Giving Compass' Take:

• Nonprofit AF decrees commandments based on some conflicting ideas within nonprofits, such as knowing that there will be unrewarding moments, but forging ahead despite that realization.

• If you're looking for an emotional boost during frustrating efforts (as many nonprofit professionals experience), it's worth looking at these commandments and repeating them as a mantra.

• Here's how the best nonprofits figure out when to scale.

A while ago, I read Kent Keith’s “Paradoxical Commandments,” a set of inspiring imperatives often mistakenly attributed to Mother Teresa. Keith lists things such as

“The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow; do good anyway. […] What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight; build anyway. […] Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth; give the world the best you have anyway.”

It makes me think about what a similar set of commandments may look like if it were specific to our work. Here’s a draft, in no particular order; it may change it with time. I hope this may be helpful to you as you navigate our flawed but awesome sector:

The Paradoxical Commandments for the Nonprofit Professional

  1. The years and energy you spend working toward a vision may be forgotten and credit may go to those who come after you. Work toward your vision anyway.
  2. The life-changing programs and organizations you build may be destroyed by the whims of those with resources and influence. Build life-changing programs and organizations anyway.
  3. The community you love and work hard to strengthen may occasionally doubt your motives and attack you. Work hard to strengthen this community anyway.
  4. The people you help may never understand or appreciate the hours you put in or other sacrifices you make. Help people anyway.
  5. When you fully engage in conversations about race, gender, disability, and other identities, you may make mistakes, get misinterpreted, or get hurt. Fully engage in these conversations anyway.

Read the full article about paradoxical commandments for nonprofit pros by Vu Le at Nonprofit AF.