There’s seemingly a million articles out there about the difficulty of leading a small business and the challenges of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
There are far fewer such articles about the trials and tribulations of running a successful nonprofit or charity. That’s likely because the mission of nonprofit organizations is fundamentally about giving away money, rather than making a profit. Regardless, the truth is that leadership of charities is not easy, either, and often involves a careful balance between fulfilling the nonprofit’s mission and meeting the expectations of donors.
The word passion gets a lot of attention these days, but without critical thinking, creative solutions, and learning from failure — passion won’t be enough.
Any organization attempting to funnel thousands or millions of dollars toward a charitable cause while simultaneously meeting the needs of employees and donors. That’s like asking someone to manage all the normal aspects of a small business — and then also managing all the needs of a nonprofit.
While different kinds of nonprofits may need different kinds of leaders to succeed, there are a few keystone skills that apply to nearly every organization.
If you work at a nonprofit, or you’re thinking about starting one, here’s a few things to keep in mind.
Focus on Reliable Relationships
Nonprofits typically ask a lot of the people who work for them. The pay is low or nonexistent, and the focus is usually on improving the services provided to the community — not on raising pay or improving working conditions.
For nonprofits to function effectively, they need people who are committed to the organization’s mission and a leader who can develop strong relationships with their workers and peers to ensure a well-functioning team.
While the idea of spending time just developing relationships might sound less important than other tasks, it’s essential to improving morale and keeping the entire organization focused on the mission.
Stay Adaptable
Adaptability is increasingly important for all industries, as technology and economics move faster than ever before, requiring nonprofit leaders to adapt to new conditions and adopt new approaches to tasks.
The previous blog about the federal government’s changes to nonprofit rules in 2022 represent another example of this. Things are always changing in the world of charities, in ways both beneficial and problematic.
That’s why successful nonprofit leaders learn to adapt as quickly as possible to new ways of meeting the same goals. Making a big change in how your organization works could result in greater efficiency that keeps the nonprofit streamlined — and competitive.
Stay Curious
Listening might be one of the most important things a leader can do. Leaders need to listen to more than just their board members and donors. They need to listen to their peers and their employees and their volunteers.
Nonprofits often have some of the most dedicated workers of any organization. That means many of them will have suggestions for how to improve things that upper managers won’t know without asking questions.
Once you’re done interviewing everyone else, you should also ask yourself questions about your own performance and leadership, and whether you see ways to improve.
Leading a nonprofit or charity isn’t easy. It’s both difficult and often thankless. But if the thought of making your community a better place to live for everyone inspires you, then you might have what it takes to lead a successful nonprofit.