Tis’ the Season (to Build in a Little Flexibility)

Most organizations love a beautifully organized budget. Every dollar has a home, nothing unexpected sneaks in, and the plan looks flawless. But here’s the reality: flawless plans can still fail you. Opportunities don’t care what month it is, and the best ideas rarely wait for the next fiscal year.

So many times, teams run so lean on time, staffing, and capacity that when something exciting comes along, they can’t say yes. And saying yes is usually where the magic happens.

A recent example is a nonprofit leader I worked with this year. She runs an organization that is constantly in motion, supported by a small, part-time team, and has an endless to-do list. She knew she needed to add a new fundraiser to support bigger goals for 2026. The idea was there, but her team's bandwidth wasn’t.

She reached out in early August, fully aware of her limits, and asked if I could help bring the idea to life. Smart move! Even though bringing in a consultant wasn’t part of the original budget, she understood that flexible planning isn’t a luxury. It’s a strategy.

What started as a quick conversation turned into an event that exceeded its first-year goals. I stepped in to manage the pieces her team didn’t have the hours for, including invitation design, press releases, sponsorship outreach strategy, social media content, and event signage. This allowed her tiny staff to stay focused on their day-to-day work and their membership. In addition to establishing a beautiful fall celebration and fundraiser, she also has a complete set of materials she can easily revise and reuse next year. One flexible decision became a long-term solution.

If there’s one takeaway, it’s that a little wiggle room goes a long way. Flexibility isn’t chaos. It’s the space needed for great ideas to take shape and move your goals forward.