Author: ernestlewis3rd

As a nonprofit leader and consultant, I have the unique opportunity to view nonprofit management from many lenses including the trenches as a staff member, a 30,000-foot view as a board member, and a 360-degree view as a consultant.

Nonprofit leaders wear many hats – Chief Fundraiser, Human Resources Director, Volunteer Manager, IT specialist, and sometimes Chief Financial Officer. Time and time again, executive directors, CEOs, and senior staff do more with less resources and staff. To a default, we wear ourselves thin and add more stress to a fragile infrastructure all in the hopes of advancing the mission of our nonprofits.

But when is it is enough and time to take a step back, reset and regroup? Often, we do this soul searching when it is too late, after major funding cuts, layoffs, a pandemic, recession, or a natural disaster. Don’t fear or beat yourself up, we all have been there. Determined to meet budget, provide quality services, support and lead our staff, mobilize volunteers, and steward donors with limited capacity. Nonprofit leaders are often considered superheroes with superpowers, but the fact is, we are human.

Throughout my 20 plus years of working in nonprofit administration, I realize that you should ask for help and bring in the troops via a consultant when times are good and not only in a time of crisis. This approach allows us as nonprofit leaders to leverage the limited dollars we have and work proactively to build essential capacity, prevent leadership burnout, and bring in expertise that is needed and lacking in your organization.

Whether it is an executive coaching, fund development, or organizational development consultant, they can make your professional life manageable. A consultant should be a vital resource and thought partner  to assist in lightening your workload and allowing you to direct the organization as the transformational leader you are, realize the vision of the organization, and grow your team and better serve the community.

Finally, you can look from under the desk and see what’s ahead, flourish, transcend the work to what you know it can be and what it should be with the help of your dedicated board, staff, volunteers, and those you serve. Remember, be brave, be bold, and ask for help. You are not an island or a one-person show. No one should expect you to be.

Hire a consultant who fits your organizational culture and make-up, enhance your work, and supports you to thrive. The right fit between you and a consultant will have you singing the Golden Girls theme song in no time because of the difference you both can make together.

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