Growth | Sapling stage

Focus: Increasing impact and strengthening internal systems

As the seedling grows into a young sapling, it starts to develop roots and branches, experiencing rapid growth. Similarly, in a group life cycle, the growth and expansion stage is characterised by increasing presence, expansion of operations and attraction of more resources and stakeholders. It is a phase of establishing a solid foundation and gaining momentum.

Characteristics of the Growth | Sapling stage

After a successful formation, your group starts to expand its membership and activities. This is when projects begin to take shape. New partnerships are formed, funding sources are sought or identified, events are planned to raise awareness about issues within the community and your group starts to have some visibility in the community. This stage is characterised by a more organised and holistic approach to environmental issues.

The following characteristics are typical of the growth and expansion or sapling stage:

Impact

• You have visible results which lead to funders supporting the work.

Identity and reputation

• You are established in the community.
• Some media coverage.

Revenue

• More diverse financial resources including some established relationships with your funders, but still unpredictable and living from hand to mouth.

Operations and culture

• Consistent delivery of activities.
• Increased division of labour and accountability as team grows.
• You may start hiring paid staff.
• Your culture is still results-oriented.

Staff and volunteers

• Volunteers are seen as a resource to achieve your goals.

Leadership

• A clear leader emerges (this may be your founder).
• This person is the key decision-maker with committee guidance.

Governance

• The committee expands and increases its focus on planning and oversight.
• Strong emotional commitment and motivation towards your group’s goals.
• Insufficient capacity or skill base to provide regular updates to your stakeholders and communications channels.
• At this life stage the organising committee may call themselves a board. Conversations will have begun about who is responsible for governance, and who is responsible for carrying out the work. You may be exploring what value your board adds to your group and how you can contribute to its ability to grow and thrive.
• Watch How Boards Add Value by Garth Nowland-Foreman from LEAD Centre for Not-for-Profit Governance. This 35-minute video guides you through the conversation. 

Challenges

• Burn out from setting up new systems, policies and structure
• Realising that some of the work needed may require others better suited (needing to recruit new people)
• Finding each person’s motivation within the work
• Raising ongoing funds that include overhead support
• Recruiting additional volunteers as more responsibilities come online
• Difficulty gaining recognition from local government
• Difficulty building a consensus between members on the group’s mission and activities
• Internal conflicts
• Lack of clear direction and scope
• Need for effective management and leadership
• Taking on too much and becoming overwhelmed / unable to effectively deliver
• Getting side-tracked from the agreed strategy and plans and watering down impact
• Remembering to have fun.

Opportunities

• Positioning to take advantage of national or even international grants or awards
• Building networks of like-minded individuals
• Partnerships with larger organisations
• Partnerships with a range of institutions and organisations that can provide access to expertise and resources
• Taking advantage of media and local press interest in new projects.

Questions to ask

At this stage, it is important for your group to examine how you will build your capacity to continue delivering activities and programmes. Areas to look at include:

• impact
• stakeholders
• leadership
• staff and volunteers
• organisation
• resourcing.

Use Worksheet 2 - Growth stage to help you review the growth and expansion stage and work through the questions in each of the areas above to help you focus your actions.

Moving to the next stage

Use these activities to help your group move to the next stage - Thriving | Mature bush stage.

• Incorporation as a formal entity/register as a charity.
• Election of officers.
• Establishing criteria for what activities and programmes to pursue.
• Operationalising processes to carry out programmes and projects.
• Clarifying governance structure and board member roles and responsibilities.
• Developing some strategic long-term goals.
• Developing a fundraising plan to expand funding sources.
• Deciding on your brand/identity.
• Developing crisis management processes and procedures.
• Proactively recruiting to increase the membership and volunteer base.
• Developing and delivering new environmental projects and initiatives.
• Participating in community events and outreach to increase awareness.
• Establishing effective communication channels and platforms.
• Building strategic relationships with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and businesses.
• Strengthening internal organisational capacity (e.g., hiring staff, creating committees).
• Your culture ensures leadership, staff and volunteers feel valued and have the resources and emotional support to carry out their roles such as appraisal processes, training, and coaching.
• Designing a process for regular evaluations and performance assessments.

Useful links

General resources

Predator Free NZ - Strategic planning and risk management

Xero - a guide to simple customer relationship management (CRM) software

Policies and procedures

Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission - organisations that employ staff

CommunityNet Aotearoa - Policy and Procedure Library

Funding

CommunityNet Aotearoa - fundamentals of crowdfunding

Communications

Conservation Optimism - Positive Communication Toolkit

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment - strengthening your online presence

Note: links still to be added from the original document