A Closer Look at How Nonprofit Organizations Work

Nonprofit organizations are an important and invaluable part of our society. While they are similar to for-profit businesses in some ways, they also have their unique differences.

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at how nonprofit organizations work, including their sources of funding, their governance, and their impact on communities. We’ll also share practical steps for how you can start and run a nonprofit of your own.

Ready to learn more about how nonprofits operate? Let’s dive in.

Nonprofits can be powerful agents of positive change and transformation, and understanding how they work is key to maximizing their potential in a community.

A thorough understanding of how nonprofits work can be invaluable for those seeking to make a difference in the world. It allows people to identify and engage with organizations best aligned with their values and goals, whether it's by donating money or volunteering their time.

For those interested in setting up their own charitable organization, understanding how nonprofits are managed and operate is essential. Knowing how to run a nonprofit organization by managing donations, grants, and volunteers effectively is essential for achieving the most impact.

In the following sections, our goal is to provide readers with an overview of how nonprofits are structured, managed, and created, so that they can better engage with nonprofit organizations in their communities.

The internal structure of a nonprofit organization is crucial to its success, as it dictates how it operates and achieves its mission.

While every nonprofit has its unique structure, some common elements can be found across the sector.

Here’s a quick snapshot of how most nonprofit organizations are structured internally:

Board of Directors

At the core of every nonprofit organization is the Board of Directors, which consists of a group of dedicated individuals who oversee the organization's strategic direction. Board members are unpaid, meaning they volunteer their time to ensure the success of the nonprofit.

A nonprofit’s board typically includes a Chairperson or President, Vice-Chair or Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. However, how many board members a nonprofit has can vary by organization.

The Board of Directors is responsible for making key decisions regarding budgets, hiring the Executive Director, setting policies, and ensuring that the organization remains compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

For more insight into the responsibilities of nonprofit board members, check out this post.

Executive Director

The Executive Director is the head of a nonprofit organization. As the organization’s leader, the Executive Director is responsible for steering the organization toward achieving its mission and goals.

Nonprofit Executive Directors oversee operations, pursue community partnerships, and set the tone and vision for the organization as a whole. Executive Directors should be passionate and influential leaders who are dedicated to advancing their organization’s cause.

Operational Teams

Most nonprofits also have operational teams that manage day-to-day activities and administrative tasks. These teams usually consist of both paid staff and volunteers, depending on the organization's size and resources.

Some common operational departments include:
‍

1. Marketing and Communications: This team is responsible for promoting the organization's mission, programs, and events to the public, as well as managing the organization's brand and public image.‍
2. Fundraising and Development: This team focuses on securing funding for the organization's programs and services through various means, such as grant writing, donor cultivation, and special events.
3. ‍Finance and Accounting: This team manages the organization's financial resources, including budgeting, financial reporting, and maintaining compliance with tax and financial regulations.
4. ‍Human Resources: This team oversees staff recruitment, training, performance management, and employee relations, ensuring that the organization maintains a motivated and skilled workforce.
5. ‍Program Management: This team is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating the organization's programs and services to ensure they are meeting the needs of the target population.

Volunteers

Volunteers play a critical role in the success of many nonprofit organizations.

Volunteers provide valuable support by offering their time, skills, and expertise to help an organization achieve its mission. Volunteers may assist in various capacities, such as serving on committees, helping with events, or providing direct services to the target population.

It is essential to have a strong volunteer management system in place, including proper recruitment, training, supervision, and recognition. This ensures that volunteers are well-equipped to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively.

Learning how to start a nonprofit organization can be intimidating. Still, it can be done successfully with proper planning and preparation.

While we have other articles that dive deep into all the ins and outs of starting a nonprofit, for our purposes here, we’ll be covering the basics:

Steps to Get Your Nonprofit Up and Running

1. Determine What Type of Entity Your Nonprofit Will Be

The first step is to determine what type of entity your organization will be categorized as—a 501(c)(3) public charity, religious organization, private foundation, or private operating foundation.

If you’ve found yourself on our site, it's likely you are a 501(c)(3) organization!

Depending on which category you choose, different legal requirements must be met.

2. Develop a Strong Mission Statement

Creating a clear and concise mission statement is the foundation of any successful nonprofit. This document should illustrate the organization's purpose and goals and how it plans to achieve them. It should be used as a guiding force for all decisions related to the organization.

3. Organize Basic Paperwork and Business Structures

Once the structure is determined, it's time to get organized. This includes creating your nonprofit bylaws and business plan, registering with the IRS, obtaining insurance coverage, and filing for tax-exempt status.

4. Create a Board of Directors

Having a solid and engaged board of directors is essential for the success of any nonprofit organization. They provide direction, advice, and oversight to ensure that decisions are made in the organization's best interests.

5. Develop Fundraising Strategies

Fundraising is a critical component of sustaining a nonprofit organization. An organization should tailor fundraising strategies to a target audience and consider both online and offline approaches, such as direct mail campaigns, grant writing, special events, and crowdfunding.

Nonprofits should also look into developing sponsorships with corporations or creating partnerships with other organizations.

6. Engage Supporters and Volunteers

Engaging with supporters and volunteers is essential to running a successful nonprofit organization.

This includes connecting with donors at fundraising events (and following up with them via phone call, email, or direct mail) , sharing stories to inspire action, and creating opportunities for supporters to get involved in the organization's work.

7. Stay compliant

Maintaining compliance is critical for any nonprofit organization. This means filing annual reports on time, adhering to local and federal regulations, and keeping accurate records of finances.

Best Practices for Nonprofit Success

Once you’ve set up your nonprofit organization, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Foster Positive Relationships With Donors

Donors are key to any successful nonprofit organization, so building and maintaining relationships with them is crucial. This includes thanking donors, providing regular updates on the organization's progress, and engaging them in activities related to the nonprofit's mission.

Set Up an Accounting System

A strong accounting system is essential to running a successful nonprofit.

This includes setting up the necessary software and accounts to track expenses, donations, grants, and other income sources. An excellent resource for those new to accounting is QuickBooks. It is also important to ensure that all financial records are properly stored and organized for easy access when needed.

Invest in Technology

Nonprofit organizations should invest in technology if they want to remain competitive. This includes using digital tools to manage donations, automate tasks, measure impact, and create better experiences for donors and volunteers. Technology can also help reduce costs and maximize the organization's resources.

One of the best tools out there is Instrumentl. Instrumentl helps automate the grant funding process by making it easier for organizations to identify and apply for grants that align with their missions. Instrumentl's intuitive platform also reduces the time required to research and apply for grants, saving nonprofits time and money.

Be Transparent

Nonprofit organizations must be transparent about their operations and activities, as this is essential for establishing trust among stakeholders.

This includes:

• Openly communicating financial information.
• Providing clear objectives and goals.
• Being open to feedback from supporters.

Doing so will help build and maintain trust with donors, volunteers, and the community.

Nonprofit organizations play an essential role in society by tackling some of the most pressing issues facing communities worldwide. With dedication, hard work, and a commitment to excellence, these organizations can make a lasting impact in their local communities and beyond.

If you're looking to start building your own nonprofit marketing plan, get started quickly by using our Nonprofit Marketing Plan Template. The template is made in Canva, an an easy-to-use creative design tool. You can jump right in, change colors, add your logo, and adjust the copy so it fits your brand.Why start from scratch when you can use one of our templates?

Nonprofit organizations rely on donations, grants, and volunteers to fulfill their missions. These resources are essential for funding operations and launching new initiatives.

Learning to manage these resources effectively is a crucial part of operating a successful nonprofit.

Donations

Donations are an essential source of income for nonprofit organizations, as they provide a reliable stream of funds and can help them reach their objectives.

Fundraising events, crowdfunding campaigns, mail appeals, and corporate programs are common ways to secure donations.

Nonprofits must also have the appropriate systems to process donations quickly, securely, and efficiently. This means investing in payment processing software, online donation portals, and an accounting system to track and manage donations.

Grants

Grants are another important funding source for nonprofit organizations, as they often provide larger sums than donations or solicitations.

To successfully secure grants, nonprofits must understand the process and requirements of applying for grants. This includes researching potential funders, crafting proposals to meet their needs, and developing relationships with grant-making organizations.

Be sure to check out the Instrumentl Resources page for great tips, classes, and blog posts to help your organization on its grants journey.

Volunteers

Volunteers are a crucial part of any nonprofit organization, providing much-needed assistance with day-to-day operations and activities that help the organization achieve its mission.

To ensure successful volunteer management, nonprofits must create an easy way for volunteers to sign up, provide clear instructions and expectations, and offer incentives for their hard work. Organizations should also have a system to track volunteer hours for tax deductions or other benefits.

Ultimately, successful management of donations, grants, and volunteers is essential for any nonprofit organization that wishes to remain competitive and achieve its goals. With the right systems in place, nonprofits can maximize their impact and reach their potential.

Nonprofit organizations play an invaluable role in assisting those in need and tackling pressing issues facing communities worldwide.

We hope this article provided you with a better understanding of how nonprofit organizations work, their structure and governance, and how to manage donations, grants, and volunteers effectively.

For more nonprofit resources, tips, and guides, check out Instrumentl’s blog. Our goal is to help nonprofits maximize their impact and make a lasting difference in their local communities and beyond.