How nonprofit founders can become more empowered thought leaders
When you’re running a nonprofit, your ultimate goal is to serve a mission that’s bigger than any individual—especially yourself. You’re in it because you’ve felt the calling, not because you’re drawn to the limelight.
As your organization strengthens and evolves, that calling transforms into practical organizational pressures: connecting with donors, engaging with press, and motivating your team.
You are the keeper of the vision. You bring perspective to the North Star. You are your organization’s motivator-in-chief. The person who silently works long hours, behind the scenes, to keep the engine running in ways that few will ever see—but everyone depends on.
There aren’t enough hours in the day to be everywhere that you need to be. No matter how much empathy you have, there’s always a risk of running into compassion fatigue. Plus, you might even find the phrase “thought leader” to be a bit cringy.
How do you navigate all of this?
It’s a deceptively simple answer. Publish your ideas.
The mindset shift
You know that your time is valuable. But have you stepped back to reflect upon why?
The answer isn’t that you’re an executive of an organization tackling an important cause.
It’s the value only you can offer.
Your intellect is in high-demand. People need your expertise to problem-solve. People are leaning on you for inspiration. People look to you for answers, clarity, and hope. No matter how many people you hire, there is no replacement for the force your words and ideas carry.
How do you scale these attributes in yourself?
It’s publishing.
Not just podcasting, making videos/reels, or speaking at events.
The practice of writing itself has its own intrinsic value.
Every article, essay, or post becomes a multiplier: reaching donors you haven’t met yet, equipping staff with language they can reuse, and signaling to peers and press that you have a point of view worth listening to. Done consistently, writing builds authority in the quiet, steady way that matches the ethos of service-driven leadership.
As a reflective practice, writing also forces clarity. It slows your thoughts down to the pace of your pen (or keyboard), and in that slowing you discover new perspectives.
Why publishing makes you a stronger leader
You’re creating a durable record of your perspective.
Everything you write can help you…
Scale your vision. Instead of repeating the same story in every one-on-one, create touchpoints that live on beyond the conversation.
Attract resources. Donors, partners, and even board members gravitate toward clarity of thought.
Anchor your team. Staff and volunteers can draw strength and alignment from your words, even when you’re not in the room.
Protect yourself from burnout. Writing transforms frustrations into lessons, giving you distance and perspective.
Looking beyond self-promotion
In our culture, communication often gets mistaken for self-promotion. That’s why many nonprofit leaders avoid stepping forward—they’re here to serve, not to chase celebrity status. But thought leadership isn’t about ego. It’s about amplifying your mission, creating trust with donors and policymakers, and inspiring the people who stand with you.
For nonprofit executives, thought leadership isn’t about ego or self-promotion. It’s about amplifying attention to your mission, establishing more interest in your community, and creating trust with the people who matter most—donors, partners, policymakers, and staff.
You’re sharing wisdom. You’re embodying true leadership. You’re uplifting the people who care about your mission, purpose, and cause to rise to the occasion of tackling larger than life challenges.
Publishing your ideas helps you scale what only you can bring: vision, clarity, and hope. When you put your perspective into the world, you give people a reason to rally around your cause.
Even more: You give a broader audience the opportunity to learn from your wisdom and perspective.
You never know who might be following your footsteps.
When you publish, you bring the ‘rising tides lifts all ships’ mindset to the cause that you’re supporting.
Where to start
You don’t need to write a book or spend hours drafting op-eds. You don’t even have a perfect, crystalized ‘north star.’
You can work your way towards these objectives. In the meantime, start with small, consistent actions that support the pace at which you already move through the world:
1. Create a personal brand website. Your personal brand website signals credibility and makes it easier for press and partners to understand your perspective. This resource lives outside your organization. It positions you as a spokesperson, not just an administrator. Include a professional bio, media kit, headshot, and examples of past talks or published work.
2. Build a story bank. Start a Google Doc or keep a notebook with you. Jot down ideas as they come to you—whether it’s a donor interaction, a team milestone, or a moment of clarity in your mission. Over time, you can consult this resource when you feel like writing. The key is to hold on to these ideas, so that you don’t forget them.
3. Start freewriting. Maybe you’re not sure how each story crystallizes into a distinct topic. If this is the case, just start writing. Get your ideas on paper. Literally. Take a break from the screen, go for a walk, bring your notebook, sit down, and start writing stuff. Focus on the substance of what you want to say. Embrace the tactile experience to fully appreciate the uniqueness of your ideas, your handwriting, etc.
4. Figure out what you feel like doing. If building your executive brand feels like a heavy lift, you’re never going to get it done. You’re not even going to want to delegate what you’re doing. You will literally procrastinate until the end of time. It will never happen, and you will have missed the moment. The solution here is intrinsic motivation. Here are some ideas:
Hosting office hours.
Guest lecturing at universities.
Giving presentations.
Publishing in magazines.
Writing on LinkedIn.
Running a personal blog.
Writing a ‘founders letter’ newsletter.
Speaking at community events.
5. Don’t worry about the PR game. Yes, it really is a game. Between backchannel relationships to knowing the ‘tricks’ for how to capture mindshare, competing against people who are ‘in it’ for the ego and vanity, the countless rejections, and the pressure to squeeze yourself into a persona, all of it gets frustrating fast. The advice here is to ignore all of these assumptions of what a brand-building strategy ‘needs to look like.’ There’s an infinite number of ways to do this.
6. Think about the people who want to learn from you. Where are all the role models these days? Who does the ‘next generation’ look up to these days? Oh right. It’s you. Nonprofit founders often underestimate how much others are watching. For your team, your donors, and even the next generation of leaders—you are the role model. By publishing your ideas, you give them a blueprint, and you lift the tide for everyone working on your cause.
The bottom line
Thought leadership is a service. It’s the act of making your ideas available so that others can carry them forward—thereby strengthening your own platform.
By sharing what you know, you’re empowering your community, your cause, and the broader field in which you’re building visibility.
Start where you are. Write what feels natural. Publish consistently. Over time, your words will become part of the scaffolding that supports your mission. And in doing so, you’ll embody the kind of leadership that’s bigger than yourself: the kind that creates lasting change.