5 Lessons I Learned from Launching a Nonprofit (That I Wish I Knew Earlier)

5 Lessons I Learned from Launching a Nonprofit (That I Wish I Knew Earlier)


Launching a nonprofit is a labor of love, filled with excitement, challenges, and lessons along the way. With the pending opening of the Sphere Innovation Lab coworking space, part of our mission at The Sphere Northampton, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on what I’ve learned (and continue to learn) during this journey. If you’re thinking of launching your own nonprofit or community initiative, these lessons might save you time, stress, and sleepless nights.

1. Start with a Clear Mission—and Stay Focused

When we began planning the Sphere Innovation Lab, the temptation was to take on too many goals simultaneously. While passion is a great motivator, clarity of purpose is key. Defining a specific mission—empowering women and nonbinary entrepreneurs—allowed us to focus our efforts and secure the right partners, like Smith College’s Lazarus Career Center and Mass Development.

Lesson: Narrow your focus to a problem you are uniquely positioned to solve. It’s easier to expand later than to pull back after spreading yourself too thin. 

Pro-tip: Keep your mission posted—physically—somewhere you will constantly see it.

2. Community Buy-In Is Everything

We quickly realized that launching a nonprofit isn’t just about resources; it’s about building relationships. The Sphere Northampton wouldn’t have been possible without early partnerships with local stakeholders like the Mass Tech Collaborative, Arts and Equity Group, and the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce/Downtown Northampton Association. These collaborations provided crucial support, ideas, and access to broader networks.

Lesson: Talk to your community early. Whether through listening sessions, surveys, or informal coffee chats, community engagement ensures your initiative reflects real needs.

Pro-tip: Set up an advisory board with that diverse community in mind. Their ideas and expertise will benefit you tenfold!

3. Fundraising Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

I wish I’d understood just how much time and effort fundraising would require! While grants from Mass Development and MassTech were essential, we had to work through multiple applications and deadlines. Fundraising also includes ongoing donor outreach, budgeting, and meticulous tracking to ensure compliance. 

Lesson: Build a realistic fundraising strategy and diversify your income streams. Grants are great, but individual donors, corporate sponsorships, and membership fees add stability. 

Pro-tip: Learn to be okay with hearing “no.” It takes a lot of “nos” to get to one yes.

4. Building Systems from Day One Saves You Headaches Later

When you’re passionate about a mission, it’s easy to skip the systems and processes you think you’ll deal with “later.” Trust me—having streamlined workflows and standard operating systems from the start is worth it! Whether it’s scheduling software for the coworking space or a CRM to manage donor relationships, these systems free up time and reduce stress.

Lesson: Invest in tools and processes early to manage operations efficiently—it will save you time and headaches down the road.

Pro-tip: Know that even the best-laid systems need reflection and change. Be open to constant feedback.

5. Progress Isn’t Linear—and That’s Okay

I thought launching the Sphere Innovation Lab would be a straightforward process: plan, execute, and succeed. In reality, it was more like a roller coaster, filled with unexpected hurdles and pivots. We had to adapt our plans along the way, pivot constantly, and embrace uncertainty, learning to see setbacks as part of the process.

Lesson: Progress rarely follows a straight line. Be prepared to pivot and stay resilient—it’s all part of the journey.

Pro-tip: Learn to set aside your inner (or outer) perfectionist. It’s a must. Perfection can be the enemy of completion.


Starting a nonprofit like The Sphere Northampton has been a humbling, challenging, and rewarding experience. These lessons—focusing on mission, engaging with the community, building systems, fundraising strategically, and embracing setbacks—are the keys to a smoother journey. As we open the Sphere Innovation Lab on November 1st, we hope to not only offer a coworking space but also share what we’ve learned to inspire other changemakers.

Join Us!
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, community builder, or just curious, we invite you to stop by the Sphere Innovation Lab. Swing by this Friday, November 1 for a glass of champagne, a tour, or even to spend the day working with us! Let’s build something incredible—together.

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