What Building a Grassroots Nonprofit Really Looks Like

When people hear Chief Operating Officer, they picture sharp suits, polished systems, and tidy org charts. And sure, I have spreadsheets, the policy manuals, and the meeting agendas. I don’t have sharp suits, though. They don’t suit me (pun intentded).

But the truth? At a grassroots nonprofit like The Asylum Project, COO work looks less like corporate gloss and more like duct tape, determination, a dream, and a lot of late-night Google Docs. And coffee. Or gin & tonics.

The Asylum Project started with a fierce, urgent idea: marginalized Americans deserve safe pathways abroad. Turning that idea into reality meant paperwork like articles of incorporation, bylaws, IRS forms. Not glamorous, but absolutely essential.

My role as COO? Translate big vision into tangible steps. Draft policies. Create compliance systems. Make sure we’re not just dreaming sanctuary, but actually building it in a way that lasts.

Here’s the secret: policies aren’t paperwork for paperwork’s sake. They’re scaffolding. Each form we draft is one less crack someone can fall through later. Each compliance checklist is a safety net for people who may have already lost so much.

So while I joke about my love affair with Google Drive, there’s a reason. Governance is what makes trust possible. And trust is the foundation of every mission worth fighting for.

Let’s be honest: it’s not neat. We’re still learning what systems we need, how to fund salaries, how to recruit the right board members. Sometimes I feel like I’m building an airplane mid-flight while also convincing people to climb aboard. I have high charisma; it’s totally possible! Right? …RIGHT?!!??

But every time I look around our virtual table at Jon, Rebecca, Nick, and myself, I see grit, compassion, and belief. And that makes the messy middle feel like exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Because nonprofits often hide the backstage work. We tell polished stories of impact, but not the reality of building the scaffolding underneath. I want you to see both.

Being a COO is less about running things and more about holding things. Holding space, people, hope for long enough that they have a chance to grow.

If you’re building something from scratch, whether a nonprofit, a business, or a creative project, just remember:

And in case you need to hear it today: duct tape, determination, dreams, and sequins make a perfectly valid toolkit.

With databases & sparkle,

💋 Chrissy (aka Lavinia Vale, The CEO Showgirl)