Start Delegating, Friend!
Learning to Delegate Effectively for Greater Impact
As a nonprofit executive director, especially if you're a founder or a solo leader, delegation can feel like handing over your firstborn child. The passion, drive, and determination that fueled your organization’s creation also often lead to a mindset of "It’s easier to do it myself." I can certainly relate—after all, I’m a recovering "do-it-myself" nonprofit leader! However, the truth is that if you’re not willing to delegate, you’re setting yourself up for burnout. Not only that, but you may begin to feel frustrated or even resentful towards your board and volunteers, thinking they’re not pulling their weight when in reality, they may not even know how to help.
Delegation isn’t just about getting things off your plate—it’s about empowering others to take ownership of their roles, building trust within your organization, and ultimately, creating a greater impact. But how do you, as a nonprofit leader, learn to delegate effectively?
Why Delegation is Crucial for Nonprofit Leaders
When you’re the one who started the organization, or if you’ve been in a solo leadership role for a long time, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that no one else can do things as well as you can. But the truth is, trying to do everything yourself is unsustainable. It leads to burnout, frustration, and a bottleneck in your organization’s growth.
Effective delegation allows you to:
Free up time for strategic leadership: Focus on the big picture and long-term goals.
Empower your team: Give your board members and volunteers the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways.
Build trust: Strengthen relationships with your team by showing that you trust them to handle important tasks.
Increase your organization’s capacity: More hands on deck means more can get done, and your impact can grow.
Shifting Your Mindset: Trusting Your Team
The first step in delegating effectively is shifting your mindset. You have to trust that others can do the job—and that they might even do it better or bring new perspectives to the table. This requires letting go of control and embracing the idea that your organization is a collective effort.
Here’s how to start building that trust:
Communicate clearly: Make sure your board members and volunteers know your vision, goals, and expectations. If they understand the bigger picture, they’ll be more motivated to contribute.
Start small: If you’re hesitant to delegate big tasks, start with smaller, less critical responsibilities. As your team members demonstrate their capabilities, you’ll feel more comfortable handing over larger tasks.
Be patient: Understand that there may be a learning curve. Offer support and guidance, but resist the urge to take tasks back if things aren’t perfect right away.
What to Delegate: Empowering Your Board and Volunteers
Your board of directors and volunteers are there to support you and the mission of your organization, but they need to know what they can do to help. Here are some key areas where you can delegate responsibilities:
1. Fundraising
Who to Delegate To: Board Members
How They Can Help: Task your board with donor outreach, organizing fundraising events, or helping with grant writing. Fundraising is a collective responsibility, and your board should be actively involved in these efforts.
2. Financial Oversight and Bookkeeping
Who to Delegate To: Treasurer or Finance Committee
How They Can Help: Assign financial oversight to your treasurer or a finance committee. They can review financial statements, oversee the budget, and ensure that your organization is on solid financial footing.
3. Marketing and Social Media
Who to Delegate To: Volunteers or Marketing Committee
How They Can Help: Delegate the creation and scheduling of social media posts, content creation for newsletters, or even managing your website. Volunteers with expertise in marketing can help elevate your organization’s visibility.
4. Event Planning
Who to Delegate To: Event Committee or Volunteers
How They Can Help: Planning and executing events can be a massive undertaking. Delegate responsibilities such as logistics, sponsorship outreach, and volunteer coordination to an event committee or a group of dedicated volunteers.
5. Volunteer Recruitment
Who to Delegate To: Volunteer Coordinator or Volunteers
How They Can Help: Task someone with recruiting, onboarding, and managing volunteers. This not only relieves you of these tasks but also ensures that volunteers have a dedicated point of contact.
6. Website Management
Who to Delegate To: Tech-Savvy Volunteers or a Website Committee
How They Can Help: Keeping your website updated is crucial but time-consuming. Delegate website management to a tech-savvy volunteer or a small committee that can ensure your site is always current.
7. Researching and Hiring Vendors
Who to Delegate To: Board Members or Volunteers with Relevant Experience
How They Can Help: Delegate the task of researching and negotiating with vendors to someone who has experience in this area. They can present you with options, making the decision-making process easier and more informed.
8. Admin Tasks Like Filing and Other Office Tasks
Who to Delegate To: Office Volunteers
How They Can Help: Assign routine administrative tasks like filing, data entry, or managing correspondence to office volunteers. These tasks are necessary but don’t require your direct involvement, allowing you to focus on more strategic activities.
Overcoming the "I’ll Just Do It Myself" Mentality
As a nonprofit leader, your natural inclination might be to shoulder as much as possible, but learning to delegate is not just about lightening your load—it’s about empowering your organization to achieve more. By leveraging the strengths of your board members and volunteers, you can expand your impact and avoid the burnout that comes from trying to do it all yourself.
Remember, delegation is a skill that takes time to develop. Start small, build trust, and gradually hand over more responsibilities. Your organization will be stronger for it, and you’ll find yourself with the time and energy to focus on the big-picture leadership that your nonprofit needs to thrive.
Ready to start delegating for greater impact? Let’s connect and discuss how you can leverage your board and volunteers to take your organization to the next level.