Nonprofit Lowdown Episode #341: Building A Nonprofit From Scratch with Dr. Nastassia Harris
Release Date: June 9, 2025
In Episode #341 of Nonprofit Lowdown, host Rhea Wong engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Nastassia Harris, the founding president of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative. The episode delves into Dr. Harris's journey from academia to launching a full-fledged nonprofit, the challenges she faced, the strategies she employed to overcome them, and the lessons she learned along the way. This comprehensive summary captures the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during their conversation.
1. Introduction to Dr. Nastassia Harris and Her Mission
Rhea Wong welcomes Dr. Harris, highlighting her role as the founding president of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative. Dr. Harris explains the organization's mission to eliminate inequities in black infant and maternal health by providing culturally congruent care focused on pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding support. The initiative is designed specifically for Black women and is led by Black women to improve health outcomes.
Notable Quote:
"Our organization focuses on eliminating inequities in black infant and maternal health through culturally congruent care designed for Black women and led by Black women."
[02:09] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
2. Transitioning from Academia to Nonprofit Leadership
Dr. Harris recounts her transition from a faculty member in nursing to founding her nonprofit. Initially, she started the organization while still employed full-time in academia, driven by a pressing community need. However, juggling both roles led to burnout and uncertainty about sustaining the nonprofit full-time. The persistent lack of improvement in Black maternal health and a declining passion for her academic role propelled her to make the leap into nonprofit leadership.
Notable Quote:
"Black maternal health did not improve and women continue to die and have really terrible complications. So that was always pulling at me."
[02:41] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
3. Overcoming Initial Challenges and Burnout
Launching the nonprofit was not a smooth journey. Dr. Harris found herself working effectively two full-time jobs, which led to burnout. She struggled with understanding the intricacies of nonprofit management, including fundraising and grant writing, and how to replace her nursing salary. Despite a rocky first year, her determination and strategic adjustments eventually led to a sustainable organization that now supports her financially as her primary occupation.
Notable Quote:
"The first year was not great. It was a struggle, it was a transition. But I figured it out and I am fully with a salary that has replaced my income."
[04:57] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
4. Recognizing and Addressing the Bottleneck
A significant turning point was when Dr. Harris realized she was the bottleneck in her organization. Initially, she focused on hiring programmatic support, which did not free her up as expected. Encouraged by Rhea Wong and Brooke Richie Babage, she shifted her hiring strategy to bring in roles that aligned with her growth needs, such as fundraising and executive roles, rather than just program support.
Notable Quote:
"I need someone that can build systems and structures to help us scale."
[05:01] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
5. Strategic Fundraising: From One-Time Gifts to Relationship-Based and Monthly Giving
Dr. Harris discusses her evolving approach to fundraising. Initially reliant on grants and one-time donations through Facebook fundraisers and community events, she struggled to meet her goals. Through Rhea Wong's training, she learned the importance of relationship-based fundraising, akin to dating, where building a connection precedes asking for support. This shift enabled her to engage more effectively with donors, leading to more substantial and consistent funding sources.
Notable Quote:
"It's like saying, can I do this? Can I not do this?... What would it look like?"
[01:34] - Rhea Wong
Transformative Insights:
- Relationship-Based Fundraising: Emphasizing building genuine connections with donors before making asks.
- Donor Avatars: Identifying and targeting specific donor groups who resonate deeply with the organization's mission.
- Monthly Giving Programs: Shifting focus from one-time donations to creating a community of sustained supporters.
6. Hiring Strategies: Embracing the 'Who, Not How' Philosophy
Dr. Harris emphasizes the importance of hiring the right people over trying to do everything herself. She adopted the "Who, Not How" approach, focusing on bringing in experts who excel in their respective fields. This strategy allowed her to delegate effectively, ensuring that each team member could contribute their best without the need for micromanagement.
Notable Quote:
"You don't need to micromanage them. You can let them do the thing that they can do."
[07:33] - Rhea Wong
Key Strategies:
- Hiring for Expertise: Bringing in individuals who are specialists in areas outside her core competencies.
- Delegation: Trusting team members to handle their responsibilities without constant oversight.
- Avoiding Micromanagement: Focusing on outcomes rather than controlling every aspect of the work.
7. Codifying Core Values to Drive Organizational Alignment
Dr. Harris shares her journey in defining and implementing the nonprofit's core values. Initially perceiving core values as mere statements, she realized their critical role in shaping hiring practices, decision-making, and maintaining organizational focus. By integrating core values into interview processes and daily operations, the organization ensures alignment and prevents mission drift.
Notable Quote:
"Our core values now help to shape the questions that we're asking on interviews."
[20:14] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
Core Values Implementation:
- Interview Processes: Designing questions that assess candidates' alignment with organizational values.
- Preventing Mission Creep: Staying focused on the primary mission by adhering to defined core values.
- Organizational Decision-Making: Using core values as a guide for strategic and operational choices.
8. Building Systems and Structures for Scalability
One of the pivotal lessons Dr. Harris learned was the necessity of establishing robust systems and standard operating procedures (SOPs) early in the nonprofit's development. She highlights the mistake of neglecting structural organization, which led to inefficiencies and hindered growth. Hiring a Director of Operations to build and maintain these systems was crucial in enabling the organization to scale effectively.
Notable Quote:
"Having someone that is really excellent in building systems and structures and SOPs is going to help you to go to the next level."
[25:28] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
System Building Highlights:
- Standardization: Creating repeatable processes to ensure consistency and efficiency.
- Organizational Knowledge: Documenting procedures to prevent single points of failure.
- Hiring for Systems Building: Bringing in roles dedicated to developing and managing organizational infrastructure.
9. Advice for Aspiring Nonprofit Leaders
Dr. Harris offers valuable advice for those looking to launch or scale their nonprofits:
- Confidence: Believe in your ability to succeed, even when faced with uncertainty.
- Strategic Planning: Don't rush into quitting your job; ensure your nonprofit is ready to take on the next level.
- Hiring Smartly: Prioritize hiring key roles that can build systems and drive growth.
- Building Relationships: Focus on relationship-based fundraising and donor engagement.
- Continuous Learning: Utilize available resources and maintain access to training and support for ongoing development.
Notable Quote:
"Have confidence in yourself that you can be successful in doing it."
[25:28] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
10. Transformation and Growth Post-Collaboration
Reflecting on her collaboration with Rhea Wong, Dr. Harris acknowledges the profound impact it had on her nonprofit journey. Prior to their partnership, her fundraising efforts were minimal and ineffective. Through strategic training and accountability mechanisms introduced by Rhea, she transformed her approach, leading to significant improvements in donor engagement and fundraising outcomes.
Key Outcomes:
- Enhanced Fundraising: Transitioned from unsuccessful campaigns to securing major gifts, including monthly donors contributing up to $1,000 each.
- Operational Efficiency: Implemented systems and structures that facilitated smoother operations and scalability.
- Sustained Growth: Established a solid foundation for future fundraising initiatives and organizational expansion.
Notable Quote:
"We have been able to uplevel where we were when we started to where we are now and know that is going to be the jumping off point for the next iteration of our fundraising work."
[31:09] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
Conclusion
Episode #341 of Nonprofit Lowdown offers a compelling narrative of building a nonprofit from the ground up. Through Dr. Nastassia Harris's experiences, listeners gain actionable insights into effective fundraising, strategic hiring, the importance of systems, and the power of defined core values. Her journey underscores the significance of confidence, strategic planning, and continuous learning in achieving nonprofit success.
Final Thought:
"You'll get better use of your time if you know something coming in about fundraising. But you'll always have access to the information."
[32:00] - Dr. Nastassia Harris
For aspiring nonprofit leaders, this episode serves as an invaluable resource, providing both inspiration and practical strategies to navigate the complexities of nonprofit management.