The Six Strengths of Sustainable Organizations
“Houston, we’ve had a problem.”
Most people recognize this line from the Apollo 13 space mission. At face value, it might seem like the astronauts survived because someone had a brilliant idea. A closer look reveals that several important elements were in place—like procedures, training, and systems—long before the crisis emerged.
This concept is really resonating with me coming off the heels of the Together SC Nonprofit Summit this week. In hallway conversations, keynotes, and breakout sessions, the same theme kept surfacing: leaders don’t just have the weight of managing their organizations right now. They’re also carrying the load of constant uncertainty.
The work still matters deeply. It just feels less stable than it once did. So how do we bring back a sense of resiliency, at least over the things we can control?
Ignition, watercolor by Ian Mutton
In my work with boards and leadership teams, I’ve noticed a set of six strengths that come up again and again. They help organizations remain steady by shaping how decisions are made and how the work functions day to day. The questions that follow each of the strengths below are thoughtful ways for your team and board to assess the resilience of your own organization.
Fuel Growth with Focus: Nonprofit leaders rarely struggle because they care too little. More often they’re trying to carry too much at once. Opportunities appear, community needs grow, and it’s hard to say no. But when priorities multiply faster than capacity, staff energy erodes and decisions become reactive.
Start the conversation here: What are we currently doing that may be pulling energy away from our most important work?
Invest in What It Really Takes: Many nonprofits (and funders) still treat administrative and infrastructure costs as something to minimize. Over time, that stacks up the strain. Systems get patched together, leadership carries operational work, and staff compensate with personal effort. A budget isn’t only a financial tool. It tells the truth about what the organization believes it needs to function effectively.
Start the conversation here: Where are we relying on people’s extra effort instead of adequate support?
Strengthen Before Scaling: Growth can be exciting, but it tends to magnify any cracks that are already forming inside an organization. More money for staff, technology, and facilities won’t fix a broken system. If your policies, operations, or culture are strained, it’s going to be really difficult to effectively expand your impact. Before adding more, strengthen your foundation first.
Start the conversation here: What needs to work more reliably before we take on something new?
Plan for Scenarios: Many plans assume the future will unfold as we hope. I think it’s fair to say that belief has been shattered. Whether it’s a delayed payment, policy change, or unexpected expense, these shifts quickly put pressure on leadership decisions. Scenario planning provides teams a shared understanding of plan B.
Start the conversation here: If one of our key assumptions changes, what would we adjust first?
Diversify Funding: Any organization becomes vulnerable when one funding source carries too much weight. Even stable partners can change priorities. Diversification doesn’t remove uncertainty, but it prevents one change from becoming an immediate crisis.
Start the conversation here: What change in our funding would keep us up at night, and what steps could we take now to reduce that risk?
Build Strong Relationships: Resilient organizations do not achieve their missions alone. Partnerships, shared learning, and strong stakeholder engagement increase capacity and perspective. They also make problem-solving less isolating for leaders. Especially right now, sustainability is a community effort.
Start the conversation here: What part of our work would be stronger if we weren’t doing it alone?
From top to bottom, a strong foundation for resilience is built through intentional decisions made collaboratively and consistently over time. If these questions would be helpful to explore with your board or team, we’re always glad to facilitate the conversation.