The B. Pagels-Minor Approach: Having served on multiple nonprofit boards and scaled tech companies, B. has seen firsthand that sustainable impact requires both mission focus AND financial savvy. These strategies reflect what actually works.
Hey changemakers,
When B. Pagels-Minor joined the boards of Howard Brown Health and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, they quickly observed that nonprofits face the same strategic challenges as the tech companies they've helped scale—with even tighter resources. In a sector employing 12.5 million people and growing at 4.1% annually, these seven evidence-based strategies can transform your nonprofit from struggling to sustainable.
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In their product strategy work with 30+ high-growth companies, B. has seen this truth repeatedly: you can't improve what you don't measure. Every nonprofit needs clear KPIs that track both mission impact AND operational efficiency—particularly as charitable giving reached $557.16 billion in 2023. Without measurable outcomes, you're flying blind in a complex funding landscape.
3. Focus Your Metrics Where They Matter
Let's cut to the chase: too many nonprofits are wasting time tracking a bunch of meaningless metrics. If you really want to know if you're making a difference zero in on what truly counts. That means focusing on your actual impact—the real change you're creating and how that's growing. Plus, keep a sharp eye on your financial health to ensure you're sustainable and improving year-over-year. Don't forget about keeping your donors happy and engaged, seeing that support expand over time, and making sure your operations run like a well-oiled machine that's always getting better. Align your KPIs with these core areas, and you'll have a strategy that actually shows what you're achieving, how you're growing, and where you're improving, not just how busy you are.
4. Build Real Accountability Systems
Having led multiple tech teams and served on several nonprofit boards, B. can tell you—accountability isn't about blame, it's about clarity . With the nonprofit sector experiencing a 23% decline in formal volunteering in just two years, implementing regular reviews and clear ownership structures is more crucial than ever. When everyone knows exactly what they're responsible for, magic happens.
5. Partner Strategically, Measure Rigorously
In the Great 38™ where B. is from—a region generating 60% of the GDP but receiving only 20% of VC investments —people learned to multiply impact through smart partnerships. With online giving growing by 15-37% across sectors, tracking those relationships with metrics like collaborator performance and partnership ROI creates exponential impact.
6. Diversify Your Board Strategically
Your board isn't a group of friends—it's your strategic backbone. You need specific expertise: fundraising prowess, compliance knowledge, financial acumen, and strategic business mindsets. B.'s leadership on multiple boards has demonstrated that diverse perspectives—reflecting your community and challenging groupthink—drive stronger governance.
7. Invest in Development Expertise
A skilled development director isn't an expense—they're a revenue generator. With 38% of nonprofit revenue now coming from online sources, having someone who understands both institutional relationships and grassroots fundraising can transform your financial trajectory. This investment pays dividends far beyond its cost.
Moving From Insight to Action
What excites B. most is seeing these principles transform organizations in real time. As one client told them after implementing these strategies:
"This was a game-changer—the guidance was both incredibly informative and immediately practical."
Ready to apply these frameworks to your specific context? Connect for a focused coaching session. With B.’s background scaling organizations and driving sustainable growth, B. can help you develop strategies tailored to your unique mission and challenges.
