The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world as we knew it. What seemed like a faraway virus has become one of the most horrific realities. “Lockdowns,” “wear a mask,” and “six feet distance” has become our everyday language. This global crisis has led to several challenges such as increased poverty, accelerated economic turmoil, and business failures.  Even as the rather chaotic year came to an end, it seems we are nowhere close to ridding ourselves of the crisis.

COVID-19 has had a lasting impact on businesses and organizations across all industries in the United States and worldwide. Businesses operating in almost every sector renewed and re-implemented their strategies to align with changing policies and rising health concerns.  Although the strategies were modified, businesses are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and struggle to stay afloat.

The pandemic is likely to leave a long-term impact on the global economy, making it essential for organizations to be more agile and resilient. Even during the best of times, running an association is hard. It comes as no surprise that nonprofit organizations suffered tremendously due to the pandemic. A news survey reveals that the most significant challenge facing nonprofits is fundraising. The pandemic has cut their sources of revenue significantly, making it more challenging to keep things running as usual.

While it may seem like things won’t take a turn for the better anytime soon, all isn’t too bleak. With the right leadership strategies in place, nonprofits can come out to the other side of the pandemic unscathed.

Outlined are some of the most common challenges nonprofits have faced during the pandemic and how to overcome them through a sound leadership strategy.  

Let’s delve into it.

Challenges Faced By Nonprofits During The Pandemic

From donation drops to dwindling cash reserves, the pandemic has closed various doors of financial opportunities for nonprofits across the USA. Not only has the pandemic damaged their finances and put their workforce under extreme pressure, but it has also increased the demand for their services. This puts nonprofits in a unique position because they are expected to do more with fewer resources.

Of the 1.5 million nonprofits operating in the US, 65 percent have a budget under $500,000.  Since most of these organizations work on shoestring budgets, the onset of the pandemic has put a strain on most areas of operations. Nonprofit organizations are also struggling to raise funds to cater to the needs of their stakeholders and pay staff.

Nonprofits are now scrambling to devise new strategies and operating plans to serve as many people as possible while ensuring their workers’ safety and protection. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done.

This begs the question of whether social service nonprofits can afford to operate on the frontlines for longer.  The only way to overcome these seemingly insurmountable obstacles is to turn to nonprofit leadership strategies to streamline operations.

Setting Leadership Strategy To Weather The Storm: Tips And Advice For Nonprofit Leaders

The uncertainty of the pandemic has forced us to reimagine everything. For nonprofits, collective effort and collaboration under sound leadership are emerging as the only way forward during these tumultuous times.

Now more than ever, nonprofit leaders need to exhibit unparalleled resilience to create a culture of survival and prosperity within their organization. There’s a need for a holistic leadership strategy that can think of new ways to creatively engage and serve constituents while working under the constraints of the pandemic.

It’s only through a sound leadership strategy and collaboration that a nonprofit can generate a shared understanding of its goals and how to deliver them effectively in a new environment.

Nonprofit leaders must realize that there needs to be a significant amount of collaboration and creativity to weather the coronavirus storm. In addition to staying connected to their core mission, nonprofit leaders must remember a few things as they navigate through the uncertainty. 

Important Aspects Of Your Leadership Strategy

People

Now’s the time for nonprofit leaders to reimagine their organization to build a diverse and inclusive one that reflects the needs of their staff as well as the people and communities they serve.

There should be an increased concentration on the right talent, and an intense focus on meaningful, engaging discussions and proper representation of stakeholders at every level. Leaders must ensure that everyone has a voice in outlining how the organization creates a diverse and inclusive environment that works collaboratively and exhibits resilience to endure the crisis.

Funding

Reimagining the organization will also entail evaluating one’s finances and the development of a revenue strategy.  Start by making sure that you understand the true cost of your programs and initiatives, including direct and indirect expenses.

Once you’ve done that, you can create a plan of action to seek the right level of funding to deliver your organization’s goals. Not only will this help you with strategic decision-making and fundraising, but it will also tell you about your organization’s capacity to reach your desired impact.

Communication

During times of crises, when leaders are trying to serve constituents and make informed decisions, communication may lapse. Hence, leaders may feel like they don’t have anything new to say to their staff or key stakeholders, but this is where things can go wrong.

Since nonprofit organizations are a platform where people come together to build stronger and enriching communities or movements, communicating consistently at every level of the organization becomes a fundamental tenant of it all. Nonprofit leaders must strengthen the connection with their workforce so everyone can work harmoniously toward common goals, survive the shock of the pandemic, and ultimately thrive again.

Learn About Action-Driven Leadership Strategies With Stratagems

Surviving the pandemic for nonprofits is easier said than done. Nonprofit leaders need all the help they can get. If you are looking to streamline your organization’s operations through an impeccable leadership strategy, get in touch with Stratagems.

We offer leadership solutions to nonprofits and groups and teams of any kind through powerful leadership and skills training. We are leadership innovators who specialize in magnifying your potential and efforts sustainably during the pandemic.

We create tailored approaches to help you take your organization to the next level with revolutionary leadership solutions. From offering you continued support through tailored training and industry solutions to giving you one-on-one leadership guidance, we can help you transform your team and ultimately your organization.

Whether you are a nonprofit association or team of any kind, Stratagems can help. Find out more about our services and get in touch with our team at Stratagems today!