How Nonprofits Can Make The Most Of What They’ve Got

Originally Published: February 4, 2026

Running a nonprofit usually means juggling some pretty big goals with some very limited resources – you’re trying to do meaningful work, support people or causes that matter, and keep everything running smoothly at the same time, often without the safety net of big budgets or spare staff. That can feel extremely frustrating at times, but it can actually also lead to some of the most creative (and successful) ways of working. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about how nonprofits can make the most of what they’ve got. 

Start With What You’ve Already Got 

Before you start looking for handy new tools, funding streams, or partnerships, it’s worth taking a proper look at what’s already in place because it could be quite surprising to find out just how much you’re already doing well. 

That could mean reviewing how your team’s time is split across tasks, for example, or perhaps checking whether certain processes have become a bit more complicated than they need to be as time has gone on. A simple audit of how things actually work can show you some easy things you can fix, and the truth is that sometimes the best improvements don’t need any new spending at all. 

Be Intentional About Spending 

Every nonprofit has to keep a very close eye on their costs, but the reality is that not all spending decisions get the same level of attention because while big expenses are often looked at thoroughly, the smaller (perhaps recurring) costs just tick along in the background and never really get checked or even thought about that much. 

Those smaller costs, however, matter massively, and could include subscription services, admin tools, payment processing charges, and transaction fees – and it all adds up. By reviewing these things on a regular basis, you can ensure money is going where it needs to go and isn’t being wasted. 

For example, exploring options that offer lower credit card fees for nonprofits can free up funds that would otherwise just disappear into processing costs, and that money can then be redirected to programmes, outreach, or support services when it’s going to make a difference. 

Time Is A Resource Too

Nonprofits often have a lot of passion behind them, but they don’t usually have much time, and you’ll usually find that staff and volunteers wear lots of different hats and their days are spent dealing with urgent tasks that just keep coming. 

If you look closely at how time is used, it can show you some useful patterns – are people spending hours on manual admin that could be simplified? Are meetings running longer than they need to? Are decisions being delayed because no one knows who’s meant to be making them? 

You don’t have to push people harder and give them impossible workloads if you want more to be done and improve how time is managed, you just need to simplify it all, and so things like removing repetition and letting people focus on their actual work.

Make Systems Work For You Not Against You 

There’s plenty of technology out there and available, and it can really help your mission – as long as it doesn’t just become another thing that needs managing and takes up lots of time. A lot of nonprofits adopt tools gradually, getting what they need when they need it, and that’s an issue because it can lead to having too many tools that don’t connect with one another and just mean more work rather than less. 

That’s why it’s worth stepping back and asking whether your current setup still makes things easier for people. It could be that fewer tools that are used well are better than lots of things doing similar jobs. And if a system feels hard to use or people have found shortcuts and aren’t using it properly, it’s probably costing more time and energy than it’s worth, so cutting it out of the process might be the best option. 

Build Strong Relationships Not Just Networks 

One thing that’s true about all nonprofits is that they need good relationships to survive, and that means donors, partners, volunteers, and even the communities they serve. And these relationships are a huge asset, but you do need to take care of them. 

The fact is, staying connected might not need you to host more events or send out more emails – it might be that you need to be clear, honest, and reliable, and letting people know how their support is making a difference is a great idea because it’s going to ensure they trust that you’re doing what you promised. On top of that, strong relationships can also open a lot more doors when it comes to collaboration, sharing resources, and general mutual support, and that can help stretch a limited budget a lot further. 

Empower The People Around You 

Volunteers and staff are going to be one of a nonprofit’s biggest strengths, and when people feel trusted and valued, they tend to do more, and not because they have to, but because they really want to. 

To ensure that’s the case, you’ll need to offer clear communication, realistic expectations, and genuine appreciation – it’ll all go a long way. If you can give people ownership over certain projects, for example (and where appropriate), you might even uncover some extra skills and ideas that might otherwise stay hidden. 

Measure What Actually Matters

It’s easy to get lost in tracking the numbers that look good on paper, but they don’t actually tell you all that much about the real impact you’re having, and that’s what you need to know about. Reporting is always going to be important, but it’s just as important to focus on measures that genuinely reflect your mission. 

That might mean looking at outcomes instead of your output, for example, or perhaps listening more closely to feedback from the people you’re helping. The point is, understanding what’s working and what isn’t can help you adjust without having to waste resources to do it. 

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