Final answer:
In the 2012 Grant Thornton survey, strategic planning was identified as the most important focus for nonprofit boards. NGOs often face the challenge of diverting their attention to continuous grant seeking, which, together with bureaucratic demands, can distract from program-focused efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Grant Thornton's 2012 survey of nonprofit boards, the most important focus identified was strategic planning. Nonprofit organizations (NGOs) face various challenges that influence their operations and effectiveness. A significant issue for NGOs is the cycle of continuously seeking and applying for funding, which tends to consume a substantial portion of their resources and attention. This process often obliges NGOs to tailor their program objectives to align with the preferences of grantmakers to enhance the chances of receiving grants. Moreover, the bureaucratic nature of these organizations typically forces program teams to devote a considerable amount of time to administrative tasks and reporting, which detracts from their ability to concentrate on the actual programs and the needs of the communities they serve.