When It Feels Like You’re Doing It Alone: A Letter to New Nonprofit Founders
Hey Sis,
I know I’m talking about this more but starting a nonprofit from the ground up is a labor of love. It’s not just a job—it’s a mission, a calling, and often, a personal journey rooted in something deeper than most people can imagine.
But let’s be honest. It gets lonely.
When you’re truly dedicated to your cause—when your heart is in every care package, every event, every meeting—it can feel like you’re the only one who sees the vision. People around you might say, “You’re doing too much,” as if caring deeply is something to be ashamed of. What they don’t see is that you’d rather do too much than not enough—especially when lives, healing, and hope are on the line.
Planning events in the early stages of a nonprofit is not easy. You put your time, money, and spirit into it. You create flyers, make calls, send texts, post online—and still, only a handful (if any) show up. It hurts. It stings even more when people close to you say things like, “I could’ve done it better,” but never once showed you what “better” looked like. You keep showing up, while others only show up with criticism.
Then there’s the team. Or what’s supposed to be your team. People may be present at the event, but not present in the process. You hear all the reasons why people didn’t come—but not many efforts to help bring people in. Building a mission-based movement requires more than just warm bodies—it takes heart, commitment, and a willingness to reach out to our own networks, just like we expect others to do.
And here's something I’ve learned the gentle way: sometimes people don’t know how to support us until we show them. It’s okay to speak up. Reach out to those you’ve poured into—remind them of your mission and let them know how they can be part of it. You’d be surprised how many people just need a little nudge, a little direction, or just an ask.
And as a leader, you must remember this: the show must go on—whether it’s 1 person or 100. If someone shows up, make the experience just as meaningful as if a full room had come. Your consistency and your heart matter more than the headcount.
So let me leave you with this:
Find your tribe. Even if it takes time, even if it’s just two or three folks at first—find people who believe in the work like you do.
Don’t give up on the mission. Even when it feels like no one sees your efforts, God sees it. Keep pushing through.
Celebrate every win. Every donation, every email subscriber, every child you help, every person who says “thank you”—that’s a win. Big or small, it matters.
You’re not alone. This blog was written from my heart, our nonprofit is less than three years old. We’re still figuring it out. Still building. Still believing.
To every founder out there feeling the weight of the work—you’re not crazy, and you’re not doing too much. You’re doing what you were called to do.
Keep going. Your hard work will pay off.
💛 Let’s talk about it—have you ever had to keep pushing when no one showed up? Share your experience in the comments or send us a message. You never know who your story will encourage. We’re in this together.
Rooted in Purpose,
Latorra😊