Navigating the In-Between Nature of Non-Profit Organizations
By: Hannah Smalls
Edited by: Onyx Ramírez
This blog post contains the personal opinions and reflections of the author and is not representative of the voice of the organization.
By Hannah Smalls , Investment Committee Member at Black Farmer Fund
Non-profit organizations (NPOs), as entities that serve both community needs and internal goals, shoulder a heavy burden. This is a delicate balance—akin to a game of chess—where one must remain true to their community, stakeholders, and personal convictions. The in-between nature of NPOs, particularly those impacting our environment, farmers, and food systems, is especially relevant as we approach Earth Day.
On April 22, Earth Day, is a day globally dedicated to demonstrating support for environmental protection and it is crucial we discuss the pivotal role of each one of us, our farmers, and the non-profit organizations that serve them.
Serving both community needs and internal goals, NPOs like ours are vital in bridging the gap between local action and global impact. These entities are crucial and must prioritize transparency and accountability.
Throughout my tenure as an Executive Director, I’ve witnessed firsthand the tensions that can arise when trying to align community needs with organizational objectives. For example, a sturdy governance framework can be essential for the organizational health of an NPO. Such as having a committed board president to facilitate subcommittees or operational sustainability hinging on the commitment of the fundraising committee or the Chief Finance Officer. The intricate web of relationships between staff and board members must foster a symbiotic environment to thrive.
Because of the very nature of non-profits, as they are in service to the people, these roles involve juggling multiple responsibilities and wearing various hats that don’t always match. Being a strong leader depends on aligning your personal mission with taking on this intricate that of the organization, which can significantly ease the navigation through challenges like resource allocation, stakeholder expectations, and mission drift. Being accountable to the community means – stating specific values of the organization and using them as a baseline for all work coming from the NPO as a whole.
This can be very challenging, especially as a new organization is building upon a cohesive network that has grown and developed long before the NPOs existence. I found out the hard way and I wish I had more understanding of this. The following strategies are one’s I tried to live by and were crucial in maintaining accountability both to myself and to the community I served:
Transparency: Being completely honest on what my skill set was and that the workload required was something I never have done.
Humility: Being okay with asking for help when I needed it
Communication: Concrete dialogue, productive agendas, and constructive decision-making within meetings
Outreach: Engaging with stakeholders and the outer community routinely and honestly aka with your own words and not copied from an emotionless AI bot (No hate for AI, it is something I use to help brainstorm and organize and so beneficial for the operation of NPOs, but we cannot lose our human flare).
Now, all this depends on resources; how much you are getting, and how they are being allocated. Resource allocation challenges often stem from limited funds, requiring careful decision-making to balance immediate community needs against the organization’s long-term sustainability. My role as Executive Director, supported by my background in sustainable farming, emphasized the importance of these decisions. Balancing these responsibilities, while challenging, taught me invaluable lessons about the complexities of non-profit work.
Reflecting on the past, my journey through various roles within a small startup NPO, has shown me both the difficulties and the transformative potential of this work. The experiences have shaped my understanding of effective non-profit management, and successfully navigating these roles requires a new people, plant, over profit approach.
As we honor Earth Day, let's recognize the essential role of non-profit organizations and how they can bridge their community service with environmental stewardship. The path of a traditional non-cyclical non-profit can be fraught with challenges, so Earth-minded non-profits are ripe with opportunities for growth and impact on our overall food system. By continuing to integrate our work with our personal values, we can serve our communities more effectively, ensuring that our efforts are both meaningful and regenerative.
Let’s continue to reflect, adapt, and innovate as we address the evolving needs of our communities. By weaving together our professional responsibilities with our personal convictions, we can ensure the prosperity of our organizations and those they serve. For Mother Earth—Pacha Mama—let’s commit to nurturing nature within ourselves and our communities, enriching the world we are intrinsically responsible for.