Nonprofit Leaders: Here’s Why Some Nonprofit Leaders Grow Faster (Hint: It’s Not Talent)
Can I challenge a common assumption about why certain nonprofit orgs grow their programs and revenue faster and further than most?
I have a client like this. She’s killing it. Has grown a steady clip for years.
Others who know of her say things like, “Well, that’s Kristen. She’s [insert her degree, her fancy university, her aura, her personality, her background, her connections].”
No.
It’s that she FEARLESSLY tries so much more than others.
💥 She doesn’t hide - uses her brand voice every day.
💥 She constantly invests in herself and her team.
💥 She spends money on things most of my other clients wouldn’t dream of.
💥 She has her foot on the gas pedal.
💥 She uses technology in creative ways.
💥 She asks for what she needs.
I’m telling you right now. Her organization is no different than anyone else's. She’s a great leader but lots of nonprofit Executive Directors are great leaders…
It’s that she TRIES things! She SPENDS money on trying to fix problems! She INVESTS in solutions.
Then, she PUTS her energy and time behind it.
It’s that simple.
Another organization known for this? charity:water
The charity:water Lesson Everyone Admires But Few Follow
Early on in my nonprofit career, there was one organization that came up in nearly every meeting: charity: water.
People mentioned them for their creativity, their campaigns, their seemingly effortless fundraising strategies.
But what always struck me were two things.
ONE — They TRIED things. There was real risk. It hadn't been done before, so they did it anyway.
TWO — They INVESTED MONEY in trying things. They hired talented people and paid them well to make it happen.
Everyone wants to be charity: water. But when it comes down to it, very few leaders will embrace the risk to try what they pioneered, or invest financially at the level it takes to get there. We admire their brilliance for standing out and pushing against the traditional fundraising tide. We just don't copy the part that made it possible — the willingness to spend and to try.
Why "Trying Things" Feels So Risky to Most Leaders
In first conversations with prospective clients, I'm listening for something very specific: is there nervous energy around taking risks and spending money to raise more money?
I hear versions of this constantly:
❓ "What if we hire a writer to free up our development staff's time, and we don't like them?"
❓ "What if we hire a Deputy Director to free up our ED's time, and they aren't a good fit?"
❓ "What if we invest in professional development for our staff, and then they leave?"
❓ "What if we invest in new technology, and it requires tons of additional training?"
I get it. I spend real money running my own business too. But here's the truth: the largest factor that impacts your organization's revenue growth is your constant willingness to spend and invest in yourself, your staff, and your organization. Full stop.
Flip those same statements around, and here's the tone I love to hear instead:
✨ "Let's invest in an experienced content strategist who knows fundraising, so we can raise more money."
✨ "It will be great when the Deputy Director is hired so our ED has time to build relationships and raise 7 figures more each year."
✨ "Let's be generous with professional development so our team has the skills to align their hours with dollars and secure larger gifts."
✨ "Let's invest in that new technology and train the staff to use it, so we're more effective when fundraising."
This isn't reckless risk-taking. It's a calculated risk that looks a lot like running a successful, growing business — because it is one.
Revenue Problems Start With Mindset, Not Strategy
Revenue problems are fixed with an abundant mindset, followed by an honest budget. Only then can you build a true financing plan and an equipped team to reach your real financial need.
That's the order that matters. Not the other way around.
Leaders who scale faster aren't smarter or better connected. They've simply stopped waiting for permission, for the "right" moment, or for certainty before they act. They try. They spend. They show up as themselves — consistently, in their own voice — instead of hiding behind polish or perfection.
Leader - stop hesitating and start trying something new.
This is how you make changes to scale, diversify, and sustain your organization. If you're serious about scaling your charitable revenue at a greater clip, fill out this form and we'll hop on Zoom.
Whenever you’re ready to scale your nonprofit’s general-operating revenue, there are THREE things you can do next:
👣 Follow me on LinkedIn where I share insider fundraising info daily — the same lessons I teach my clients through my consultancy about securing larger major gifts and diversifying revenue.
🍎 Get Resources + White Papers — download robust resources you can use to push against the nonprofits sector’s scarcity mindset, equip your board, and shift your entire team into high-ROI fundraising.
📈 Work with me to fully-fund your nonprofit organization’s strategic plan and aspirational budget. If you’re a business-minded nonprofit CEO or Executive Director with big growth plans but need to make charitable revenue from relational donors a bigger part of your budget, you can apply to work with me here.
