Project Management For Nonprofits

Nonprofit folks, let’s talk. Every time I talk to nonprofit teams, I hear the same thing: “We’re exhausted.” “There’s so much to do.” “We’re constantly in survival mode.” And I get it - this work is demanding. But let’s be honest. Most times, the problem isn’t just workload. It’s the absence of structure. Here’s what it looks like: • The programs officer is writing grant proposals and doing comms and managing vendors… because “we’re a lean team.” • There’s no content calendar, so everyone’s scrambling the night before a major campaign. • The founder wants “more visibility” but hasn’t approved a budget or strategy, so the team is just guessing. • There’s no onboarding process - new hires are dropped in the deep end and told to “figure it out.” It’s not sustainable. It’s chaotic. You don’t need more passion. You need a plan. You don’t need to hire more people. You need to clarify who’s doing what first - then know the skill gaps you need. You don’t need to work more hours. You need a rhythm that supports deep, focused work. Let me paint a simple contrast: Chaotic org: • Weekly check-ins that feel like therapy sessions • No shared folders - just scattered WhatsApp PDFs • Everyone is cc’d in every email because no one knows who’s responsible • Events planned in 5 days. Outcomes unclear. Structured org: • Documented roles and reporting lines • A quarterly content + program calendar • Shared folders. Shared language. Shared expectations. • Time to plan, space to execute, and data to improve Structure isn’t fancy. It’s foundational. If your team is always reacting, never resting, and constantly “managing somehow” - you’re not in a high-impact organisation. You’re in a burnout cycle with a good mission. If your organisation keeps depending on “passion” instead of structure, here’s what will keep happening: • Your best people will leave. • Your funders will quietly ghost. • And the impact you care about? It’ll stall. Or worse, disappear. Want to fix it? • Create internal systems (even if it’s just a shared Google Sheet to start). • Document responsibilities - no more “everyone is doing everything.” • Plan quarterly, not weekly. • Build culture, not codependency. • Stop celebrating burnout as “dedication.” It’s not. Structure is how we protect the mission and the people behind it. Let’s normalize asking: • Do we have clear processes? • Are we prioritising or just surviving? • Can this system run without one person burning out? Nonprofit work is heart work. But heart without structure leads to frustration, fatigue, and frequent turnover. You’re not tired because you care. You’re tired because the system isn’t holding you. Let’s fix the system - Because structure doesn’t slow you down. It sets you free. Laura Temituoyo Ede Helping nonprofits build structure that actually sustains the mission.

Nonprofits, if I had to build corporate partnerships from scratch today, here’s the real playbook: 1. Stop begging. Start collaborating. Your opening line to a company should never be: “We’re looking for sponsors.” Instead, it should be: “We’re building a movement around [cause]. Want to co-author the story?” Shift your posture from “needing help” to “offering opportunity.” 2. Ditch the gold-silver-bronze garbage. Create partnership experiences that feel custom-built: Fund an innovation lab Co-host a thought leadership series Launch a branded scholarship program Make them the hero of a tangible impact, not a logo on a step-and-repeat. 3. Play offense on LinkedIn If you’re waiting for CSR managers to stumble onto your website, you’ve already lost. Connect with CSR, ESG, HR, and Marketing leads at 50 dream companies. Post 3–4 times a week showing WHY your mission matters to their brand narrative. Share wins with attribution: “Thanks to partners like [Company], we [result].” Visibility builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust. Trust builds checks. 4. Build a Corporate Advisory Council. Invite 5–10 execs from different companies to join a “founding circle.” No donation required upfront. What you’re asking for: • Their insights • Their network • Their pride of ownership Once they feel bought in, the dollars will follow. 5. Make it ridiculously easy to say yes. No 17-page decks. No committee calls. No 90-day “we’ll get back to you” limbo. Your ask should be crystal clear: “We have a $25,000 project funding gap.” “Here’s what you’ll get in return.” “Here’s how your brand will be celebrated.” Simplicity wins deals. Period. 6. Follow up like a human, not a robot. No “just circling back” emails. No “checking in on my proposal” DMs. Send them micro-wins: “Just wanted to share, we hit 100 youth served this month!” “This story made me think of your team’s values.” Stay top of mind without being top of inbox spam. In 2025, partnerships are won by building narratives, not asking for charity. You’re not selling sponsorships. You’re offering legacy. Act accordingly. Want to learn how we’re helping nonprofits land $25K–$250K partnerships without begging? Comment “Build” or DM me. We’re opening a private training soon.

In the non-profit world, we often focus on raising the next pound, running the next campaign, or writing the next grant. But underneath the day-to-day activity, what really 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 great fundraising? 🎯 Whether you're a small charity taking your first steps or a more established organisation looking to grow, having a solid foundation matters. That’s where the 𝟴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 come in. These aren’t quick tips or clever tricks—they're the core building blocks that create a fundraising programme that lasts. So, what are they? 🔍 1️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 A clear, compelling reason for people to give. Your "why" should inspire action and show the difference a donor can make. 2️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 Fundraising thrives when it’s championed from the top. Boards and senior leaders must back fundraising with words, actions—and sometimes introductions! 3️⃣ 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 A roadmap to guide your efforts. It helps you focus your energy, balance different income streams, and plan for long-term sustainability. 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 People don’t give to causes they don’t understand. Clear, consistent, human-centred messaging builds trust and connection. 5️⃣ 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 Behind every smooth donation is a strong system. From CRMs to compliance, your processes should support—not slow down—your fundraising. 6️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 Fundraising isn’t just about asking; it’s about 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, and building real relationships. Stewardship turns one-time givers into lifelong supporters. 7️⃣ 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 When everyone in the organisation—from front-line staff to trustees—sees themselves as part of fundraising, powerful things happen. 8️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 You can’t raise funds on goodwill alone. Adequate staffing, budget, and time are essential for real results. ⚠️*** 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜'𝗺 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 - 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗜 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿**  ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ #NonprofitLeadership #CharitySector   #FundraisingStrategy #ThirdSector #LinkedInForGood

September to December is a *hot* period for nonprofit fundraising. Many foundations and donors are back to their desks after the summer and looking to make their closing funding rounds before the end of the year. If I were an advisor in your nonprofit organization, this is what I would suggest prioritizing in your fundraising plan from this month through the end of the year: 🫂 Curate Relationships Curating relationships with existing donors or key stakeholders is one of the most overlooked practices in fundraising. Only chasing new donors or funding opportunities goes at the expense of trust-nourishing and enthusiasm of those donors and stakeholders who are already "warmed up" about your work and mission. Don't make this mistake, and create space to strengthen the bonds with those who are already there. Think about personalized engagement and regular touchpoints to make them feel part of your mission and deepen their commitment to your cause. ⭐ Impact Storytelling Creating visibility around all the things your organization and your team have achieved throughout the year is a powerful avenue to leverage your commitment and attract the attention of donors and stakeholders ready to fund. Don’t be generic or conservative when it comes to showing the outputs, activities, results, community feedback, and transformations your work generated. Donors want to feel like they can make a tangible contribution to the end goal of your impact mission. Showing this to them in a compelling, story-based approach will help them understand what and why they are funding. 💰 Do Your Budget Know your number and make your financial plan clear. Prepare a budget that outlines your organization’s funding needs for the next 2 to 5 years. Identify the core areas that require sustained resources and ensure your strategy is aligned with long-term objectives. Create a strong narrative around why these areas need funding, how they will serve your impact goals, and why mobilizing resources into these areas will be foundational in securing sustainability and scalability to your work. 💥 Optimize Your Strategy You must have learned a lot in the past 9 months and got a lot of feedback, observations and lessons learned around your work. This is the perfect time to integrate the learnings into your overarching organizational strategic plan and fundraising strategy and adjust it according to the things you have now gained more clarity on, such as your new targets and goals. -------- Hey! I am Margherita, senior nonprofit consultant and advisor. I am open to working with nonprofit organizations in social justice and accelerating their development goals through fundraising, financial planning, organizational development, and operations. My fee model is equity-informed and open to accommodating all budgets. Contact me to learn more!

“Increase funding.” It shows up in almost every nonprofit strategic plan I’ve ever read. But here’s the problem. As soon as implementation starts, the go-to move is to build something new. And no one asked, 𝘊an we support this with the team and resources we currently have? That’s where the 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 (image) comes in. It helps you map what you or your team is already carrying across programs, fundraising, admin, and operations. So you can see, clearly: • Where the load is already full • Where there’s room to grow • And whether a new initiative is even realistic    Because the issue isn’t a lack of ideas. It’s the reflex to build new instead of optimizing what’s already delivering. That’s the same advice I gave a client about her revenue strategy. Instead of launching a new spring fundraiser, we did this: → Reviewed her development team’s Capacity Calendar → Noticed limited bandwidth across the year → Focused on re-engaging lapsed monthly donors, something they were already set up to do Here's the approach we followed: -> Look at what’s already producing results -> Find the opportunities to go deeper -> Resist the urge to start something new The result? Renewed momentum, increased giving, and no heroic efforts required. This approach not only strengthens your current efforts but also reduces the risk of spreading your team too thin chasing new opportunities. Why? Because new efforts come with hidden costs in staff time, systems, and attention. And that adds up, fast. For example: "New Fundraising Event" = big lift, new logistics, more capacity strain. "Deeper Donor Engagement" in an existing monthly giving program = focused, familiar, already working. Before you greenlight something new, ask, Are we making the most of what’s already working? And do we have the capacity to take on more? If you’re not sure, start with your Capacity Calendar and find your points of leverage.

If you work with ethnocultural communities, and you want to explore sensitive topics, it is doable. I have talked about topics that range from what I would consider "comfortable" - such as resilience and healthier aging to "extremely uncomfortable" - such as mental health, violence, and abuse. One of the first and most important steps before you do that is to develop and gain their trust. There is no sustainability in what we do, no matter how important it is, without earning the trust of the people we serve and support. How do you do that? Well, this was my approach when I began my work on older adult mistreatment (elder abuse): 1. Identify and map out the community organisations in your area/city that meet the requirements of your services/support/project. 2. Reach out to community/cultural/spiritual leaders of those communities - ideally with an email and then a face-to-face meeting (introduce yourself and be transparent in what your ask is, but also suggest that you would like to know how you/your organisation can be of benefit to the community). 3. Ask to be invited to community events or gatherings as a gentle entry into the community, and so they can familiarise themselves with you. 4. Remember - it's about the community, their needs, and voices. 5. You may need to do these community event visits several times to earn and develop trust (trustworthiness is also a pillar of trauma-informed care). 6. Once trust is earned, and you have been able to engage the community in conversations around their needs, you can address your ask and adapt it to the community and the concerns they share with you. This sort of community engagement will also bring with it benefits and growth, plus, if you're in the field of social support and community engagement and advocacy, you know how important these steps are. Trust first. Your ask comes later.

What I learnt from being a Volunteer Leader.   Last year I served as the President of the ICF Bengaluru Charter Chapter   While I've led many teams in my corporate roles, leadership in a volunteer setting especially for a non-profit is different.    There are no paychecks, no promotions, no formal authority. Just a shared purpose and a willingness to contribute.   And that’s exactly why it teaches some of the most powerful leadership lessons.   🔹 Influence over authority – You can’t rely on hierarchy; you have to inspire, engage, and bring people along through vision and connection.   🔹 The power of purpose – When people aren’t driven by financial incentives, their motivation comes from something deeper. Aligning with that purpose is what fuels real commitment.   🔹 Empathy and adaptability – Every volunteer brings their own priorities, constraints, and motivations. Leading them means understanding what drives each person and working with them, not just expecting results.   🔹 Letting go of ego – Volunteer leadership isn’t about titles or recognition. It’s about service. It’s about making an impact because you want to, not because you have to.   🔹You cannot please everyone – Disagreement and dissent are part of the journey and aiming to please everyone is an impossible goal. Be true to yourself and do the best you can. Even with your best efforts, there is always someone who is unhappy.    Volunteer leadership strips leadership down to its essence: inspiring, serving, and making things happen. And that’s a lesson worth carrying everywhere.   What’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned outside of work? #volunteerleadership #icfbengaluru #icf

The work may be free, but it’s not without value. Volunteering isn’t just about giving. It’s also about growing through service. Now, don’t get me wrong- I’m not here to glorify unpaid labor. There’s a fine line: don’t let your time and effort be exploited for profit you’ll never see. But when you contribute to something built purely to create good —something that exists for impact, not revenue — you gain something too. And sometimes, that something is the exact kind of leadership experience that even seasoned managers struggle to develop. I was talking with Margo Roi about leading FinUA, the non-profit she founded to support Ukrainian refugees settling in Finland. She shared her insights on volunteer team-building, and it struck me: 👉 The ability to motivate people through shared values 👉 The importance of flexibility, empathy, and realistic expectations 👉 The power of breaking work into manageable, meaningful contributions These are not just lessons for the nonprofit world. These are the same lessons that leaders in corporate spaces wrestle with daily. And yet, so many never get the chance to learn them in an environment where authority isn’t the sole motivator—where leadership has to come from understanding, support, and genuine purpose. So if you’ve ever wondered whether volunteering is worth your time, here’s one more reason to consider it: it’s one of the best leadership training grounds you’ll ever find. I'm curious, though: What’s a skill or lesson you’ve picked up from volunteering that’s shaped how you lead? Feel free to share in the comments. 💡 Watch the full UPWARD conversation with Margo here: https://lnkd.in/gZD-FNhf 🔺 Or follow UPWARD for other examples, tips, and support to shape companies, leaders, and organizational cultures with insight and applied empathy. #Leadership #Volunteering #ProfessionalGrowth #NonprofitLeadership #BusinessForGood #CareerDevelopment #TeamBuilding #WorkplaceCulture #UPWARDconversation #Impact #Empathy #LearningAndDevelopment

Your development office runs on heroics. Sarah stays late to finish the grant. Bob scrambles to prep board packets. Everyone's a firefighter. This isn't dedication. It's dysfunction. Here's how to shift from heroes to systems: 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 That thing Sarah "just knows" how to do? Write it down. Today. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 → Thank you letters by gift level → Board meeting prep checklists → Email sequences for each donor segment → Event planning timelines → Grant application modules 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 If it takes 2 weeks, plan for 3. Heroes create crises. Systems prevent them. 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 No one person owns any critical process. Bus-proof your entire operation. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 Stop rewarding last-minute heroics. Start recognizing smooth execution. The uncomfortable truth: If your shop needs heroes, you've failed as a leader. Great fundraising isn't about extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. It's about ordinary people with extraordinary systems. One CDO transformed her team with this rule: "If you do something twice, document it. If you do it three times, template it." Your heroes will resist this. They like being needed. But donors don't care about your drama. They care about your impact. What's running on heroics in your shop?

Looking for Grant Funding❓ I spent years at a Foundation that provided funding to dozens of nonprofit organizations. I managed their grant programs, which meant that I read every application and sat in all of the grant-making committee meetings. I saw the decision-making process up close and personal. So I can report that funders are committed to supporting impactful programs that fall within their mission, but …  grant committee members (most of whom are volunteers) may not always be familiar with your organization, projects, client needs, or impact on the community. The best advice I can give: 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲! 📢 To ensure your proposal stands out, here are a few tips: ➡️𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐲: Present your mission and goals in a straightforward manner. Avoid jargon and complex language.  ➡️𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: Share real-life examples and success stories that highlight the impact of your work. ➡️𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞: Keep your proposal succinct and to the point. Highlight the most critical information. ➡️𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬: Clearly outline the expected outcomes and how they align with the funder’s priorities. ➡️𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐢𝐝𝐬: Use charts, graphs, and images to illustrate your points and make your proposal visually engaging. 💠By simplifying your presentation, you make it easier for grantors to understand and support your vision. Here’s to creating lasting change … 𝑳𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈! 💵💰💲