The One Objective Every Nonprofit Strategy Should Include

I get asked sometimes if there’s one objective I’d recommend every organization include in its strategy.

My answer? Prioritize your people.

Before you say “Oh, that’s a given…” or “Isn’t that culture, not strategy?” or “No, I meant a strategic pillar or initiative…” — let’s cover some essential truths.

1. Your People Are How Strategy Gets Fulfilled

Writing ideas down on paper or mapping out a strategic plan is helpful, but strategy is only successful if the humans who need to execute it:

• Know what they need to do,

• Have the capacity to do it successfully, and

• Understand why they’re doing it.

If your staff doesn’t understand the strategy, it’s not getting done.

2. You Have Less Capacity (and Fewer People) Than You Think

Too many strategies are built with the assumption of a complete, fully onboarded team. That’s not reality.

Vacancies, turnover, and disengagement mean your actual capacity is often far lower than leaders imagine.

According to the Social Impact Staff Retention Project’s 2025 survey, nearly three-quarters of nonprofit staff are looking for a new job this year. The top reason? “Too much responsibility, not enough support.”

Even if those staff don’t leave, burnout and disengagement have a serious impact on your ability to deliver. And that stress is compounded by the current Administration’s ongoing attacks on the nonprofit sector.

3. You Have the Power to Do Something About It

Many executives want to prioritize their people but don’t see it articulated as a primary strategy—or they feel constrained by external pressures.

But in this difficult moment, when the future of the sector (and perhaps your own organization) is at stake, there are concrete actions you can take to reduce barriers, increase motivation, and support your team.

Start here:

• Be curious about your people and what they need to succeed.

• Give folks structure, space, and time to grieve, recover, and reset.

• Create a calm, focused environment that enables success.

• Adjust self-imposed timelines and workloads.

The Bottom Line

Prioritizing your people isn’t “just culture.” It’s strategy. And it may be the single most important move you can make right now to ensure your mission can be fulfilled.

Need help making this shift? Send me a message so we can explore how to get you and your team the right support.

Join the Conversation

👉 To see additional resources I recommend—and to share how your organization is putting people at the center of its strategy—you can join the conversation on LinkedIn here.

Photo by HANVIN CHEONG on Unsplash