10 lessons on how to lead nonprofits

If you’re looking for an easy, high-paying job, keep away from the nonprofit sector. But if the goal is to apply the Jeffersonian virtues of a knowing head and honest heart and contribute in a genuine way to building a brighter, stronger, and more socially-just future, leading in a professional or volunteer role for one of America’s 1.5 million nonprofits will make productive use of the best aptitudes, skills, and potential that you currently have and can develop for the future.

Launched in 2018, Eskin Fundraising Training is devoted to training, nurturing, and supporting the success of the men and women responsible for securing gifts of time, talent, and treasure that fuel the good works of the social sector and improve the quality of life in boundless different and meaningful ways.

Eskin Fundraising Training has proudly sponsored more than 250 live and/or virtual learning communities facilitated by distinguished experts from a wide range of disciplines and engaging thousands of professional and volunteer nonprofit leaders representing organizations of all different sizes, missions, and parts of the country, and now even internationally. The fundamental premise of an instructional approach is that while no single person has all the answers, in the live and/or virtual learning communities, there is the collective capacity to answer any question.

Based on research, data, sound principles, proven strategies, and best practices, Eskin Fundraising Training highlights the following 10 effective lessons for men and women to successfully guide nonprofits of all different sizes, missions, and locations to achieve their missions.

Here are 10 lessons to help nonprofit leaders succeed

1. Passion is a superpower. Nonprofit leaders embrace missions with everything in the body, mind, and soul. They are true believers. They believe in the might of their organizations, in the people they work with to champion shared visions of a better world. They believe in the basic goodness of the American people to live the spirit of Abraham Lincoln’s “better angels of our nature,” to respond generously to inspiring appeals for gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
2. The greatest impact is not achieved by themselves but what they do to motivate fellow professional and volunteer supporters. Leaders are a special blend of visionaries, mentors, teachers, coaches, and lifelong learners and sharers. They give people what Gallup has discovered to be the most desired commodity furnished by leaders — hope. They generate the conviction that we can take matters into our own hands and that more is possible.
3. Collaboration is celebrated. Donors are forced into the excruciatingly difficult position of not choosing between the good and the bad but between the good and good. The gifts of time and money are precious and the greatest possible return on philanthropic investments are a necessity. Forward-thinking leaders welcome the power of collaboration, coordination, and communication to magnify impact and willingly set aside organizational and personal egos.
4. A relentless commitment to building and nurturing teams. The competition for high-performing professionals and volunteers is fierce, if not more competitive, than donor dollars.  It is rare for nonprofits to retain high-performing professionals and volunteers for as long as two years. Eskin Fundraising Training teaches that time is more valuable than money, because it can never be replaced.
5. Every day presents opportunities to gain wisdom, grow, and become better. It might sound like a cliché, but failures are truly profound teaching moments. They shed light so brightly that the same mistakes will not be repeated.
6. Tap the power of both artificial and human intelligence. New technology has certainly improved productivity and the quality of life. But robots cannot feel emotions, pain, grief, and joy. Even more vital than human intelligence is emotional intelligence — empowering social connections, empathy, and bridging different viewpoints. Everyone always seems to be in a rush; it is so refreshing and welcome to pause and slow down the frantic pace for greater reflection.
7. Make every effort to listen closely as much as you’re speaking. Nothing makes people feel more valued than being asked for their opinions, advice, and counsel. Always probe for deeper understanding. That’s why a popular expression in the fundraising world is: “Ask for money and you get advice but ask for advice and you can be rewarded with gifts.
8. Progress is achieved at the speed of trust. Trust is something that doesn’t come overnight. It takes persistence to always deliver on what you say you will do, and better yet over-deliver. It’s too easy to make excuses about why promises and deadlines aren’t met. Trust is earned by consistently proving that deeds live up to words and expectations.
9. Challenges aren’t shirked but welcomed. The nonprofit sector has, is and will always be characterized by demand exceeding supply. Leaders must reach dig deep and through the power of trying new ways and innovation, forge the ability to do more with less.
10. Humility is an absolute necessity. No one has all the answers, and great leaders understand this truth more than others. All of us have both strengths and weaknesses. Leaders put their strengths to the greatest test, but are wise enough to compensate for shortcomings by surrounding themselves with people and resources that can fill important gaps.

2026 will present enormous challenges

• Federal funding will continue to be compromised forcing private philanthropy to provide escalating human service needs to those most at risk.
• Societal division and polarization make it increasingly difficult to bring people together for the common good.
• Cynicism and distrust grow in our core institutions.

Nonprofits bring out the best in all of us.

The social sector represents an awesome force for expediting good works. It encompasses more than 1.5 million organizations, 13 million employees, 24 million board members, nearly 80 million volunteers, and hundreds of millions of donors from all different socio-economic backgrounds, who enthusiastically give. America’s greatness is rooted in its tradition of caring and sharing for one another and of communities of mutual support. Nonprofit leaders are ready to stand up and meet formidable challenges, and in doing so, open giant doors to a better world.