Prioritizing Growth: A Guide to Saying No for Nonprofit Leaders
For anyone at the beginning of your nonprofit journey, saying no takes courage. After all, in the early growth stages, we believe every person that expresses an interest in our work to be a person who could be our next (or perhaps even our first) big donor, or someone who could be of significant influence later on.
But, as difficult as saying no is, it’s key to growing your nonprofit… because by saying no to one thing, you are able to say yes to something else.
Everyone loves to say YES - but often times, nonprofit leaders say yes to the wrong things… for example:
Saying YES to program ideas that are not in line with your mission:
This is why a clear and often communicated mission statement is so important- there is a difference between good work (there are problems everywhere) and the right work (that specific problem that your nonprofit is designed to solve).
Saying YES to volunteers who aren’t a good fit or who bring a skill set that is not needed at present.
There is nothing more challenging than saying no thank you to a volunteer, but in many situations, a person’s willingness to help doesn’t categorically make someone a great fit for the role they are volunteering for. Not having the courage to say “thank you, but no” or “not right now” to that volunteer isn’t kind to them, nor does it benefit the organization at all.
Say YES to allowing a significant giver too much control in return for a large donation.
I have seen numerous nonprofits drift off mission because a large donor earmarked a significant gift to fund a project that the organization wasn’t ready to take on, or worse yet, the donor wanted to “call all the shots” after giving a large gift. When the allure of the impact a large gift could make causes a nonprofit to rechart their mission course at the request of the check writer, or the giver wants to “direct” the execution of the work they are funding, saying no is painful, but vital.
Saying NO isn't easy
When you're just starting out, saying no can feel counterintuitive, even a little scary. But remember, every "no" you give to something that doesn't align with your mission, your capacity, or your long-term vision is a "yes" you're giving to something far more important: the sustainable growth and the future of impact of your nonprofit. It's about being strategic, not unkind. It's about protecting your precious resources – time, energy, and passion – so you can focus on what truly matters: making a real difference in the world. Now, go forth and say "no" with confidence!
If you’re just starting up a nonprofit, or are trying everything you can to scale up, but struggling - sign up for our FREE, virtual Launchpad Workshop: Essentials for Startup & Small Nonprofits.
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