There’s a peculiar math in nonprofit work: the more urgent the mission, the less time we think we have for anything that isn’t immediately, tangibly productive. A grant deadline looms. Another phone call awaits. A new campaign needs launching. Sometimes it feels like the to-do list grows faster than we can check things off.
And somewhere in that endless scroll of tasks, we convince ourselves that creativity is a luxury we can’t afford.
But here’s the truth: You can’t afford not to make time for it.
We’re not talking about “creative strategy sessions.” We mean real creative time — even just 10 minutes — where you finally tackle something fun that you keep pushing aside.
What does creativity even mean for nonprofit communicators?
The good news is creativity doesn’t have to mean designing award-winning graphics or writing a blog post (though if that’s your thing, go for it!). For those of us in the nonprofit world, creativity might look like:
- Reorganizing your content calendar in a way that finally makes sense
- Brainstorming wild, unconventional fundraising ideas (even the ones you’ll never actually use)
- Creating a mood board for your year-end campaign
- Recording a silly behind-the-scenes video for social media
- Doodling out a new way to visualize your impact data
- Finally trying that email subject line you’ve been too nervous to test
- Experimenting with a storytelling format you’ve been curious about
- Making a sign to hang outside because you just found out it’s
World Kindness Day - Taking the team out for an afternoon of inspiration — will you go to the museum, the park, the movies?
- Putting on some music and making a sign-up sheet for your team’s Thanksgiving lunch
These aren’t frivolous side projects. They’re the things that keep your work fresh, help you see problems from new angles and remind you why you got into this work in the first place.
Last November our team stopped and shared some kindness around our neighborhood.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
That “silly” brainstorming session about impossible fundraising ideas? It might spark the seed of something actually doable. Those 10 minutes reorganizing your content calendar? You might finally see the pattern you’ve been missing. That afternoon out with your team? It could be exactly what everyone needs to put some fresh wind in their sails.
When we spend 100% of our time executing tasks, we drain the very thing that makes us good at our jobs: our ability to think creatively, make unexpected connections and tell familiar stories in fresh ways.
Start Impossibly Small
Block out 10 minutes this week. One hour this month. Whatever you can reasonably protect on your calendar. Treat it like you would any other important meeting — because it is. It’s a meeting with the part of your brain that needs space to play and experiment.
Pick that thing you keep telling yourself you’ll do “when you have time.” The project that’s been sitting in the back of your mind for weeks or months. Do it this week. See what happens.
You don’t need permission to take 10 minutes for yourself. But if you do: consider this your permission slip.
Because here’s the truth: Your mission is urgent and your work matters. That’s exactly why you need these small pockets of creative time. Not despite the importance of what you’re doing, but because of it.
So what’s the creative project you’ve been pushing aside? Block out the time.
Do the thing. Your future self will thank you.
Here’s our team at a 5k for a client of The Cause Agency.
The Cause Agency Knows Creative Nonprofit Communication
Creating communications that connect people to causes they care about is what we do. If you’re ready for some outside expertise to help your team thrive, contact us here or call us at 817-335-0101.
