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Where do nonprofits need some creative thinking?

I'll skip the how and why of brainstorming and lateral thinking because I've posted my other entries on those subjects. You are creative, or at least you have the potential to be creative. So, where do you apply that creativity?

The right places to apply creativity vary from time to time and organization to organizations. Still, there are some common elements.

1. Fundraising - How can we raise more money? How can we afford to launch this nonprofit? To turn those questions on their head: How do you do more with the resources that you have?

2. Goals and objectives - What goals and objectives should you pursue? Some dedicated thinking time might lead to the conclusion that your goals and objectives need to be changed.

3. Strategy - Are you solving a social problem or simply dealing with the symptoms? Does that focus need to be changed? Would brainstorming lead you to a strategy for attacking the problem? If dealing with symptoms is more realistic, how can you produce the most impact with the available resources?

An Example:

I want to start a nonprofit that will buy up decaying old buildings and rehab them, or recycle them, to provide low-cost housing. How can I raise money for that? Suppose my partner and I can scrape together $60,000 in cash and credit. What is best way to use that money? What are the objective of this building program? Will it focus on general housing needs, on the elderly, on welfare recipients?
At least you could argue that the plan addresses a problem - lack of affordable housing in DC.

To stretch your thinking, try to name one or two problems this shortage of housing is a symptom of. How could the problem(s) be tackled? Assume you are starting off with $60,000 and whatever connections you have in real life.
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