A Seasonal Way to Think About Nonprofit Growth

This time of year, gardeners are eagerly watching to see what emerges. Some plants seem to burst to life overnight, while others take their time.

I’m not great at keeping plants alive, but I’ve been trying to add pollinator-friendly perennials to our yard over the last few years. The problem is that they seem pitiful in that first year. I water them, I hope, and I wait. But I’m not even sure they’re alive.

I found out there’s a gardening axiom for that: the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps.

The same rhythm often plays out in nonprofit growth.

Photo by Sandie Clarke on Unsplash

The Sleeping Stage

In the early days—or during any big transition—your organization is like that newly planted perennial. There’s not much to show above ground, but the roots are growing. You might be refining your mission, building your first systems, nurturing early donor relationships, or testing which programs actually meet real needs.

It can feel quiet, even frustrating, but this underground work is essential. Without roots, growth isn’t sustainable. If your nonprofit feels “stuck” right now, you might actually be in the most critical phase of development: laying the groundwork.

Photo by Benjamin White on Unsplash

The Creeping Stage

Next comes the slight movement forward. You’re starting to see signs of growth—a few new donors, a stronger board, programs gaining traction, clearer processes around finances and data. Things may still move slowly, but direction becomes clearer.

This is when confidence starts to build. Processes take shape, goals become measurable, and your team begins to trust in the organization’s momentum. It’s a time to nurture consistency, celebrate progress, and prepare for bigger things ahead.

Photo by Ralphs_Fotos from Pixabay

The Leaping Stage

Then, almost overnight, your organization seems to take off. Fundraising grows, community presence expands, partnerships multiply—it’s the beautiful payoff for seasons of patient tending. It might feel like everything hits at once: invitations, opportunities, and requests for your time.

But even in the leap, sustainability requires care. Growth brings new challenges: scaling infrastructure, maintaining culture, staying mission-aligned. Smart gardeners keep pruning and feeding the soil; wise leaders keep strengthening systems and boundaries so the leap doesn’t burn people out.

Photo by izhar-ahamed from Pixabay

Growth in Cycles

Every nonprofit will find itself moving through these stages again and again. After a leap often comes another sleep—a strategic pause before new vision takes root. That’s not regression; it’s renewal. Programs might be leaping while your operations are still sleeping or creeping. That’s normal, and a clue about where to invest next.

So, whether your organization is sleeping, creeping, or leaping right now, take heart. Growth takes time, and each stage is part of the process. Keep tending your mission, nourishing your people, and trusting that with care and patience, your garden will bloom again and again.