Running a nonprofit isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s like captaining a ship in choppy waters, trying to steer toward your mission while keeping the crew (staff, board members, volunteers) motivated and not seasick. And let’s not forget juggling all the hats—visionary, strategist, fundraiser, and sometimes even cheerleader-in-chief. But here’s the secret sauce: even when the seas are rough, a great leader doesn’t just hold the wheel. They inspire, strategize, and even make a little magic happen. So, how do you become the kind of leader your nonprofit needs? Grab your life jacket, and let’s dive into the top tips for leading with heart, smarts, and a healthy dose of humor.

1. Know Your Why: Staying Mission-Driven as a Nonprofit Leader

Your nonprofit’s mission is the North Star, the lighthouse guiding you home. But leading a nonprofit is like navigating fog—there are days when the goal is clear, and others when you can barely see the horizon. When you’re deep in the weeds of grant reports, staff turnover, and the latest funding crisis, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture.

Pro tip: Regularly remind your team why you all signed up for this wild ride. Host mission moments at staff meetings, celebrate wins (big and small), and keep those client success stories front and center. When everyone is connected to the “why,” the work feels a lot less like a grind and more like a purpose-driven adventure.

2. How to Build a Strong Nonprofit Board That Supports You

Ah, the board of directors—a blessing and a curse all rolled into one. A strong board is your secret weapon; a disengaged one is dead weight. You need a board that’s not just filling seats but actively rowing the boat with you.

Action step: Set clear expectations right from the start. Board members should know their roles aren’t just honorary; they’re hands-on. Ask them to help open doors, make introductions, and yes, fundraise. Don’t be afraid to have the tough conversations when they’re not meeting expectations.

3. Leading a Nonprofit with Empathy: Why It Matters

The best nonprofit leaders aren’t just smart—they’re empathetic. Your team looks to you in moments of crisis, and they need to see a leader who cares about them as people, not just as cogs in the organizational machine. That means being approachable, listening (really listening), and showing vulnerability. Yes, vulnerability. It’s okay to admit when you don’t have all the answers (because who does?).

Quick tip: Start your meetings by checking in with your team. Ask how they’re doing—not just as employees but as humans. Your staff is juggling a lot, and showing that you care goes a long way. Empathy is the glue that keeps the team together, especially when things get rocky.

4. How to Innovate as a Nonprofit Leader and Drive Change

Running a nonprofit is like being in a constant state of adaptation. There’s always a new challenge, a new hurdle, and a new opportunity to make an impact. But here’s the thing: great leaders don’t just react; they innovate. They see opportunities where others see roadblocks.

Try this: Schedule time for big-picture thinking. It’s easy to get sucked into the day-to-day, but blocking out time to brainstorm new ideas, explore partnerships, or reimagine a program can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Encourage your team to bring their craziest ideas to the table—you never know what might turn into the next big thing.

5. Fundraising Leadership: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Get Everyone Involved

Let’s face it: fundraising is the heart and soul of your nonprofit. Without it, the ship doesn’t sail. But here’s the kicker—fundraising isn’t just the job of the development team; it’s everyone’s responsibility, including yours. And it’s your job to make it less about begging and more about inviting people to join a movement.

Leadership hack: Be the chief storyteller. No one should be able to talk about your nonprofit’s impact better than you. Use your platform to share stories, rally support, and make the case for why your cause matters. And don’t forget to coach your board and staff to do the same—when everyone becomes an ambassador, the fundraising magic happens.

6. Celebrating Wins and Learning from Losses in Nonprofit Leadership

In the nonprofit world, wins are often hard-fought and hard-won, so when you get one, celebrate like you just found buried treasure. But equally important are the losses—the grant that didn’t come through, the program that didn’t hit the mark. Great leaders own the failures, learn from them, and use them as fuel for the next challenge.

Real talk: Create a culture of learning, not blame. When something doesn’t go as planned, debrief with your team, identify what went wrong, and make a plan to improve. Every loss is just another chapter in your success story.

Final Thoughts: Nonprofit Leadership Tips for Navigating Challenges

Leading a nonprofit is one of the toughest jobs out there, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. You’re the captain of a ship that’s making real change in the world, and that’s no small feat. Stay true to your mission, lead with heart, and never be afraid to chart a new course. Because at the end of the day, the best leaders don’t just steer the ship—they make everyone onboard feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.

And that, my friend, is how you navigate the stormy seas of nonprofit leadership.

‍

Do you ever feel like there's just not enough time in the day to get everything done as a nonprofit professional? You're not alone! But don't worry, I've gathered a collection of helpful tools to lend you a hand. Whether you are wrestling with project management, donor relations, or online visibility, these tools are here to make your life a little easier. Best of all, these tools are FREE!

‍

• Manage Projects: Feeling overwhelmed by scattered tasks and unclear deadlines? Asana's free version keeps your team organized and on the same page. Asana offers a 50% discount for nonprofits if you want to use all of its amazing features Click HERE to learn more.

• Craft Newsletters: Ditch the personal email account! Mailchimp offers a free tier to design professional and engaging email newsletters for your subscribers. You can also get a 15% discount as a nonprofit if you want to upgrade to a higher tier. Learn more by clicking HERE.

• Boost Online Visibility: Want to reach more people but can't afford ads? Google Ad Grants provides nonprofits with a free $10,000 monthly budget for text-based search ads.

• Stay Connected with Donors: Zeffy's free plan helps smaller nonprofits manage donor information and streamline fundraising processes.

• Facilitate Teamwork: Google Workspace for Nonprofits offers a suite of free tools including Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Drive for seamless collaboration within your team.

• Proofread Your Work: Grammarly's free plan catches typos and grammatical errors before you hit publish. Polish your writing further with the free Hemingway App to improve readability.

• Present Data with Flair: Can't afford fancy data visualization tools? Tableau Public lets you create interactive charts, graphs, and dashboards to showcase your data in a compelling way.

• Empower Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Give Lively's free platform empowers your supporters to create and run their own fundraising campaigns, expanding your donor network. Zeffy also offers this service for FREE!

• Schedule Social Media Posts: Short on time to manage social media? Buffer allows you to schedule posts in advance for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram (with a limited number of free accounts).

• Track Link Performance: Wondering if people are clicking your links? Bitly's free plan shortens links and provides basic tracking analytics. They recently acquired QR Code Generator, another free tool to connect your audience to campaigns and events.

• Analyze Website Traffic: Google Analytics offers free insights into who visits your website, how they find you, and what they do once they arrive.

• Test Website Usability: See how visitors navigate your website with Microsoft Clarity's free heatmaps and recordings. This helps you identify areas for improvement.

• Find Free Images: No budget for stock photos?  Pexels and Unsplash offer high-quality images you can download for free. (But, I recommend taking your own pictures whenever possible!)

• Design Engaging Visuals: Canva is a free and user-friendly tool to create stunning graphics and edit photos for your website and social media. Nonprofits can get the professional version of Canva FREE! Click HERE to learn more and sign up now!

• Build Online Communities: Facebook Groups provide a free platform for fostering discussion and connection among your supporters within a familiar platform.

• Manage Volunteers: Simplify volunteer recruitment and communication with a free Volunteer Management tool by SignUp.

• Securely Store Passwords: LastPass helps you manage all your passwords securely with a single master password. The free plan offers basic features for password storage and generation.

Did I miss any hidden gems on this list? Feel free to email me at Steph@SuccessForNonprofits, and I will add them.

‍

You're passionate, driven, and fueled by a desire to make a difference. You've got a big vision for your nonprofit, but translating that into a concrete plan can feel overwhelming. Enter the nonprofit business plan: your roadmap to success.

Whether your nonprofit is just starting out, facing challenges, or thriving with years of success, crafting a nonprofit business plan is an absolute must! Why, you ask?

By developing a nonprofit business plan, you're not just creating a document; you're igniting the dynamic roadmap for your organization's journey. It defines the who, what, and how of your nonprofit's operations, assigning responsibilities and charting the exhilarating course towards your ambitious goals!

With your nonprofit business plan, your team is crystal clear on your goals, challenges, and path forward. It sets achievable targets for the next few years, keeping you focused and accountable. It's also your touchstone, revisited throughout the year to ensure your actions align with your vision. No more drifting off course, unsure if you're making a real difference. This plan reminds you and your donors what you're about and, more importantly, what you're not.

Your nonprofit organization also needs a business plan to best secure support of any kind, this is true whether you are seeking monetary donations, in-kind donations, recruiting volunteers, etc. 

Why a nonprofit business plan is your secret weapon:

Unlike for-profits targeting investors, nonprofits appeal to a diverse audience: donors, volunteers, foundations, and clients - all with a vested interest in your "why" and "how." You need to understand how to speak to each of them, and building your plan will help you do that.‍

Ready to write your nonprofit business plan? Here's your 7-step guide:

1. Mind your audience: Avoid jargon and acronyms. Write for everyone, not just experts.

2. Outline your plan: Know what information you need to gather before you start writing.

3. Keep it simple: 12-point font, Times New Roman, readable margins, and white space are your friends.

4. Divide and conquer: Use clear headings and separate pages for each section.

5. Data with pizazz: Charts and graphs make your facts sing.

6. Proofread like a pro: Even the best writers need an editor.

7. Stay positive: Highlight your solutions, not just the problems you tackle.

Now, let's dissect the sections:

Executive Summary: This is your elevator pitch, the most read section. Tell your story of change, mission, vision and goals.

Products, programs, and services: Dive deep into what you offer. Detail the need you address and your unique approach. Highlight your impact on your community, both now and in the future.

Operations: This is where you showcase your organizational muscle. Mention your nonprofit's areas of focus, your team, and how you're structured for success. Don't forget your location(s) and past accomplishments if you're established.

Marketing: It's not just about good deeds. Tell everyone about them! Explain your branding, online reach (website, social media, SEO), and how you plan to get noticed.

Operational plan: Daily duties meet long-term dreams. Show your practical side and your big-picture vision. Include daily operations, costs, expansion plans, and how you'll get there.

Finances: Be transparent. Lay out your funding projections and expected expenses. Use tables for easy reading.

Appendix: This is your catch-all for anything extra: board member bios, research papers, or anything relevant that doesn't fit elsewhere.

Remember, your plan is a living document. Use it, update it, and let it guide you towards the impact you were born to make.

Feeling inspired? Join the Success For Nonprofits Membership Program for a nonprofit business plan template and start writing! Your community is counting on your impact and success!