The Uncertainty Vortex: How Visionary Nonprofit Leaders Move Forward Without Clarity
Visionary nonprofit leaders don’t wait for perfect clarity. They find a way forward—even when the path is foggy.
Do you find yourself:
- Stuck in crisis mode instead of building the future?
- Worried that the distance between now and your vision is growing?
- Feeling like “wait and see” is the best/ only responsible option?
- Being a responder, not a leader?
That’s the Uncertainty Vortex—a swirl of unknown pressure and fog. You’re working hard and barely staying afloat. Your vision is still here but seems more out of reach than ever.
Yes, the uncertainty is real. But it doesn’t have to consume you.
You’ve led through hard things before. In the turmoil, you remembered to think and ask:
What is actually going on? Where is the path? What still matters?
That pause? That’s where visionary leadership begins.
It’s how you escape the vortex, not by pushing harder but by working with what’s here.
It’s about reclaiming your agency. Even now.
Escaping the Vortex: Here’s the Guidance Visionary Nonprofit Leaders Need
First, a metaphor. Swim Parallel to the Beach
Rip tides catch even strong swimmers. Panic sets in. They fight the current, exhaust themselves, and drown.
The lifesaving advice? Don’t fight. Swim parallel to the beach until you’re free of the current.
Same with visionary nonprofit leadership through uncertainty.
You may have postponed a hire. Canceled a retreat. Delayed long-overdue investments. Canceled a break.
It’s a natural reaction to dive into crisis mode—but it can leave you depleted and disconnected from your vision.
Yes. Crisis management matters. But sidelining your vision can mean missing the moment.
Take the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.
In the pandemic, they could’ve frozen. Instead, they leaned in.
They brought me in to lead a bold planning process that invited civic and business leaders—normally hard to engage—into shared conversations.
The result?
“The Comprehensive Arts Strategy includes everything possible, prioritized. We listened to all of the good ideas, organized them, added structure and funding plans.”
–Jason Mathis, CEO, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership
They didn’t ignore the crisis. With visionary nonprofit leadership, they lead through it.
Here’s the insight:
The vortex drags you down into reaction.
But swimming with it reveals new possibilities.
Uncertainty doesn’t have to fry your vision.
It can fuel creative, bold approaches to advance it.
Reclaim your agency. Even now.
When the Status Quo Cracks, New Paths Open
In uncertain times, the default is to hunker down and wait. But visionary nonprofit leaders know waiting rarely leads to transformation.
Uncertainty doesn’t just bring threats—it exposes openings.
Some are forced:
“We don’t want to go this way, but now we must.”
Others are unexpected:
“We didn’t see this path before. Now it’s clear.”
When the status quo breaks down, people—especially supporters—become more open to change. Trying something new offers hope.
Take Mary Ruiz, then CEO of Manatee Glens.
During a funding crisis, she didn’t shrink services. She reimagined them.
She launched a “hospital without walls” for teens, 24/7 in-home care with consistent teams for 6–12 months.
- The cost dropped from 78 percent
- Clinical outcomes improved
- Families got more support
- Staff stayed focused on their mission.
She didn’t wait for better times. She designed the future.
Insight: When others are caught in the fog, visionary nonprofit leaders rise about it. They see what others miss.
Your Turn, Visionary Nonprofit Leader:
- What’s the essence of our work—beyond programs and processes?
- What matters most to the people we serve?
- Is there a more direct, more meaningful way to deliver value?
- What if we used the energy of this vortex to power the next chapter?
AI Prompt for Nonprofit CEOs:
I’m a nonprofit CEO looking to clarify the essence of our work and explore more innovative, streamlined, approaches to delivering our mission. Please ask me a series of questions, one at a time, to help me:
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Identify what matters beyond our current structures and processes
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Spot new opportunities
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Reimagine service as more meaningfully and efficiently
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Find high-leverage ways to create change with fewer resources
Four Practical Steps to Climb Above Uncertainty for Nonprofit Visionary Leaders
1. Reassess and Refresh Your Strategy
Most strategic plans weren’t built for this moment. They need a refresh—not abandonment.
One client reviewed her plan and realized it still fit—but the work plan needed updating.
Instead of pursuing one path, she advanced four options. Over time, three fell away.
The flexibility kept her confident and community-connected.
Your Turn, Visionary Nonprofit Leader:
- What parts of our strategy still hold?
- What needs updating or letting go?
- What new opportunities might emerge from this disruption?
Resource: Is Your Strategic Plan a Resource Magnet?
Reclaim your agency. Even now.
2. Test Drive Small Innovations Through Pilots
Full programs may be too risky now. Pilots let you try ideas without betting on everything.
Maggie Kane, before opening A Place at the Table, hosted pop-up brunches every second Saturday.
“That helped us live the mission, see community interest, and know we were ready when our location opened.”
Pilots:
- Test ideas quickly
- Require fewer resources
- Offer fast learning
- Keep energy and engagement high
- Demonstrate your agency
Your Turn, Visionary Nonprofit Leader:
- What’s a small idea worth testing right now?
- What’s the smallest pilot you could launch?
- How would you define success?
AI Prompt to Draft a Pilot Plan:
I’m a nonprofit leader ready to pilot a small initiative. Ask me questions to clarify the purpose, needed resources, timeline, and what success would look like.
Reclaim your agency. Even Now.
3. Build a Dual-Team Structure for Crisis + Vision
When everyone is in the weeds, who’s steering the future?
Create two working teams:
- Ground Team – Manages daily disruptions
- Vision Team – Holds space for the future
Even if the Vision Team meets only occasionally, that space matters.
It brings energy, clarity, and hope.
Pro Tip: Set up clear communication between the two teams. Regular updates prevent silos and keep alignment strong.
Example:
Sharon Stapel, president of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee, split her board into:
- One group addressing urgent needs
- One focusing on long-term strategy
She also held dedicated visioning time with her senior team—resulting in an actionable strategic roadmap. (More in Let’s Raise Nonprofit Millions Together)
Your Turn, Visionary Nonprofit Leader:
- Who could lead your Ground Team?
- Who has the mindset and bandwidth for a Vision Team?
- How might this structure strengthen morale and progress?
Reclaim your agency. Even now.
4. Protect Sacred Time for Vision Work
Even in chaos, your vision matters. One of the simplest, most powerful things you can do as a nonprofit CEO is protect 90 minutes a month for vision-forward time—even when everything is urgent.
Here’s how to make that time work for you:
- Schedule it: Block 90 minutes each month on your calendars. Make it non-negotiable.
- Structure it: Use the same three questions to start each time:
- What’s working in our vision advancement?
- What barriers are we facing?
- What’s one bold step we’ll take before our next session?
- Document it: Keep notes of your decisions and progress to build momentum.
- Protect it: Treat this time as sacred. Cancel only if absolutely necessary.
Even small pockets of time can unlock big thinking. I once arrived early for a meeting with Linda Carter at the Community Foundation of Broward and found myself doing some vision-forward work in the car. Later, Linda told me she did her strategic thinking before heading into the office. That moment reminded me: we can reclaim our agency. Even now.
Your Turn, Visionary Nonprofit Leader
Schedule Your First “Despite the Vortex” Session
- What’s your best time of day to think strategically?
- What day would work best? (Example: the morning after a board meeting)
- Where will you go to focus? (Office with the door closed? Home? Coffee shop?)
- Open your calendar. Block your first session now.
Free resource:
Time is a big challenge for visionary nonprofit leaders. I have 10 extra copies of Time Management for Nonprofit Leaders (retail $15) and want to get them to those who need them. Just $5 covers postage. First come, first served—message me if you’d like one!
Conclusion: Find Your Path Forward Through the Vortex
The uncertainty vortex is real, but it’s not permanent. You can lead through it.
Accept that uncertainty is part of the job.
- Protect 90 minutes a month to lead with vision, not just to react
- Take your next strategic step, even if it’s small
- Need a thought partner? I work with visionary nonprofit CEOs who are ready to chart a clear path forward—even when the road ahead feels unclear. Let’s chart your next bold move together.
- Join me for: “The Resilient CEO: Transforming Financial Vulnerability into Nonprofit Strength.” Free conversation- pick your Session: July 10 at 1, July 11 at 10 E. Message me for a reservation.
Reclaim your agency. Even Now.
