Why nonprofit leaders should have organizational retreats

Do you spend time working on your business or nonprofit, or just in it? 

For the health of my business, I implemented a quarterly business retreat to do just that. I take one week to work on high level CEO tasks that I’d otherwise never actually address. I may review the past quarter, catch up on all the podcasts and professional development I’ve been putting off, or simply let new ideas for the future flow.  

Why retreats are essential for success as a nonprofit leader 

A planned, self-directed retreat allowed me to set aside time to reflect on the past, celebrate accomplishments, strategize for growth, and meet my mission. 

During my first retreat in May 2022, six months into running Bonsai Leadership Group, I asked myself important questions. 

• Am I still on track with my intentions with starting this business? If not, what needs to shift? 

• What’s bringing me joy in my business? 

• What are the lingering fears I feel, and how do I overcome them? 

I reflected, journaled, and processed my thoughts and experiences. I didn’t find every answer I was looking for, but I had the time to search away from email notifications, Asana tasks, Zoom calls, and other life demands. 

My second retreat was in October 2022, and my theme was looking toward the next year. I was in a much different space, thanks in part to the insights I gained from the last retreat. For starters, I now have fifteen team members. In May 2022, I had three! I asked myself a new set of questions. 

• How do I bring everyone together to build camaraderie and cohesion, just like I would if I was still leading a nonprofit team? 

• How do I lead so that everyone is bought into the vision and understands the direction we’re going in? 

• What should my org chart look like in the next year to meet this moment, as more nonprofits work on creating inclusive cultures? 

I now encourage my coaching clients to do solo retreats, planning retreats, and team retreats. They don’t have to be five-star fancy (but they can, of course!). For me, I prefer to stay solo at cozy hotels across the country with easy access to nature. I always bring my iPad, a notebook full of questions, and a backpack full of books I want to read to inspire new thoughts and ideas. 

How organizational retreats help you strategize for growth 

In your career, did your employer dedicate time and resources to having an organizational retreat? My experience is that nonprofits often skip this incredibly effective tool to strategize for growth. 

Nonprofit staff retreats provide a venue for team members to come together in a supportive and relaxed setting, promoting teamwork and collaboration. This can lead to the development of new ideas and approaches to help drive organizational growth. 

By stepping away from the day-to-day operations of the organization, retreats provide a space for team members to think creatively and approach problems from a new perspective. 

Retreats can offer an opportunity to take a step back and assess the organization's strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus on areas that need improvement and prioritize initiatives that will drive growth. 

By intentionally bringing together team members from different departments and levels of the organization, retreats help to foster a shared understanding and reminder of the organization's goals and priorities, which can drive more effective decision making and collaboration. 

An often-overlooked benefit of nonprofit board retreats, and even staff retreats, is the opportunity for relationship building across teams. Retreats allow time and space for workers to build cross-departmental relationships, which can improve communication, trust, and collaboration in the workplace. How often have you heard your coworkers talk about siloed teams?  

Taking a break from the daily grind of work can refresh energy and motivation, allowing team members to return to work with a fresh perspective on the nonprofit’s goals and priorities, as well as their own day-to-day responsibilities. 

Why your nonprofit retreat should involve both board and staff 

For most organizations, the purpose of a nonprofit board retreat is to make peer exchange possible, igniting inspiration, tapping into board members’ expertise, and evaluating impact. This is a fine option, of course, but is not the only option when it comes to nonprofit retreats. 

In my early days of working in nonprofits, I hardly ever met board members. I suspect this is typical of nonprofits, which can lead to confusion and resentment. One solution is to bring both board members and staff members together at the same retreat. 

When staff members and board members know each other, they can more easily work together to achieve the mission of the organization. 

Having both the board and staff together in the same room provides an opportunity for everyone to align on the organization's goals and objectives, which can improve decision-making and drive more effective collaboration. 

By spending time together in a relaxed and supportive setting, staff and board members have the opportunity to build relationships and foster a better understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities, opportunities and challenges. 

Breakout sessions specific to board members and staff members provide room for more focused discussions on specific topics and to share their thoughts and ideas, ultimately leading to improved trust and communication. 

Shared sessions provide an opportunity for everyone to come together and work towards a common goal, fostering collaboration and teamwork. 

Taking a break from the day-to-day operations of the organization can help to refresh energy and motivation, allowing staff and board members to return to work with renewed energy and a fresh perspective on the organization's goals and priorities. 

By bringing together the organization's leaders and decision-makers, retreats that include both staff and board members can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

So how do you plan a nonprofit retreat? Ask the people who are closest to the work how they’d like to spend the time – your team. Create a channel for your staff to contribute ideas, surface challenges, and suggest points for growth. 

Why celebrating your wins is so important in nonprofit work 

Boards and individuals alike should celebrate their wins at work. Decide how you will document your success and stick to it.  

Not only does it deliver a much-needed dose of dopamine when you can easily view your achievements, it makes it easier to demonstrate your effectiveness, your department’s wins, and your organization’s overall impact. Having a system to document your achievements will make it easier when applying for that next job, advocating for a raise, asking for a departmental budget increase, or drafting your annual report. 

And for yourself, I encourage you to view every win as monumental, no matter how small you think it is.

Nonprofit burnout is so common and this is one proactive way to help safeguard your mental and physical health against it – by celebrating your wins and reminding yourself of your effectiveness. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the everyday. But look at what you’ve achieved so far!