There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from a long and successful career. It is not arrogance, exactly. It is something more earned than that. It is the accumulated evidence of years of work, of problems solved and teams led and organizations guided through difficult moments. It is the reasonable belief, grounded in experience, that you know who you are as a professional.
And then you join a nonprofit.
This post is offered as general nonprofit governance guidance, not legal advice. Bylaws are legal documents, and organizations should have final language reviewed by qualified legal counsel familiar with their state's nonprofit corporation law before adoption.
It is one of the most common dilemmas in nonprofit organizational life, and it surfaces with remarkable regularity: a staff member, deeply concerned about the behavior or performance of an executive director, wonders whether to bring those concerns to the board of directors.
There was a time, not long ago, when entering the nonprofit sector meant entering a community. Experienced practitioners made time for newer ones. Relationships developed across organizational lines. The informal transfer of knowledge (about funders, about boards, about the quiet art of keeping a program alive through a budget cut) happened naturally, through proximity and shared commitment to the work.
That culture has not disappeared entirely. But it has eroded. And the erosion is not accidental.
Donor-advised funds have become one of the most popular philanthropic vehicles in the United States, and for good reason. DAF grantmaking totaled $64.89 billion in fiscal year 2024, a figure that reflects how dramatically these giving accounts have grown in recent years. For nonprofits, DAF gifts can represent significant revenue, and the number of donors using them continues to rise.
Most nonprofit leaders believe their organization communicates well. They have a website. They post on social media with some regularity. They send an email newsletter when something important happens. They show up to community events. By the usual measures, the communication box is checked. It isn't.