2025 is Shaping Up to Be a Doozy
by Greg Petersen, Chief Executive Officer
Where I’m from in Wisconsin, “doozy” is a technical term—one that can mean just about anything. In this context, let’s define it as “potential uncertainty and risk in the nonprofit field that might just make your head explode.”
So, what are we nonprofits going to do about it in 2025?
I see three basic options:
Stick our heads in the sand and try to wait out this most recent episode of chaos. Not recommended.
Wait for radioactive miracles so that we develop superhero powers like x-ray vision or the ability to fly. I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Go back to our roots. I’d wager 95% (or more) of all nonprofits started because someone declared, “This isn’t good enough for my loved ones, my community, or my fellow humans.” They added a healthy dose of vision, drive, and optimism—then built a mission and a new way forward. Giddy. Up.
Taking the Long View
So how does this tie into what’s coming in 2025? Glad you asked. As leaders, we need to carve out time and space to define the long-term, systemic challenges we face. That’s hard to do when you’re juggling a dozen daily crises—and it’s absolutely necessary. None of our organizations is in this for the short run, and the community needs we’re trying to address have been brewing for decades.
So, take the long view—start with just one hour to look up, look out, and see where it leads you.
What happens after we commit to the long view? We work together to address systemic issues. That might mean I reach out to partner with you because you have programs my organization doesn’t. It might mean launching a statewide project to gather community feedback. Maybe we form a multi-org federated structure to share back-office capacity. Or perhaps we join forces via a merger to meet our communities’ needs more effectively.
Bottom line: we’re better together, period.
Succession & Mergers/Partnerships
Be sure your strategic plan includes succession and merger/partnership initiatives. Succession can be scary—it’s like facing our professional mortality—but it might be the most critical strategy to have on paper. What happens if there’s a sudden leadership change? How do your evaluation and compensation practices support professional development? Having a plan won’t make succession easy, but it will certainly make it less painful.
Mergers and partnerships can also be a touchy subject. We love our organizations (they’re the best, right?), so it’s not always easy to admit that another group has an innovative, effective idea. But the nonprofit world is filled with dedicated, creative professionals—people on boards and leadership teams who are brimming with amazing concepts. Just imagine how much more we could achieve if these like-minded groups teamed up.
Yes, real collaboration takes time, but it’s worth every minute.
Will 2025 be challenging? Absolutely.
Is the nonprofit field up for it? Always.
Here’s to a new year filled with wellness, progress, and community connection for you and yours.
Cheers,
gp
Together, we are stronger.
If you’re interested in support for balancing your mission and business strategies, we’re here to help.
Mission + Strategy is an invested thought partner to your nonprofit organization. Through our Strategic Advising, Mergers & Partnerships, and Shared Back Office service solutions, we help nonprofits achieve alignment between their mission and business strategies.
