From Founder to Flourish—or Flounder?

Avoiding Founder Syndrome
Vikki Walton
This article provided by the Engstrom Institute

It starts with passion and a vision. With the impetus of God's call upon their life, a founder of a nonprofit sets out to faithfully execute the mission placed in his or her hands. There are many around the world who would testify to the life transforming ministry they received due in part to the mission being carried out on their behalf.

Therefore, it is not inaccurate to state that founders provide the life giving blood for a new organization. However, the very same principles that propel the ministry into action can also become a detriment and an actual hindrance for God's work to be achieved.

Many nonprofits are now experiencing challenging times due to the economy, or due to the inadequate belief that vision and mission are "enough", and as a result, many ministries are struggling to survive or even worse, dying a painful, often public, death. Unfortunately, in many cases, it falls back on the founder's incapability to let go of what they perceive as their duty to lead in the way they, alone, determine.

Founders can lead a ministry to Flourish or they can cause it to Flounder.

Founder syndrome. You know this is an issue that needs to be addressed when the concern has been given a name. Even the dictionary defines syndrome as "a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease, psychological disorder, or abnormal condition; a distinctive or characteristic pattern of behavior. In one particular moment in time, an idea was born and with it, a founder. The founder brings much to this fledgling organization and it is these very strengths that can ultimately cause an organization to flounder instead of flourish.

A Founder is a Visionary.

It is very rare to find a founder of almost any Christian organization who will not state emphatically that the vision was given to them by God. It is not up to any of us to agree or refute such a statement.

However, it would be good to consider such statements in the context of a statement made by Christian literary agent Steve Laube, previously a major Christian publishing house editor, during a Glorieta Christian writers conference: "Everyone says that God told them to write … what they fail to realize is that it does not automatically mean they should write a book and it will be published."

A Founder's vision is what starts the ministry or organization on the path to greatness. And yet, founders must be careful that their vision is in line with what God desires. If God tells a founder to provide for widows and orphans, it may not necessarily mean that the founding of a ministry is called for or even the way God desires for help to be achieved. It could be something entirely different than what the founder would even consider.

 

"Do not walk carelessly, nor lay out your own paths on which to travel. You cannot know what lies in the distance. So walk closely with Me [God], that you may be able to draw quickly upon My aid. Move forward with courage and confidence; but always allow Me to walk ahead, and choose the right path." F.J. Roberts

Visionaries are often not business people. Visionaries see the big picture and fail to see that it's all in the details. Their very passion can blind them to real issues that greatly impact their funding, staff, donors, suppliers and all those involved with the ministry.

A Founder is Passionate for Their Mission.

When someone is passionate about something, it is very difficult to dissuade them that the direction they are going may not be the best way to proceed. The passion can often metamorphose into protection of their vision. The fact is that if God has directed them to start the mission, it does not mean that God wants them to lead it forever or even if the mission should continue past what God has desired.

Every organization's first role is to develop an effective mission statement. This mission statement succinctly defines the role the organization will play as well as desired and expected outcomes. In other words, "we do this" so that "this happens". This is a step that founders should also consider for their role as well. "God wants me to do this" so that "this happens." Being passionate about the calling God has given is a wonderful thing as long as the founder's protection of the mission does not take it from its rightful ownership in God's hands.

A Founder puts Faith First.

Christian organizations or ministries often struggle with the faith issue. George Mueller never asked for a dime and God always provided. Therefore, some might say that any form of development or fund-raising is showing a lack of faith.

The Bible states that "faith without works is dead—"But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (James 2:18 NIV).

An example that might be reviewed is found in Matthew 17:27 where Jesus gives Peter an assignment of paying the temple tax. Certainly he could have given the Peter the money, but instead, Peter is given instruction on how to receive the money. "… so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a silver coin. Take and pay the tax for both of us."

Being strong and steadfast in faith is important; to use faith as a crutch to take on debt the ministry is unable to repay or to not "go—open—find" will not ensure the ministry's success in either man's eyes or in God's.

A Founder is in Control

Michael Brush of MSN Money states that "Potentially fatal flaws come in many forms. But three crop up the most when you talk to experts: excessive debt, superior competitors and the inability to keep up with technological change. Companies [and nonprofit ministries] can muddle along with just one of these flaws. But with two or more, look out."

The need to be in control can impact the financial security of the ministry, it can cause other ministries to succeed much better at achieving the "same" mission, and it can hinder the increasing need to interact with donors and those the ministry seeks to serve.

If those on staff in the organization feel strongly against—or for—a course of action, the founder must determine what God is saying in and through the people He has brought to that organization. In Christian ministry, God must always be the final authority in control of the ministry's course.

"I have learned to hold things loosely in my hands as it hurts too badly when God pulls them from my hands." Corrie ten Boom

A Founder is the Ministry.

Founders have been given the vision. Therefore, they believe that they are the best to lead that mission. God may have that vision to the founder for differing lengths or periods of involvement. However, if a founder is not able to write out a succession plan in the beginning, they will find it even harder as the years go by. "For everything there is a season" and that includes methodologies, programs and even, founders.

If people equate the founder as the ministry instead of a leader of the ministry, then should that founder leave, the consequences for the ministry can be detrimental. On the other hand, should the founder remain in charge but continue on a course that sullies the reputation of a ministry, the organization will still suffer due to the comparison.

A Founder loves the Ministry.

As God gives the founder the vision, the founder becomes passionate about seeing the vision come to fruition through the ministry. However, it with this same drive and love for the organizational structure that the actual ministry can be lost.

"When you get to heaven, your organization will not be there. It's only there as a support to the cause. The cause and the organization are not the same thing. His eye is on the sparrow, not the Humane Society." (Eric Foley of Mission Increase)

As more ministries struggle, many for the first time have to consider merging with another ministry or closing their doors. Others are realizing that Christian ministries are not—and should not be—in competition, and that building collaboration will enable them to achieve their mission even more effectively. The love of the ministry can cause difficulty for the founder to consider collaboration or a merger.

Vision, passion, faith, control, ministry, love. Each of these attributes allows founders to create organizations that impact the world with God's love. For that, we are grateful to founders.

"Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of the Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way." Romans 4:1, 2 NLT

Founder to Flourish or Flounder: Fact Check

1. Do you (or the founder) consistently ensure the Vision is God's and not yours/theirs?

2. Do you ensure that passion does not over-rule purpose?

3. Do you walk in faith whether that means waiting on God to provide or taking action as instructed by God?

4. Do you (or can you) relinquish control to those God has brought to the ministry with skills, talents, insight, or new ideas, that you don't possess?

5. Do you focus on promoting the cause and not on your "place" in the ministry hierarchy?

6. Do you love the ministry enough to give it away?

7. Do you have a succession plan in place?

For every yes, add one "flourishing" point. For every no, deduct one "floundering" point.

Five and above: flourishing
Four and below: average to low
In the negative: floundering

Vikki Walton is Founder and President of grants for higher. Her expertise as a Nonprofit Consultant and Trainer as well as a Certified Grants Specialist has led to over 90% of her clients coming from referrals. She is also a requested Speaker for both business and women's events. The first thing Vikki did upon founding her company was consider her exit strategy. You can contact Vikki at vwalton@grantsforhigher.com or through www.linkedin.com/in/vikkiwalton