I’m seeing a lot of people suggest your POV about it being a small business is invalid in some way. I worked in non-profits, founded a few, and had several soc

I’m seeing a lot of people suggest your POV about it being a small business is invalid in some way. I worked in non-profits, founded a few, and had several social entrepreneurship startups over two decades. You are completely correct and almost all successful non-profit leaders would agree with you. There are differences, yes, but those are mostly additional challenges like volunteer management. Generally you could ask for advice of Board members or directors of other non-profits. You’ll learn quickly that large non-profits are competent fundraisers. Small ones may be competent problem solvers, but they are plagued with all the problems of small organizations in general. They are not good at fundraising. Fundraising is a long climb, almost entirely a marketing challenge, and requires an organic appeal to High Net Worth Individuals. If a non-profit is not a successful fundraising organization, it must be an effective organizational one. Sometimes you can just outwork the problem. Your experience as a volunteer is not unique and you learned a valuable lesson - the real problem most non-profits struggle with solving is how to function at all. Sometimes the cause and the community around it makes it worth it. Not every cause needs a well organized institution to coordinate action that makes a difference. But if you serve on the front lines you quickly learn the shocking degree to which that is not the case. If you serve multiple non-profits or speak to other super volunteers you learn it is common. I don’t mean to be negative, many people do have a great impact through non-profits. But in general, the non-profits that are small and thrive (even if they struggle) are run by a deeply passionate founder who is constantly loaning it money and fundraising over holidays. Just like you wouldn’t offer to help a non-profit without some level of skill, I’d suggest giving yourself the gift of finding an organization with leadership that has the skills to lead. It’s so easy to get lost in the drama instead of directing the precious hours you have to give towards the reason you are volunteering in the first place. Good luck!