Shift #1 - From Founder-Driven to Distributed Leadership
In the early days, it's normal for the founder to do just about everything (guilty ✋). Whether it's writing grants, running programs, posting on social media, cleaning up after events, or answering emails at 11 PM.
I used to unpack entire U-Haul trucks myself after major fundraising events at 2:00 AM because nobody else was available. (and maybe I was being a bit of a martyr. I hope you learn from my mistakes. 😭)
But when everything depends on one person, the organization becomes fragile. What happens when you need a break or get sick?
Sustainable nonprofits look different. Leadership is distributed. Your board focuses on governance and fundraising. Staff run day-to-day operations. Volunteers have clear roles, and the team doesn't fall apart when someone takes time off.
Without this shift, burnout is inevitable and growth stalls. When you define and delegate roles, you unlock leadership in others and free yourself up for long-term strategy instead of daily fires.
💡 Pro Tip: Create written job descriptions for all key roles (even unpaid ones), clarify board versus staff duties, and identify who can back people up in emergencies.
Shift #2 - From Opportunistic to Strategic Fundraising
In the start-up phase, fundraising often feels reactive. You apply for every grant you hear about, run a fundraiser because someone suggested it, or chase trends that promise quick money. Usually, the founder carries most of the fundraising burden with little time to step back and see what's actually working.
Sustainable nonprofits take a different approach. They center on finding what I call their "fundraising fit," which means strategies that best match their:
- Mission
- Audience
- Team's strengths
While some diversification is smart, the most effective nonprofits do fewer fundraising methods but do them really well and consistently.
💡 Pro Tip: Audit your past fundraising efforts to see what worked best, what drained your energy, and identify two or three methods that align with your mission and capacity. Then put your energy there.
(PS - if you’re someone who would benefit from a complete guide on how to do this, that’s what my Zero to $100,000 Fundraising Starter Toolkit is allll about)
Shift #3 - From "Living in Your Head" to Documented Systems
Let me know if this sounds familiar:
People keep asking you where to find things or how to do tasks, and they can never seem to figure it out on their own.
In start-up nonprofits, most of the knowledge lives in one or two people's heads. Tasks get done, but not always consistently or efficiently. There are few written policies or standardized processes for onboarding new people.
Sustainable nonprofits run on documented systems. They have written procedures for programs, finances, volunteers, and communications. Information lives in shared spaces, not individual inboxes. They use tools and templates to maintain consistency.
Documentation ensures continuity, builds trust with partners, and frees you up to focus on growth.
💡 Pro Tip: Start by documenting your top 5-10 recurring processes (e.g., event planning, donation tracking, volunteer onboarding, etc.) and creating shared folders where these systems live, accessible to your whole team.
🎥 Get the Full Breakdown
These three shifts are just the beginning! I walk through all four key differences between start-ups and sustainable nonprofits (roles, revenue, systems, and strategy) with detailed action steps in my video.
Watch the video:
How to Grow from Nonprofit Start-Up to Sustainable Organization
📋 Also… Here’s a Free Checklist just for you 🙂
I've created a free checklist that compares start-up vs. sustainable nonprofits across 13 different areas, from board roles to fundraising to succession planning. Use it to see exactly where you are and what to work on next.
Download the checklist here:
Try it this week 🚀
Pick one of the three shifts we covered and take one small action this week, like...
- Document one key process that lives in your mind (before you forget it).
- Write a job description for one role on your team.
- Or sit down and identify which fundraising method has actually worked best for you.
Hit Reply
Where is your nonprofit right now? Still in start-up mode, or starting to feel more sustainable?
