About 80 percent of startups aspire to scale-up their current operations over the next year and a half, according to a recent Abila Nonprofit Finance Study, and it’s important for them to understand that without careful planning, growth—even the nonprofit variety—can turn toxic.
As the founder of MEBO International and a seasoned nonprofit leader, I’ve seen many nonprofit organizations sacrifice their focus in the name of growth. Sometimes, that means funds are misallocated; other times, partnerships go awry. These breakdowns can produce ripple effects that drastically alter a nonprofit’s public perception.
To avoid this fate, leaders must plan their growth carefully and learn to reject the opportunities that are wrong for their organizations.