The One Skill Nonprofit Leaders Must Master

Delegation. It sounds simple—hand off a task and let someone else take care of it. But we know it’s rarely that straightforward. Trusting your team to run with a project, relinquishing control, and fighting the urge to do it yourself can feel like letting someone else pack your suitcase. Yet, effective delegation isn’t just a nice-to-have skill—it’s critical for nonprofit leaders striving to make the biggest difference.

Let’s talk about why delegating matters, how to do it well, and how it can help your nonprofit thrive.

Why Delegation Feels Hard

Let's imagine your organization is preparing for a big fundraising event. You’ve been managing the email outreach, designing the event program, and coordinating with caterers. A volunteer offers to take over the event program. They’re capable, but you hesitate. “What if it’s not done the way I like it? What if I have to redo it anyway?”

Sound familiar?

Many of us resist delegating because we believe:

1. It’s faster to do it ourselves.
2. No one will do it as well as we would.
3. Letting go feels uncomfortable.

But here’s the truth: when you try to do it all, you’re setting yourself up for burnout. Worse, you’re holding back your team’s growth and missing out on new ideas.

Trust Your Team

Delegation starts with trust. That doesn’t mean blindly assigning tasks and hoping for the best. It means recognizing the strengths of your team and empowering them to use those strengths.

Remember, you’re not the only expert in the room. Your program coordinator might be great at logistics. Your volunteer might have a knack for graphic design. Your board member might have experience running social media campaigns. Lean on that expertise.

Think of delegation like a relay race. Your job is to pass the baton—not run every leg of the race yourself.

Avoiding Burnout

Nonprofit work is rewarding, but let’s face it: it can be overwhelming. There’s always another grant to write, another donor to call, another campaign to plan. Trying to juggle everything will leave you exhausted and less effective.

Delegation isn’t just about lightening your load. It’s about prioritizing your time. Focus on the things only you can do—like big-picture strategy or relationship-building with major donors—and let others handle the rest.

By sharing responsibilities, you free up mental space. That means you’ll have more energy to bring your best to the work that matters most.

Leveraging Others’ Expertise

Think about this: when you delegate, you’re not just offloading tasks. You’re tapping into skills you might not have. Maybe your communications intern knows TikTok better than you ever will. Your accountant can most likely spot budget gremlins faster than you can find your car keys in the morning. By letting them shine, you make the whole organization stronger.

And delegation doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Start by sharing pieces of a project. Let your team member own a specific part—like drafting an agenda or researching new grant opportunities—while you guide the overall direction.

Delegation Is an Investment

Good delegation takes effort up front. You need to explain the task, set expectations, and provide the right tools. But think of this as an investment. When you take the time to delegate well, you’re training your team to step up. Over time, you’ll spend less time micromanaging and more time focused on the big picture.

Here’s a tip: use the “What, Why, and How” framework when delegating.

1. What: Be clear about what you need done.
2. Why: Share the bigger picture and why this task matters.
3. How: Give guidance, but leave room for creativity.

Delegation Makes You More Efficient

Delegation isn’t just about giving tasks to others—it’s about making your whole team more productive. When you trust others to take ownership, decisions don’t get bottlenecked with you. Projects move faster.

Think of your nonprofit like a rowing team. If you’re the only one paddling, you’ll be exhausted before you make it across the lake. But when everyone grabs an oar and rows in sync, you glide across the water with ease.

Practice Makes Progress

Like any skill, delegation takes practice. Start small. Hand off a task that feels manageable. Celebrate when your team succeeds. And if mistakes happen (they will), use them as learning moments—not reasons to take back control.

Delegation is about progress, not perfection. Over time, you’ll build a culture of trust and shared responsibility.

When you delegate well, it doesn’t just benefit you. Your team gains confidence. Volunteers feel more invested. Staff members grow their skills. And your nonprofit becomes more resilient and sustainable.

So, ask yourself: what’s one task you can delegate this week? Start there.

By letting go, you’re not giving up control—you’re creating space for something bigger.

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