Nonprofit Leadership Isn’t Just Hard—It’s Designed That Way
By Ellie Scott, MA, Founder & Chief Strategist at Bayleaf Consulting
(This post was originally shared on LinkedIn, where I write about the realities of nonprofit leadership. If you're not following me there yet, let's fix that!)
Nonprofit leadership isn’t just hard. It’s designed that way.
If executive directors are burning out, feeling isolated, and struggling to keep up, maybe the problem isn’t them. Maybe it’s the system we’ve built.
Last week, I sat in a room full of nonprofit leaders. As they shared their realities, one thing became painfully clear: the way we structure leadership isn’t working.
We talk about leadership like it’s an individual skillset—something a person either masters or doesn’t. But leadership isn’t just about who is in the role. It’s about how the role is structured. And right now, the way we do it is setting leaders up to fail.
Here’s what I heard—and what we need to change.
💡 Leadership Shouldn’t Be a Solo Act
Yet, many EDs are expected to do it all—strategy, fundraising, advocacy, operations—without enough shared leadership.
What if, instead of putting all the weight on one person, we designed leadership models that distribute the responsibility?
Co-leadership, stronger senior teams, and real decision-making power beyond the ED could change the game. Because leadership isn’t about one brilliant person—it’s about building something bigger than yourself.
💡 Board Relationships Make or Break Leadership
A great board can fuel an ED’s vision. A disconnected one can slow it down. And too often, boards aren’t just uninvolved—they’re misaligned.
What if we stopped talking about “engaged boards” and started focusing on aligned boards?
Because a board that simply shows up isn’t enough. Boards and EDs need to be working toward the same vision, with clear roles and shared accountability. Otherwise, leaders are stuck managing up instead of moving forward.
💡 Advocacy Is Necessary—But Few Are Trained for It
Many nonprofit leaders feel like they’re navigating political minefields while pushing their missions forward. Advocacy isn’t an optional part of the job—it’s baked into the work. But most EDs don’t get the training to do it effectively.
What if advocacy training was a standard part of leadership development, not an afterthought?
Because advocating for funding, policies, and communities isn’t a side project—it’s core to nonprofit leadership. And we can’t keep leaving leaders to figure it out alone.
💡 Burnout Isn’t a Personal Failure—It’s a Design Flaw
Let’s say this louder for the people in the back: Nonprofit leaders aren’t burning out because they lack resilience. They’re burning out because the system normalizes unrealistic expectations, chronic underfunding, and a lack of real support.
What if we stopped treating burnout like an individual problem and started addressing the structural causes?
This means funding actual operational needs. Prioritizing leadership development. And rejecting the myth that leaders should always be “doing more with less.”
What If We Built Leadership Differently?
What if we stopped expecting EDs to figure it all out alone?
What if shared leadership, training, and real support weren’t extras—but the foundation?
The way we structure leadership isn’t set in stone. We can change it. But it starts with asking the right questions and being honest about what’s not working.
So let’s start there.
Now, Take a Moment
If you’re a nonprofit leader, what’s the biggest leadership challenge you’ve faced? And what’s actually helped you push through?
If any of this resonates, I’d love to hear what’s on your plate. Let’s take 20 minutes to chat—no pressure, just a chance to talk through what’s working (and what’s not) so you can move forward with clarity. Click here to schedule your 20-minute call.
I’m here when you’re ready. 💬
(Or if you’re more of a LinkedIn person, come join me there!)
