This week, I’m taking a brief detour from my usual nonprofit musings to celebrate something incredible—my mother’s 100th birthday! Now, before you ask what this has to do with nonprofits, trust me, the connections are uncanny.

Imagine running a nonprofit for 100 years—holding steady through wars, economic downturns, leadership changes, and technological shifts. Nonprofits, much like my mom, are in it for the long haul. But the truth is, the key to hitting 100—whether as an organization or a person—is resilience, adaptability, and, of course, a bit of humor (and maybe some chocolate ice cream).

Let me tell you about my mom, Barbara Graham, who hits the big 1-0-0 today! She’s a lifelong San Franciscan who still belts out “San Francisco” (the Tommy Dorsey version) a little off-key and cheats shamelessly at Chocolate Bingo. She’s lived through some of the biggest moments in history—walking across the Golden Gate Bridge when it opened in 1937, World War II, student protests in the Vietnam era, and now the age of memory care and pool-noodle balloon volleyball.

For nonprofits, the journey can feel similar—one moment, you’re pioneering a bold new initiative (Golden Gate Bridge level excitement!), and the next, you’re navigating turbulence (Vietnam-era protests, anyone?). You’ve got to adapt, keep your mission in focus, and keep playing the game, even when someone (or life) changes the rules.

Nonprofits also know something my mother does well: community matters. My mom’s assisted living facility, run by the nonprofit Elder Care Alliance, is an example of what happens when a group truly commits to its mission. The staff know her name, her quirks (chocolate ice cream every. single. day.), and what makes her feel alive. They focus on what she can do, not what she can’t—something we could all learn when staring down nonprofit struggles.

You see, the struggle to keep a nonprofit thriving for 100 years requires the same grit and focus as living a century-long life. Here are a few lessons Mom—and nonprofit leadership—can teach us:

1. Adapt or fall behind. Whether you’re a person facing memory loss or a nonprofit tackling shrinking funding, flexibility and creativity are key. If you can’t pivot, you’ll get stuck.

2. Focus on your people. My mom lights up when someone knows her by name or sings along with her to a tune from the ‘40s. Nonprofits are no different—your staff, donors, and clients thrive when they feel seen, heard, and valued.

3. Celebrate every milestone. In nonprofits, we focus so much on what’s next that we forget to celebrate wins, big and small. At 100, Mom doesn’t sweat the little things. She enjoys her chocolate, her Bingo victories, and her family’s company—daily wins that matter. Nonprofits could use this reminder: a little celebration keeps everyone motivated for the next goal.

4. Stay mission-focused. My mother’s faith has been a guiding star through every challenge, just as a nonprofit’s mission is the anchor during uncertain times. If you know your “why,” you’ll weather just about anything.

And lastly, a note about humor: when my mother cheats at Bingo or smacks someone a little too hard during pool-noodle volleyball, she doesn’t apologize. She laughs. Life is too short—whether 5 years into a nonprofit or 100 years into life—not to keep your sense of humor intact.

So, nonprofit leader, if you’re losing sleep because you feel like your organization has lived through 100 years’ worth of challenges, take heart. Borrow a page from Barbara Graham’s playbook: adapt, laugh, celebrate, and never turn down chocolate ice cream to ensure a better night’s sleep.

Happy birthday, Mom. And to every nonprofit leader reading this—here’s to your next milestone, however far off it may seem. Keep going.