Giving Compass' Take:

• Here are five ways to execute effective and compassionate nonprofit leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• How can donors ensure that nonprofit leaders feel supported and have the capacity to carry out their mission in times of crisis?

• Learn how funders can help nonprofits weather coronavirus. 

We are in the thick of a global crisis. Every sector of society is being affected, and nonprofit leaders, who do some of the most important work in the world, are stuck in the middle of the chaos and wondering what the future will hold. In uncertain times, we as leaders have to change our mindset. We have to ask what is possible, and then pivot in order to advance the mission of the organization.

As the leader of a nonprofit focused on empowering local leaders to create sustainable change, I've seen just how imperative great leadership is, especially in times of crisis. Based on my experience here is my advice for other nonprofit leaders on how they can be effective and compassionate leaders.

  1. Be decisive. As a leader, your team and your donors — the people who fuel the mission of the organization — are looking to you for clarity, direction and reality.
  2. Think short- and long-term. In times of crisis, every leader needs to think short-term and long-term. Your short-term thinking will focus on how you will continue to operate in the current moment.
  3. Care for your people. In your nonprofit, the folks who donate and advocate and sacrifice for the organization are absolutely critical to driving forward the mission.
  4. Create clear content. Content is king, and in the midst of a crisis, content can provide direction and help re-center organizations back to their mission.
  5. Remind people of who they are. Fear is a beast that can wreak havoc on us. In times of chaos, it is natural to turn inward out of fear. It is easy to lose sight of our core values when we are afraid.

 Read the full article about nonprofit leadership by Chris Marlow at Forbes.