s a low-stakes, high-value first step toward ensuring your programs don’t just run – they matter.
Your programs are the sharp edge of your mission.
Don’t let them dull through neglect. With regular upkeep, they can remain powerful, relevant, and worthy of the people you serve.