A Lifeline for Nonprofit Leaders
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ Mark 6:31 TPT
This perfectly illustrates the life of a nonprofit leader. People coming and going, needing help, asking questions, constantly interrupting, it seems like all she does is put out fires. There’s rarely any time for the leader to focus on her own job duties during the regular workday.
So, she ends up working nights and weekends.
This leads to tremendous overwhelm and stress which affects not only her work life but also her home life.
Even though the work of the nonprofit can be incredibly rewarding, if the rewards don’t outweigh the stress and overwhelm, the leader, and by default the organization, is headed for trouble.
I know because I've been there and I can help.
First, I pray -- Then I listen -- Then we talk solutions
People Problems
Stress & Overwhelm
People Problems
These usually fall into two categories: staff/volunteers and board.
With staff and volunteers there's either not enough people to do the work or there are performance issues.
With the board there's either not enough or too many board members, not the "right people on the board, or problems with the level of engagement in the activities of the nonprofit.
Money Problems
Stress & Overwhelm
People Problems
I've never heard a nonprofit leader say that they have enough resources to provide all the services they want to provide to the community.
Cost effective and successful fundraising can be challenging, especially if the entire burden falls to the Executive Director.
Balancing the budget is another challenge for even the most budget conscious executive.
Stress & Overwhelm
Stress & Overwhelm
Stress & Overwhelm
People Problems and Money Problems combined with lack of time to get it all done is a recipe for burn-out. Burn-out is a very real problem that can cause all kinds of physical, mental, and emotional difficulties. Extreme stress can even cause long-term physical health issues like autoimmune disorders.
About Me
I've Been There!
After thirty years in nonprofit leadership, including the CEO role, I was burned out. I had a melt down and it wasn’t pretty. I ended up leaving the organization vowing never to return to nonprofit work.
But, God had other plans.
After a few years of healing and seeking God’s direction, He has brought me back to nonprofit work but in a different capacity.
My new assignment from Him is to come alongside women leading nonprofit organizations to provide them with the help and support that I so desperately needed but that wasn’t available to me at the time.
Like Aaron and Hur did with Moses (Exodus 17:12), I will bring her a stone so that she can sit and rest, and I will hold up her arms when they get tired.
I love to strategize, plan, organize, and get things done. In fact, those are a few of the strengths that show up on every strength, behavior, or personality assessment that I’ve ever taken.
God has given me incredible strategies that are solutions for the people, money, and stress/overwhelm problems faced by so many women who lead nonprofits
My dream is that every woman leading a nonprofit has the support and resources she needs to achieve her own God-given mission.