Diagnosing the Problem

Recently, I’ve been getting horrible headaches. And not just normal pain, these headaches are nausea inducing nightmares. You would assume based on how debilitating these headaches were, I would be running to the doctor to get this sorted out. And you would be wrong. Because true to Bogemann family form, I lied and told myself that I could definitely fix this myself (without actually doing anything) and just go about my life. And several months later, when nothing changed, I had to admit that I could not, in fact, fix this myself and needed to see a doctor.

So, after several months of misery I finally broke and decided to visit my doctor to see if we could sort this out.

Like most visits, my doctor had me sit down and tell her about my symptoms while she listened. I told her about the randomness, and the nausea and the fatigue. Finally, she stopped me and said, “I think you’re having migraines.” I will admit that I had never felt stupider than I had in that moment. Not because I had waited so long to get a simple diagnosis, but rather that I hadn’t diagnosed it myself. You see migraines run in my family. My sister has migraines, my mother has migraines, both of my grandparents have migraines, and the list goes on into eternity. Of course, I was having migraines. I never really had a chance at not getting them.

Similar to how most of my family has the same problem of migraines, United Ways seem to have a pretty come set of problems.

So many United Ways seem to get stuck in the routine of how things have always been done, not bothering to note the symptoms that they might not be well. Declining workplace campaigns, which United Ways have always relied on because that was how things are done. Lack of a clear impact that they are having in the community. Cluttered messaging around what exactly it is United Way does. The loss of donors as the old donors age out of the system and no new donors step up to fill their spot because younger donors don’t want what United Way is selling. All of these symptoms have been paining the United Way system for years, and yet nothing has been done about it. Because admitting that you need to change can be hard.

My migraines are still around, but now I have the tools I need to manage them. I have medicine that can help when I get one, and there are lifestyle changes that I’m making to reduce the amount of migraines I get in the future. And the changes have already helped far more than I would have expected.

Likewise, there are changes that United Ways can make to reduce the symptoms that they are experiencing and start moving forward.

And the number one recommendation I have would be an issue focus.

An issue focus can heal so many of your United Ways most challenging symptoms. It can help you diversify your revenue through grants, sponsorships, affinity groups, planned giving, etc. It can provide you with the answer to why you exist – to create impact around a specific issue in your community. By focusing on one issue, you can also clear up your messaging around what it is United Way does. And finally, you will be able to attract younger donors who now can see your value as an organization in the community.

If you would like to learn more about an issue focus, you can watch our free webinar, United Way Survival Guide: How to Keep Your United Way from Dying.

Acknowledging that you need help can be hard. But in the end, it is worth it. Finally, you will be able to move past the things that have been holding your United Way back and begin to move forward toward something better.