I spent the other afternoon sitting around a large table chatting with professionals from across the sector about leadership, and the competencies that an effective leader will need in 2025. As we were chatting about today’s realities – and the social, political, technical and economic factors affecting nonprofits – it struck me that we’ve been here before. Or at least I have. Where’s that you may ask? Contemplating the “next era” of the sector.

Nonprofit While our social consciousness is slow to evolve and too slow to change (think social equity and gender identity) we are witnessing change in the form of driver-less cars, “smart” cities, neuroscience, and the record number of Americans not in the workforce. Those topics weren’t showing up on my Facebook feed five years ago. Back then we weren’t contemplating car-free micro-apartments in Denver either.

What else is on the nonprofit leader’s to-do list today? Six recurring topics with new twists.

  1. $ – Figure out what impact investing really is and whether or not we can do it. I know you are secretly wondering if this really is a game changer or simply a spin on the same old, same old. It’s a game changer.
  2. Inclusiveness – Learn how we can create inclusive and accessible organizations that welcome and engage diverse people. We can’t keep kicking this can down the road.
  3. Innovation – Explore the edges of our work, seeking new ideas from unexpected places leveraging tools like design thinking.
  4. Mission impact – Admit to ourselves that we don’t really understand our customers or how to positively impact their lives in a meaningful way and that we may need to toss out some of our favorites.
  5. Engagement – Realize that too often we treat people transactionally. We think of them in buckets – volunteers, Facebook followers, donors, etc. We haven’t optimized our business models to cultivate engagement. Check out my Synergistic Business ModelTM if you’d like to learn more about this all-to-often ignored cornerstone of the nonprofit business model.
  6. Sustainability – Fess up that our business models aren’t really sustainable and that we need thoughtful, committed and generous people to stand by us for the next few years while we invest in figuring things out – or, more bravely, exit the market and let someone new and fresh bring 2025 solutions to the marketplace.

There are no bright, defining lines between the sectors, only smudges that get fainter every time we step on them. Younger generations could care less about your tax status. They want to know you are authentic, relevant, impactful and efficient. They expect you to do good. Period. Gen Y and the boomers are learning from them.

What competencies will a nonprofit leader likely need in 2025? My list begins with “intelligence” and the courage to explore, experiment and collaborate. Higher education is looking at multi-disciplinary learning. Perhaps nonprofits need to consider busting their silo’ed approaches too.

What’s on your list?

2025 will be here before we know it. Are you ready?