One of the overlooked elements involved in starting a nonprofit organization, especially a community-based one that will rely in large part on volunteers, is the time commitment for everyone involved.

In a mature organization with paid staff, everyone has a set time to start work and a set time to leave. When you are relying on volunteers, the scheduling depends on the other things in everyone's lives. The time people can commit to the organization will by necessity take a lower priority; with a combination of planning and compassion, however, your people will find a good mix of personal and organization time.

Of course, if you are one of the main organizers or a member of the board of directors, the new organization will become your constant mental companion during every waking hour.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!

There are a number of tricks you can employ to avoid letting the organization take over your life and make you a far less effective organizer. Many of the tricks involve delegating responsibilities. As much as you may think you can do everything, you can't! You will need to become comfortable asking other people to take on more responsibilities once you are comfortable they are up to speed on whatever task they're doing.

Running on Empty Is Not an Option

Many organizations suffer as the lead organizers try to do too much, become run down in the process, and grow less and less effective.

Such a situation hurts the individuals involved and can cripple the organization. As the organization grows and more people become involved, it is essential to ensure that members step back when they are overworked and no longer fully engaged. Encourage yourself or others to take time to recharge the batteries and return fully refreshed and able to handle the responsibilities of the group.