Top Challenges Facing Nonprofit CEOs & EDs
For 15 years now I’ve worked closely with nonprofit CEOs and directors, focused on donor engagement and communications strategies. So I’ve seen and heard just about every sort of concern and frustration.
Which is why I wasn’t shocked by a report detailing the top challenges facing nonprofit CEOs and executive directors:
Funding worries, staffing issues, rising costs, and lack of strategic direction aren’t all that surprising in the NP realm!
But what jumped out was the connection I saw between these responses. Such challenges operate in tandem, creating a cycle of struggle for NP teams.
For example, if your staff has limited capacity, it’s no wonder they are having difficulty acquiring and retaining donors. Now, “limited staff capacity” may mean operating without a full team or it could mean operating with a staff that isn’t equipped or skilled for the work.
But more often than not? NP staff members are struggling with a skills gap. Which is frustrating because it’s easily solvable.
Savvy CEOs / EDs set their teams up for success by investing in continuing education to close those gaps.
And when you invest in your staff, you resolve two challenges at once: your team’s capacity goes up AND their ability to acquire and retain donors goes up with it.
Let me give another example: low awareness/communication with your donor base directly contributes to lack of adequate finances/resources. Donors will stall out in their partnership journey if you are not consistently connecting with them about the mission, their role in it, and the impact that’s possible with their gift.
But all that changes when NP staff members have a strategic approach to donor engagement that keeps donors moving forward in their partnership journey.
Savvy CEOs / EDs set their teams up for success by investing in the resources and tools for donor engagement success.
Which of these challenges can you relate to most right now? I’d love to hear. Reach out to share now or stop by open office hours to chat.
The best thing you can do for your donor engagement team is set them up for success. Most of the struggles listed in that report are directly tied to funding issues. And as I always say, for nonprofits, funding issues are, at the core, a communications issue. Solve your communications issue and your funding issues will resolve themselves.
Ready for more? Here are two ways Erin can help you make your mission irresistible to donors:
1. Connect with me or follow me on LinkedIn.
It’s where I talk about donor strategy ideas like these. Join the convo!
2. Work with me.
Over 12 months, I guide NP teams to fund their mission with effective, frenzy-free donor engagement strategies. ✴️ Donors fund irresistible missions… is yours? Let’s get started! Schedule your 15-minute Change Chat here and share about your nonprofit and how you’d like to improve your donor strategy.