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How to Make the Best Decisions for Your Organization When Literally Everything Feels Urgent 😱 |
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It's Monday morning, and you already feel behind.
Your inbox has 30 unread emails. A board member is waiting on you. A program deadline is this week. And three team members have messaged you before you've even had a chance to finish your coffee.
Sound familiar?
When you lead a nonprofit, it can feel like everything is urgent, all the time. I've learned the hard way... it's not. And learning to tell the difference is one of the most valuable skills you can build as a leader (for your team and your own sanity).
You don't need a complicated system to get there. Just a simple framework and a few practical strategies to help you cut through the noise.
In this week's Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, I'm sharing my favorite practical strategies to help you make better decisions for your organization, even on your most overwhelming days.
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Changemaker Mondays is brought to you by:
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1. Make your Urgency vs. Importance Matrix
The Urgency vs. Importance Matrix (aka Eisenhower Matrix) is a simple decision-making tool popularized by author Stephen Covey. It helps you look at everything on your to-do list and sort through what actually needs your attention, and what can wait. This practical tool can help you make better, clearer decisions for your organization, and it's been a game-changer for me personally.
How to Use the Matrix
Here's how it works. A simple/quick way of using this is to take everything on your to-do list and sort each task into one of two buckets:
- Urgent and Important: These are your true priorities. Do these first. Examples might include submitting a grant proposal due today or returning a call from a major donor.
- Important, but Not Urgent: These are tasks that matter a lot for your organization's future, but don't have an immediate deadline. Things like building your fundraising strategy, developing your team, or planning your next program. These often get pushed aside because they never feel "on fire,” but they should still have a place on your schedule.
💡Try this: Next time you're overwhelmed, grab a piece of paper and sort your top tasks into these two categories. It takes five minutes and can give you a lot of clarity on where to start. 🎥 Want the full breakdown of all four quadrants? Watch my full YouTube video to go deeper. (don't judge my bangs. It was 2019, and another time.)
2. Start Your Morning With a Plan
This one was a game-changer for me and now it's a personal favorite. The night before your workday, take a few minutes to identify your one or two most important tasks for the next day.
When you walk in the next morning, you already know exactly where to focus first. No guessing. No scrambling. Just clarity.
I make it a little competition with myself. I challenge myself to see how quickly I can knock out that most important task first thing in the morning, before checking email or anything else. When I do, I've already had a major win for the day. Everything else feels a little more manageable after that! 🎉
💡Try this: Tonight, before you close your laptop, write down your one or two most important tasks for tomorrow. A sticky note works just fine!
3. Free Up Your Time With Delegation
One of the most powerful ways to free up your time and energy is to delegate tasks to someone on your team who is better suited to them. That way, you can focus on the work that only you can do, whether that's fundraising, building donor relationships, or leading your programs.
I’ll be the first to admit that this one requires overcoming the impulse to hang on tight to everything. 😂 But when I was able to finally start doing this consistently in my own organization, I genuinely did feel less stressed.
Take a look at your to-do list. Are there tasks on there that a staff member, volunteer, or even an intern could handle? If so, hand them off!
💡Try this: Identify just one teeny task on your plate this week that someone else could handle and delegate it. Start small, even one thing makes a difference!
Try it this week 🚀
Pick one and give it a shot! Use the matrix to sort through your to-do list, write down your most important tasks tonight before you close your laptop, or identify one thing you can delegate to someone on your team.
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- Due by May 1: The Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards support nonprofit organizations making a meaningful impact in their communities in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico), Canada, the U.K., and Singapore. Grants range from $30,000 to $350,000 for a variety of issue areas.
- Due by May 15: The Ameriprise Financial Community Relations Program is committed to giving back to company communities throughout the United States by supporting nonprofits tackling hunger, housing, financial literacy, community development, and cultural enrichment.
- Due by June 1: ACT's Giving Program provides funds for qualified nonprofits across the United States for programs and projects covering Education and Workforce, Human and Social Needs, and Community Betterment topics. Grants range $500-$5,000.
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Join me May 6-8 in Wisconsin at the 55th Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinators Association Conference!
I'm excited to share insights and strategies on mobilizing your communities to support your cause as the keynote at this year's Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinator's Association Conference. Learn more about this amazing event and register here. Hope to see some of you this Spring!
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Keep an eye out for future workshops and events open to the public! In the mean time, need an event speaker or workshop trainer? Learn more about my workshops and other services. |
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Enjoy this week's newsletter? You might find this video helpful, too.
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3 more ways I can help you
- I have lots of free content for you! Check out my library of 400+ educational videos on nonprofits, social entrepreneurship, fundraising, and more on my YouTube channel. If you like what I'm trying to do, help me reach more people like you by subscribing to the channel and sharing it with a changemaker friend! 😁
- Need extra support to build or grow a nonprofit or social enterprise? Check out my Changemaker Accelerator membership or my Zero to $100,000 Fundraising Starter Toolkit.
- Need a speaker or training workshop for your social impact event? I'm currently booking 2026-2027 speaking engagements -- check out my speaking and workshop opportunities to learn how I can help you make your event inspiring and actionable!
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Hey, Changemaker!
I'm Amber, writer of the Changemaker Mondays newsletter! I'm a nonprofit founder, speaker, and social entrepreneur on a mission to equip you with the tools you need to create positive change where ever you live -- whether you're starting a nonprofit or socially-conscious business, looking for a social impact job, or leading a volunteer project in your city. Don't hesitate to connect (socials below), or reply to this email if you ever have any feedback on how we can make Changemaker Mondays the best newsletter for supporting changemakers in the world!
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