A Great Nonprofit Leader Drives the Mission



Katena Cain, PhD.

Nonprofit Management Consultant

A great nonprofit leader drives the mission down through the organization, upward through the board, and outward through the community.  They are also the organization’s chief storyteller, brand advocate, brand guardian, crisis spokesperson, chief marketing officer, and chief fundraiser. To be effective in many of these roles, they must be authentic and be able to connect, collaborate, persuade, mediate, and negotiate with the best.

A great leader is also the ambassador for the health of the organization, both structurally and financially. This means they are responsible for building and maintaining relationships that enable the organization to flourish. They must recruit and retain the talent and supply the tools necessary to develop a strong infrastructure and a culture that builds morale.

A great leader is "tapped-in" to her board, staff, and the people they serve.  They are in tune with the social and economic conditions that affect the organization’s mission. 

Faced with funding shortfalls, increased demand for services, and donors seeking demonstrated results for their dollars, today’s leader must be versatile at adapting, recognizing challenges to be overcome, and seizing opportunities as they arise.

Most of all, a great leader leads. Everyone around them should understand where they are headed and why. Ideally, they will live for it. If it seems like something is not working, they resist the urge to blame. They will, instead, explore the motivations and interests of employees, volunteers, and board members to obtain insights into what’s driving people toward (or away from) the organization’s mission.  

At Nonprofit Network, our mission is to strengthen nonprofit governance and management.  We walk alongside you to help grow your mission. A great place for new leaders to start is our Executive Director Academy starting on March 17th, 2023. Or if you’d like to speak with me or another consultant reach out today and we’ll get in touch with you.


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