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The Changemaker's Confidence Curve: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Nonprofit Leader |
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I can’t tell you the number of times in the past where I sat in a meeting or looked at another organization's amazing website or Instagram, and thought to myself, "Do I actually know what I’m doing?"
If, like me, you’ve ever been tapped on the shoulder by the Imposter Syndrome Gremlin 👾 -- I want you to know two things:
1) You are not alone. And…
2) These feelings probably don’t mean what you think they mean.
Most nonprofit leaders do not lose confidence because they are unqualified or not smart enough to figure this complicated work out. They lose confidence because, let’s be honest, nonprofit work is hard, and it’s unlike most other things out there.
In this week's Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, I am walking you through what I call the “Changemaker's Confidence Curve”: Why imposter syndrome shows up so often in nonprofit and social impact work, and what you can do to move through it with more clarity and less self-doubt.
(PS - thanks to this week's newsletter sponsor, Morning Brew!)
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The Curve Most Changemakers Go Through
You start with a Spark. You feel called to a mission, a goal, and you dive in. Then comes the Reality Check, where things get harder than expected. Next is the Comparison Spiral, where other organizations seem to have it all together, and you wonder why you do not. Then something shifts. You enter Skill-Building, where things slowly start to click. Eventually, you arrive at Grounded Confidence. Not the loud, showy kind. The quiet kind that says, "I do not know everything, and I know how to keep moving anyway."
I’ve seen a lot of people quit somewhere in the middle. You do not have to.
Why This Work Brings Out Imposter Syndrome
There are a few reasons nonprofit leaders feel this more than most.
You care deeply, so everything feels personal. When the work is tied to your values and your community (or maybe even your purpose!), every stumble hits differently.
You are learning many skills at once, like fundraising, human resources, communications, and budgeting. No one expects a new leader to master all of that overnight. You deserve that same grace.
As they say: You are comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel. Other organizations look polished on social media. But remember, you aren’t seeing their messy inboxes or their hard board meetings, just the curated version.
What Confidence Actually Looks Like
Here is something worth sitting with. Confidence is not pretending you know everything. I’ve personally learned through many ups and downs that confidence is knowing how to keep moving even when you do not know everything.
Asking for help is confidence.
Saying "I am still learning this" is confidence.
Trusting you’ll be okay even if you mess up is confidence.
Taking the next step when you are not sure is confidence.
And that kind of confidence is what builds real, lasting organizations.
💡 Try this: Write down three things you have figured out in the last six months that you did not know before. That list is evidence. You are growing, even when it does not feel like it. Tips for Moving Through It
- Document your strengths and your gaps. You do not have to know everything. But knowing what you know and making a plan for what you want to learn next is a game-changer
- Collect evidence of your progress. Save wins, testimonials, kind emails, and reflections. On the hard days, go back and read them.
- Stop comparing timelines. Someone who has been doing this for ten years is not your competition. They are just further along the same curve you are on.
- Practice builds confidence. Not the other way around. The more you do the thing, the more confident you will feel doing it.
- Find your people. Talk to leaders who are at a similar stage, not light-years ahead. Peer support from people who get it is one of the most underrated tools out there.
Try it this week 🚀
Pick just one tip from above and try it this week. Start a “wins” document. Write down your skill gaps. Reach out to one peer in a similar stage. Small steps add up faster than you think.
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- Bookmark It: The NBA Foundation should be opening soon for its fall grant cycle, but you can get started by creating a portal profile now. Eligible nonprofits must be in an NBA market and support under-resourced youth aged 14-24 with the school-to-career readiness. Will you miss this fall's cycle? Watch for the spring cycle.
- Rolling: Complete the Eligibility quiz, and submit your LOI to be considered for a proposal invitation by the Pincus Family Foundation. Award locations are focused on the Northeast U.S., as well as Louisiana, California, and New Mexico. Areas of interest include education; creative and performing arts; play and recreation; health and wellness. Funds may be approved for various purposes, including operating costs, research, and pilot programs!
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By October 2: The Jacques Pépin Foundation provides support for nonprofits focused on vocational rehabilitation through culinary training programs for adults facing significant barriers to employment. Past awardees have ranged from food banks to community cafes and more. Unrestricted capacity-building "Principal Grants" are available to new awardees - but once you're in their awardee network, you can apply for future "Partnership Circle Grants" for expansion of programs and services.
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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 450+ 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 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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