Small Shop Nonprofit Leadership: Mastering the Art of Wearing Many Hats
Key Takeaways for Small Shop Nonprofit Leaders
- Embrace tools and strategies: Find systems that suit your style, whether it’s automation or old-school to-do lists.
- Foster a healthy culture: Build connection and resilience within your team by investing in their well-being.
- Prioritize self-care: Protect your energy with small, consistent acts of kindness toward yourself.
- Focus on impact: Reconnect with the people your work serves to remind yourself of your mission.
Leading a small-shop nonprofit can feel like a balancing act on a tightrope. With limited resources and endless responsibilities, nonprofit leaders are often tasked with juggling operations, fundraising, strategy, and more—all at once. The weight of serving a mission is immense, yet their passion for making a difference keeps them moving forward.
In a recent LinkedIn Live event, nonprofit leaders Kerris Chinery, Swati Nigam, and Anna Taylor shared heartfelt stories and practical advice about thriving in this challenging space. From innovative time management techniques to embracing their humanity as leaders, their insights remind us of the resilience and creativity it takes to lead with purpose.
The Challenges of Leading a Small Shop Nonprofit
Balancing Multiple Roles
For many nonprofit leaders, wearing multiple hats is a daily reality. As Kerris Chinery, Executive Director of Evermore Gather Grow Lead Inc., described:
“When everything feels urgent, I put on my ‘manager’ hat to focus on tasks and prioritize effectively. It helps me shift from being mission-focused to task-oriented, which reduces chaos.”
Kerris shared a story of facing five grant deadlines simultaneously. Instead of diving into the chaos, she leaned on her team, asking for their perspectives to help identify the most mission-critical tasks. This collaborative approach not only eased her burden but also strengthened trust among her staff.
Swati Nigam, Executive Director of American Friends of HelpAge India, highlighted how the sheer variety of roles can feel overwhelming:
“I start my day by asking, ‘What needs my attention immediately?’”
With a triage mindset inspired by her time working in emergency response, Swati navigates her day by tackling high-priority tasks first, ensuring that her work aligns with both immediate and long-term goals.
Managing Time When Everything Feels Urgent
Time is often the scarcest resource in small nonprofits. Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The Greater Sum Foundation, introduced a creative approach:
“The ‘Wheel of Business’ framework helps me identify areas where I excel and where I need support. The goal is to create a wheel that rolls forward without stalling.”
This tool allows Anna to assess the organization’s key areas—like fundraising, operations, and strategy—and pinpoint where she should delegate or seek external help.
For Swati, automation has been a game changer:
“Tools like Trello and Google Calendar allow me to focus on strategy instead of getting bogged down by administrative tasks.”
Meanwhile, Kerris takes a more analog approach:
“There’s something satisfying about physically checking things off a to-do list. It gives a tangible sense of progress.”
Whether leveraging technology or embracing pen-and-paper methods, these leaders emphasized the importance of finding tools that work for their unique styles.
Strategies for Thriving in a Small Shop Nonprofit
Building a Supportive Organizational Culture
Small-shop leaders have a unique opportunity to shape their organization’s culture. Anna spoke about fostering connection within her team:
“We dedicate the first 10 minutes of staff meetings to connection. It’s a small investment that builds trust and collaboration.”
Kerris emphasized the importance of navigating transitions with care:
“Taking certified change management training helped me not only navigate transitions better but also support my team through them.”
She shared how this training transformed her leadership approach during the pandemic, when her organization faced constant changes. By understanding how her team responded to uncertainty, she created a culture of adaptability and support.
Avoiding Burnout Through Self-Care
Burnout is an ever-present challenge for nonprofit leaders. Swati shared her approach to maintaining balance:
“You can’t pour from an empty cup. Sometimes, stepping away for 15 minutes or saying no to a task is the best thing you can do for your team.”
Swati’s daily reset involves walking her dog—a simple act that clears her mind and boosts her energy. Anna has also embraced self-compassion as a vital practice:
“I ask myself, ‘Am I being a bad boss to myself?’ That shift in mindset has been transformative.”
These moments of care allow leaders to recharge and continue serving their mission with clarity and purpose.
Lessons Learned from the Panel
Prioritize Relationships
When the demands of leadership become overwhelming, reconnecting with the people your organization serves can reignite your sense of purpose. Kerris shared:
“When I’m overwhelmed, I run a program or talk to the families we serve. Seeing the direct impact of our work recharges me.”
She recounted a moment when a parent shared how Evermore’s programs had supported their entire family over the years. It was a powerful reminder of the long-term impact her organization creates.
Be Willing to Challenge the Status Quo
Swati reflected on balancing tradition with innovation:
“Not everything needs to be reinvented, but we must question if what we’re doing still serves our mission effectively.”
She described how rethinking outdated donor engagement strategies allowed her organization to modernize its approach without losing its core values.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Leadership Well-Being for Small-Shop Success
Thriving as a small-shop nonprofit leader requires two vital shifts: prioritizing personal well-being and fostering a supportive organizational culture. Leaders who embrace self-care, utilize tools to manage time effectively, and build trust within their teams create environments where both the mission and the people driving it can flourish.
What became clear from this discussion with Kerris, Swati, and Anna is that investing in the well-being of nonprofit leaders isn’t just about avoiding burnout—it’s about sustaining the impactful work that transforms communities. By prioritizing self-care and collaboration, small-shop nonprofits can ensure their leaders have the resilience to tackle challenges and the clarity to achieve their missions.
Our Speakers
During this LinkedIn Live event, we had the privilege of hearing from three remarkable nonprofit leaders who shared their lived experiences and practical insights into small-shop leadership.
Kerris Chinery is the Executive Director of Evermore Gather Grow Lead Inc., where she has spent 25 years championing recreational programming for children and youth in Winnipeg. Her unique approach to leadership blends strategic reflection with deep connection to her organization’s mission. Kerris’s ability to adapt, prioritize, and foster a healthy team culture has been instrumental in her success as a small-shop leader.
Swati Nigam serves as the Executive Director of American Friends of HelpAge India, where she leads fundraising efforts for a decades-old mission. Based in Austin, Texas, Swati brings a global perspective to nonprofit leadership, combining her background in emergency response with innovative approaches to donor engagement. Her insights into automation and adaptability have been game-changers for her one-woman operation.
Anna Taylor is the Executive Director of The Greater Sum Foundation, where she supports early-stage nonprofits through capacity-building programs. With nearly two decades of experience, Anna emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and organizational culture in sustaining small-shop nonprofits. Her dedication to fostering connections—both within her team and across the sector—offers a roadmap for resilient leadership.
Together, these leaders painted a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards of small-shop nonprofit work while offering practical strategies to help others thrive in similar roles.
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Tasha Van Vlack is the co-founder of The Nonprofit Hive. Her happy place is building community, talking nonprofit work/marketing/parenting and meeting new people.
Being a cheerleader for nonprofiteers is where Tasha has found her niche – she hopes that by providing a space for connection, nonprofit work will become more collaborative and supportive.