Importance of Nonprofit Leadership and Management

Nonprofit leadership and management is an important area of concern because of the impact of nonprofit organizations on society. The mission statements of most nonprofits are geared towards helping people or addressing a need that is not met through government or private sources. For a long time, nonprofit leadership and management were not considered a priority because the organizations were doing good work.

Individuals who decide to become involved with a nonprofit organization as an employee are often people who are dedicated to the mission of the organization. Brown and Yoshioka (2003, abstract) described a nonprofit’s mission as “a strong management tool that can motivate employees and keep them focused”. Nonprofit organizations typically push the value of being involved in an organization that supports communities or fights social ills to balance the fact that many nonprofits do not always have budgets to pay salaries comparable to for-profit organizations. Competition for good nonprofit employees can be fierce. However, says Stephen C. Rafe, “Most volunteers who are truly service-oriented need little recognition. For them, the satisfaction comes from helping, from contributing to a job that needs to be done, and from the feeling that they’re appreciated and are making a difference.” (Rafe, 2013)

All nonprofits need volunteers to fulfill their missions. Volunteers are unpaid workers who either give their time, financial support or advocate for the organization. Volunteers may also recruit others to become involved in the organization. Volunteers are often people who are passionate about the work a nonprofit engages in and enjoy spending time serving. Larger and more organized nonprofits often provide training for their volunteers. Some organizations that serve sensitive populations such as children may also require volunteers to undergo training and even background checks to avoid the possibility of liability on the part of the nonprofit because of the actions of a volunteer.

The most fundamental quality of an effective nonprofit is clarity about its mission about what it seeks to accomplish and why this purpose is important. The nonprofit should communicate its mission clearly too all its stakeholders board, staff, donors, volunteers, partners, and the general public so that everyone understands its goals and works toward a common purpose. All the nonprofit’s programs and operations should be aligned to advance its mission. In addition, effective organizations document the need for their services and explain the value they add. For example, human service organizations should be able to explain how their services meet real demands and fill gaps. Arts and culture groups should be able to describe how their work enriches the community and specific audiences.

To attract donors, you need to implement good storytelling to capture people’s hearts and minds. No matter your mission statement, a well-crafted story can help people relate to your work, core values, and the people you serve. This relatability is the first step to getting potential supporters to invest in your brand and take up your mission as their own. Also To attract donors and keep their attention, beautiful, intuitive design is an absolute must. As people are continuously inundated with content, it only takes a few moments for them to glance through your website, emails, or other communications to decide whether it’s worth their time.

The top leader at most nonprofit organizations has the title of executive director. This individual is responsible for day-to-day leadership of the organization, supervision of staff and is the primary advocate and face of the organization. A board is a group of individuals who serve in a fundraising and advisory capacity providing oversight for a nonprofit. The executive director is the primary interface to and makes contact with the board. Small nonprofits may only have an executive director and fulfill their mission with the work of volunteers. Other large nonprofit organizations rival for-profit businesses with large staffs. Nonprofits often have a development officer who is responsible for organizing and raising funds. The development officer has contact with personal donors and may write grant proposals to seek money from government and private foundations. A program officer is the nonprofit employee in charge of developing, managing and monitoring the programs the nonprofit offers to its constituents. A communications officer manages the public relations and marketing for a nonprofit organization.

Fundraising through events is a common thing that many nonprofit organization use to raise funds. Pen a weekly newspaper and you will find a number of local events being put on by nonprofit able organization. For instance, an organization can organize a running event where participants pay a certain set amount to enter but also are encouraged to obtain other donations from friends, family, and colleagues.