HR IS MISSION-CRITICAL

Karina Swenson, Esq.

Strategic Legal Counsel for Nonprofit & Mission-Driven Leaders

April 9, 2026

In many nonprofits, HR is treated as a back-office function. Policies get drafted. Handbooks get updated. Issues get addressed when they arise. 

But in practice, HR is one of the most important governance functions an organization has. From my experience, how an organization manages its people is how it lives its mission. 

Nonprofits operate in uniquely complex environments. They support a mission that matters with:

• Limited resources 

• High emotional investment 

• Blurred boundaries between personal and professional commitment

And many organizations lack: 

• Clear employment policies 

• Consistent documentation practices 

• Defined roles and reporting structures 

• Training for managers and leadership

This creates risk for the organization. Not just legally, but operationally.

Common patterns I see: 

• Inconsistent handling of employee concerns 

• Burnout framed as commitment 

• Informal decision-making without documentation 

• Avoidance of difficult conversations (I see this a lot!)

Strong HR practices are not about bureaucracy. They are about: 

→ Clarity → Fairness → Accountability → Sustainability

From a legal and governance perspective, this includes: 

• Clear policies that reflect how the organization actually operates 

• Proper classification of employees and contractors 

• Consistent documentation of decisions and issues 

• Defined authority and reporting structures 

• Training for leadership on employment obligations

When these systems are in place, organizations are better able to retain strong staff, navigate conflict appropriately, reduce legal exposure, and importantly, stay focused on their mission.

Nonprofits are built on people. And people do their best work with strong structure.

If you’re leading or supporting a nonprofit, it’s worth asking: "Do our HR practices reflect our values or are they reactive?" and "Are we relying on goodwill where structure is needed?"

Contact Us today for an audit of your HR Framework!

Karina Swenson Founder, Swenson Law Group Strategic Legal Counsel for Nonprofit & Mission-Driven Leaders