How to Become a Nonprofit Leader

Finding your passion is an incredible feeling.

It’s even better when your head can follow your heart into a career you love.

Whether you aspire to be an executive leader, hold a director’s position, or even launch your own nonprofit, there are rarely clear paths to career development within the nonprofit sector. The lack of structure can be challenging. But it gives you an exciting opportunity to forge your own way! There’s no corporate ladder to climb, so you don’t have to wait until a certain time to take on new responsibility. At any age, with the desire and expertise, you can become a nonprofit leader who makes a difference.

As you set out on your path, there are some important things you can do to reach your goals:

1. Find a mentor.

You’ll hear this advice over and over again from successful people with diverse backgrounds, from the likes of Oprah Winfrey to Steve Jobs. And it’s true! Carving out your own career path is easier when you have an example to follow.

In the nonprofit sector, we can look to 24-year-old Gregory Cendana. He became the youngest and first openly gay executive director of the Asian Pacifical American Labor Alliance in 2010. After a successful 7-year tenure, he now runs his own consulting firm.

Similarly, Cendana’s advice to those interested in pursuing executive leadership roles is to find an executive director who is willing to mentor you. He believes having a mentor is a big advantage because you’ll be able to, “learn and understand what makes them good at what they do but also talk about the challenges they face and skills you should pick up so you can handle the job.”

Mentors can make introductions for you and give you key insights that would take you years to learn on your own. When you run into challenges in your existing role, you’ll have someone to turn to for advice. They can also help facilitate connections to others in the industry and help you widen your professional network.

To find a mentor, look within your organization. If you don’t already know someone, you can seek out leaders from the broader nonprofit community. Luckily, because of the community nature of nonprofit work, those who will be the best mentors are already visible to the public. With just a little research, LinkedIn and other professional networking sites are great ways to connect with those who are making an impact in your field.

2. Pursue your professional development by volunteering and joining a nonprofit board.

It’s just a fact of nonprofit life: professional development resources are limited. But don’t let that get in your way! Seek out other informal ways to build nonprofit leadership skills—especially since wearing many hats at a nonprofit is generally par for the course.

When it comes to learning, there’s no substitute for hands-on experience. You can get broad exposure to the operational facets of your organization by taking on new responsibilities: join the fundraising or strategic planning committee or volunteer to help throw your organization’s next event. If you can’t find what you’re looking for within your organization, you can volunteer with others whose mission matches your values.

And if it’s not already part of your job, make it a point to learn how to fundraise. Solid fundraising experience is absolutely essential to becoming a successful nonprofit leader. That’s because, by the nature of nonprofit work, you’ll spend your resources to get results (versus the for-profit sector, where being successful is linked to earning more money).

Joining a nonprofit board is a great way to learn this skill. Plus, being a board member will give you high-level insights into how nonprofits run. Have conversations about it with others you know who currently serve on nonprofit boards and search for an organization doing work that you’re passionate about. You can even search online for nonprofits that are looking for board members using BoardnetUSA or VolunteerMatch.org.

Pursuing these professional development opportunities will also grow your network. Nurturing relationships with the people you work with early on—and in a way that is mutually beneficial (that is: with no ulterior motive of a job opening)—can serve your longer-term goals.

3. Earn an advanced degree.

Strong mentorship, job experience, and a network of peers can open doors for you. But if you want a distinct advantage when pursuing leadership opportunities, you should consider earning an advanced degree in your field. And there’s a myriad of options for doing so.

These days you’ll find MBA programs focused specifically on nonprofit management. You might also choose an M.A. in Public Administration (MPA) program for leadership skills that are applicable to public-facing roles within government and NGOs alike. Many programs are available entirely online and designed for working professionals. They offer an accelerated way to pick up skills that you would otherwise have to learn over time on the job.

With this training under your belt, you’ll bring to the table a better understanding of business management principles and tools and the ability to juggle multiple competing priorities. Plus, you’ll come away with an even bigger network of peers who you can tap for advice!

If you’re unsure about taking this big step, a wonderful resource is Philanthropy University, created by the Berkeley Haas Center for Social Sector Leadership. They offer free online courses led by nonprofit thought leaders that will help you deepen your knowledge and skills (and decide whether a full program is right for you).

4. Make moves when the time is right.

With a strong foundation of skills in place and a desire to take on a bigger role, you might find that your current organization just doesn’t have anywhere for you to go. If you find yourself in this situation, start looking elsewhere for opportunities to grow. And if you hear about a great position from within the network you’ve cultivated, don’t let it pass you by!

Once you’re ready to make a move, reach out to your network to find out if there are any job openings at well-suited organizations. You can also connect with a search firm specializing in nonprofit job placement. Look for firms in your area and check out jobs on Professionals for Nonprofits, Koya Partners, and Bridgespan. Making a habit of searching on Idealist.org is also a great way to find nonprofit job openings.

Making a few well-planned moves throughout your career will expose you to leadership opportunities that may not arise if you stay at the same organization for too long. Being willing to change organizations when you’re ready to move up will help you build your career and contribute to lasting change.

While these are strategies to build your network, learn new skills, and seek out opportunities, it can’t be overstated that the starting point for building your nonprofit career is to be good at what you already do. If you envision yourself in a leadership role, you can lay the foundation by excelling in the position you already hold. Cultivate leadership skills and emphasize teamwork and inclusive decision-making. Manage volunteers and motivate people with nonmonetary incentives. Be communicative and transparent. Find ways to become more deeply involved. Even simply take the time to read a new book. Keep learning each step of the way—and remember that you won’t become a great leader on your own!

Do you have advice for folks interested in becoming nonprofit leaders? We’d love to hear your thoughts!