Become a Nonprofit Pro: Nine Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Are you over-worked and under-resourced? It’s possible that your nonprofit has gotten stuck in the startup phase.




This phase is not time-dependent. It is behavioral, and organizations can be stuck in startup mode into their thirtieth year of operation and beyond. The startup phase of an organization’s lifecycle is usually characterized as having a lack of formalized structures. It can be defined by the scrappy “get it done on a shoestring budget” mindset that limits investment in strategy, planning, professionalism, structure, and growth.




Whether you are launching a new nonprofit or you have been serving your mission for thirty years, Become a Nonprofit Pro will help you make the nonprofit you love more competitive for funding, more effective in its mission, and an overall greater force for the change you want to see in the world.




Nonprofit expert and Certified Fundraising Executive Tawnia Wise shares lessons learned from more than two decades working with nonprofits of all sizes and levels of sophistication. As a sought-after nonprofit consultant, Wise will entertain you with the advice she provides her clients most often. She relates the nine most common pitfalls nonprofits encounter using case studies, cautionary tales, and pro tips.




Growing up as a resident of section 8 housing and a recipient of public benefits, Tawnia Wise is passionate about helping others from hard beginnings realize their dreams and potential. As founder and CEO of WISE, Tawnia Wise has transformed nonprofit consulting, combining strategy and tactical support to help clients of all sizes elevate their organization’s ability to serve their mission.