1. DREAMREALITY
consider:
EDITION 08 | OCT 2016
When the Dream
Hits Reality
The Top 10 Challenges Facing
Social Service Enterprises Today
AN IMPACT!
ISSUE

2. Over the last 15 months, Activiste IMPACT! has been actively engaging with
charities and international non-profit organisations to better understand the
challenges they face. We have compiled a list of the most common challenges
based on our observations and interactions with them.
What we saw was that whilst all of them began with good intentions —
either a cause to right a wrong in this world, or a cause to provide aid to those
who need help most — most found themselves hampered by the realities
of running a financially sustainable organisation, attracting the right talent
and partnerships.
Thus, not in any order of priority, the following is our list the Top 10 challenges
faced by Social Service Enterprises and Charities:
1. Gradual erosion of the original “cause-vision” as societal needs and
landscape evolve.
2. Proliferation of organisations appearing to champion similar causes,
leading to fragmentation and duplication of efforts.
3. A struggle to attract and retain talent in the effort to enhance
professionalism and remain relevant.
4. Insufficient capital to build a basic pool of manpower and as a result,
high turnover due to poor human capital investment and remuneration.
5. Poorly managed service centre or sub-par centre environment experience.
6. A mismatch in expectations and role of board members and management.
7. Weak, ad-hoc, communications outreach programmes and activities
which become “lost” in the increasing marketplace chatter — traditional
channels as well as social media.
8. Inefficient, unclear, or emotionally exploitative public fundraising efforts
which are either ignored or which create a negative image for the
organisation and beneficiaries.
9. Cause fatigue amongst general public, not being able to differentiate
between similar causes.
10. Dilution of impact over time, as relevance of the organisation declines
within the CSR landscape.
When the
Dream Hits
Reality
The top 10 challenges facing social
service enterprises today.
Co-written by Vernice Chua and Kim Faulkner
ActivistePteLtd
1

3. These are not uncommon challenges in the business world. All start-up
enterprises and profit driven companies face the same set of challenges and
issues. But business leaders understand what it takes to build sustainable
business engines over time — a differentiated, credible, and relevant brand
which would inspire and stretch across time and space.
We believe that a strong brand will not only help drive the business, but it
will also facilitate consistency in operations and communications, and more
importantly, deliver an inspiring message which resonates with partners,
employees, and donors; urging them to invest, contribute, and own a part
of the cause.
This is the multiplier effect of an inspiring commercial brand. Beyond high-
lighting a "Need", it also creates a powerful "Want" — a desire to participate
in and be a part of the cause.
In the case of a social service enterprise, creating that inspiring brand becomes
an indomitable force in driving a sustainable and impactful cause.
Consistently invested over time, the brand comes to life and takes on
an integral role in the organisation. We will explore this in greater detail
in the next instalment of this article.
Some of the benefits of a stronger non-profit brand is are that it will begin
to attract the right employees, board members, volunteers, and corporate
partners who share and believe in your cause. You will start to organise
relevant programmes and drive outreach communications with a consistent
focus to generate long term impact. And you will understand the importance
of a well-lit service centre with powerful, inspiring messages and the impact
it will have on your beneficiaries.
2When the Dream Hits Reality
A strong and inspiring brand becomes your
most powerful "cause advocate", bringing
people to want to come to the table.
YOUR BRAND
IS YOUR
CAUSE
the reason you exist
MANPOWER
ATTRACTION
+
RETENTION
FUNDRAISING
EFFORTS
ENVIRONMENTAL
SPACE / CENTRE
EXPERIENCE
SERVICE
+
PROGRAMME
STRATEGY
VOLUNTEER
ATTRACTION
+
RETENTION
BOARD
+
MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY
MARKETING
+
OUTREACH
COMMUNICATIONS
STRATEGY

4. Activiste Impact! is our way of contributing consistently and regularly to
not-for-profit organisations. Apart from our commercial work, Activiste
has a team of inspiring and committed heroes, working with social service
enterprises and not-for-profit organisations on a low-bono basis to enhance
their “multiplier effect” through sharper strategy, design and ultimately,
better business.
3When the Dream Hits Reality
The social service sector is filled with inspiring heroes. Our world can do with
a little more hope.
Let us begin to think differently about shaping the causes we care about in
inspiring ways — Strong brands which challenge the attitude of indifference,
correct social stigmas and mindsets.
Stay tuned for the next instalment of this article which will look at what
Social Services Enterprises and non-profit organisations can do to meet the
challenges identified here.

5. Activiste is a brand consultancy that
works with clients to build change
that matters through the effective
leverage of brands. We collaborate
with a network of researchers and
functional specialists to recast the
work of branding and activation
as a rich, people-centered and
results-oriented activity that is both
analytical and creative to achieve
tangible results.
Activiste Pte Ltd
46 Kim Yam Road
#05-03 The Herencia
Singapore 239351
+65 6384 5401
www.activistebrands.com