The Role Of A Founder In A Nonprofit Organization

Do you have an idea for a nonprofit organization and are you interested in bringing this idea to life? The best and most needed nonprofit organizations begin with a founder’s vision to do something good for society. A budding concept that can serve a need not being met and hopefully change the world for the better. From the first moments of conceptualization, these types of philanthropic ideas can be magical and inspiring.

A founder may start out by riding the high of their initial vision. Ready to dive in and bring their concept to life. However, what many founders don’t realize is that founding a nonprofit organization is very different from starting your own for-profit business. Probably the most difficult thing to realize is that once you launch, you will no longer be in control, and you will not be the owner of this organization. As a tax-exempt organization, there is no technical owner - you will be accountable to the donors, the board members, the people that you serve, the attorney general and the general public. This lack of control can be a challenging aspect for some founders, as they feel deep passion for their mission and want to nurture and guide the direction in which it moves.

A founder is an important figure in the organization, as the passion and mission for the nonprofit starts with this person. So, as a founder, how can you best place yourself within the organization? You can choose to either be a part of the staff or a part of the board. If you are interested in being part of the daily activities and want to be super hands on in the evolution of your idea, you may want to be the first chief executive responsible for operations, management, and administration. This would place you on staff and would require you to report to the board, who will assess your performance and give you strategic direction. In a sense, you would act as a non-voting member of the board, providing a shield against conflict of interest. Although not receiving a vote on the board, you would work closely alongside them and would have a consistent opportunity to express your ideas and opinions.

On the other hand, if you want to ensure that you have a vote and therefore a direct say in the future of the organization itself, you may want to become a board member and decide to be the first chair. Although you will only get one vote as a board member (even as first chair), you will be able to form the initial board with members who are aligned with your thought processes and the direction that you would like the organization to move in. This ability to curate the board will allow you to connect with others who are able to devote their time and energy to serve your initial mission. The board must always speak with one voice when addressing the public, so if you curate wisely, this voice can be strongly influenced by your mission.

Regardless of which side of the organization the founder chooses to be involved in, passion for the concept is crucial. The more passionate you are for your vision and the better you are able to relay that to others, whether fellow staff and board or the general public and donors, the better your nonprofit organization will do.