As an organization grows, so does its culture of accountability. But, sometimes it seems that the focus is on the bureaucracy (how to do things) rather than on the mission (why, and how effectively). How can your organization strike a healthy balance?
Many nonprofit organizations get started when a small group rallies around a common cause or a charismatic, visionary leader who can articulate what needs to be done and why. Read the histories of most nonprofits and you'll find stories of conversations around kitchen tables, chance encounters, and phone calls across town or across the country, all of which galvanized a group into action. A sense of haphazardness, even controlled chaos, may characterize some groups in their early days, as people roll up their sleeves and do "whatever needs to be done" to fulfill and advance the mission.
In time, however, processes and procedures develop to ensure consistency as the ranks of volunteers expand. The organization becomes a legal entity, a board ...