It is natural to be afraid of failure – in any form. However, to be brave in our actions, we must learn to be fearless and embrace the chance of failure.

If you want to make significant changes in your industry, then you must take the plunge. But many individuals are afraid to reach for their goals because they are frightened that it may not go as planned. But the fact of the matter is that modern nonprofits need to be more innovative than ever to reach their goals and objectives. They need to risk failure to succeed.

Running a nonprofit has many challenges and operating it under the watchful eye of donors, volunteers, the board and the general public can make every decision seem more difficult to make. However, if you don’t get over the fear of failure, then you are limiting the ability of your nonprofit to reach its goals. Losing faith from donors or the board can be disappointing. But imagine the results if you moved outside of the so-called safe zone and your risk paid off. Playing safe is certainly understandable but is it productive?

If you move into the mindset of taking calculated risks, then others will follow. It will make it easier to make decisions that feature a few challenges with the backing and support of others in the organisation. New strategies bring a fresh perspective, and you never know where your decisions may take you. Brainstorm new opportunities to reach supporters, look at sustained methods of fundraising, open new social media networks for fresh appeal – by moving away from the comfortable and cushy decisions, you will soon see that the sky is the limit. The more exciting and appealing your charity becomes, the more you will be able to connect with like-minded people who believe in the same thing. After all, your NFP was created to make an impact.

There is nothing wrong with failure. It enables you to learn from your mistakes and allows you to come back bigger and bolder than ever. You can adjust your methods and ideas and continue looking forward rather than backwards. Just because you did something last year, doesn’t mean that you cannot mix it up with something bigger and better this year!

It won’t be easy, but if you ask any nonprofit or business who stepped into the unknown and succeeded whether they would do it again, chances are they would!