Nonprofit Mission: Impact

Strategy for nonprofits is not a plan to perfect but a human practice—built through care, curiosity, and intentional choices in the face of uncertainty. As the year draws to a close, episode 138 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact brings together reflections from a wide range of nonprofit leaders and thinkers, all responding to one central question: What should nonprofit leaders ask themselves to be more strategic? Across topics as varied as crisis management, equity, careers, evaluation, organizational design, culture, and innovation, a clear throughline emerges—strategy is deeply human work. Rather than offering abstract frameworks, the episode highlights: practical, grounding questions and practices that help leaders navigate uncertainty with clarity, intention, and care. An invitation to slow down, resist urgency, tend to themselves and their teams, Why it's important to surface assumptions, seek multiple perspectives, and make decisions rooted in both alignment and capacity. Together, these reflections offer a steadying guide for leaders facing complexity in the year ahead. Episode Highlights Setting the Frame: Strategy Through Reflection and Humanity [00:00:00–00:01:13] Caring for Basic Needs to Make Better Decisions [00:04:10–00:08:01] Don't Go It Alone: Expanding Perspective Through Support [00:08:01–00:10:31] Two Essential Leadership Questions: "What Am I Missing?" and "Tell Me More" [00:10:31–00:12:03] Surfacing Expectations and Assumptions [00:12:03–00:14:27] Asking "So What?" to Get to Strategic Impact [00:14:27–00:16:45] From Individual Practice to Organizational Insight [00:17:00–00:18:03] Interrogating Organizational Design [00:18:03–00:19:00] Culture as the Silent Driver of Strategy [00:19:00–00:20:33] Filtering New Opportunities Through Alignment and Capacity [00:20:39–00:21:59] Resisting Frantic Urgency in Favor of Sustainable Focus [00:22:05–00:24:00] Closing Reflection: Strategy as Moment-by-Moment Human Practice [00:24:08–00:25:53] Important Links and Resources: Independent Sector coalition data base Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them 📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Nonprofit Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

How can nonprofit organizations navigate leadership transitions with steadiness and clarity? In episode 137 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton talks with Erin Stratford Owens, a seasoned interim executive director to answer this question. Carol and Erin talk about: what makes interim leadership distinct from simply "holding down the fort" — it's a time for honest reflection, system assessment, and preparing the path for what's next. how boards and staff can make the most of an interim period, the common mistakes to avoid, and why slowing down to plan for sustainability — rather than reacting in urgency — is essential for long-term impact. The conversation offers nonprofit leaders a grounded perspective on turning moments of uncertainty into opportunities for renewal and learning. Episode highlights: [00:08:26] What Interim Leadership Really Is [00:11:56] Misconceptions About Interims [00:15:21] Avoiding Common Mistakes [00:18:46] Setting the Stage for the Next Leader [00:20:26] The Board's Crucial Role [00:22:41] Building Staff Trust [00:25:36] Addressing Systems and Structure [00:29:26] What Makes an Interim Successful [00:30:56] From Urgency to Sustainability Guest Bio: Erin Stratford Owens is the founder and CEO of ESO Nonprofit Consulting, specializing in Interim Executive Leadership and coaching for nonprofits and nonprofit leaders in transition. Erin holds a BA in English from UNC-Greensboro and a Master's in Nonprofit Management from The New School's Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment. She is a Certified Interim Executive through Armstrong McGuire Interim Leadership Institute. With 12 years of experience as an in-house nonprofit Executive Director, her extensive interim leadership experience includes guiding organizations through critical transitions at Humane Society of the Piedmont, Partners Ending Homelessness, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater High Point, Greensboro Farmers Market, and Humane Society of Catawba County. She currently serves as Board Chair for the Guilford County Continuum of Care and as a Steering Committee member of the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium. When not working or volunteering, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, two dogs, and a 16-year-old blind kitty cat named Smokie Important Links and Resources: Erin Stratford Owens Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them 📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Nonprofit Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

In episode 136 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton, Elizabeth Engel, and Jamie Notter talk about their new white paper Lean at 10: Culture Eats Methodology for Lunch. Ten years after Engel first explored Lean Startup principles in the nonprofit and association world, she and Notter revisit what's changed—and what hasn't. Carol, Elizabeth and Jamie discuss: Why the tools of innovation are accessible, yet the real challenge in adoption lies in organizational culture. how competing commitments, fear of failure, and rigid silos can quietly sabotage innovation efforts what leaders can do instead to nurture learning, empathy, and experimentation. For nonprofit and association leaders navigating rapid change, this conversation offers a candid look at how to build cultures that support innovation—not resist it. Episode highlights: [00:06:00] Revisiting Lean Startup, 10 Years Later [00:010:50] Defining Lean Startup and Design Thinking [00:011:50] Culture: The Invisible Barrier [00:014:40] When Culture Undermines Innovation [00:19:00] Insight Over Perfection [00:22:00] People Don't Resist Change—They Resist Being Changed [00:24:40] Low Fences, Not No Silos [00:27:00] Listening Beyond the Boardroom [00:30:40] Volunteer Culture Matters Too [00:31:00] The Role of Healthy Conflict [00:37:35] What a Culture Supportive of Innovation Looks Like [00:41:20] From Reactive to Proactive Transparency [00:44:35] The Questions Nonprofit Leaders Should Ask Guest Bios: Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, is Chief Strategist at Spark Consulting. For more than 25 years, Elizabeth has helped associations grow in membership, marketing, communications, public presence, and especially revenue, which is what Spark is all about. She speaks and writes frequently on a variety of topics in association management. When she's not helping associations grow, Elizabeth loves to dance, listen to live music, cook, and garden. Jamie Notter is a speaker, author, consultant, and culture scientist. His career spans 30 years, with more than a decade of research and practice in the culture field, as well as deep experience in areas like conflict resolution and generations. He desperately wants to make work suck less for everyone, and has written four popular business books, including the award-winning Non-Obvious Guide to Employee Engagement, and his latest release, Culture Change Made Easy. He holds a Master's in conflict resolution from George Mason and a certificate in Organization Development from Georgetown, where he served as adjunct faculty. Important Links and Resources: Elizabeth Weaver Engel https://www.getmespark.com/ https://www.getmespark.com/blog/ Jamie Notter https://jamienotter.com/ https://jamienotter.com/research-books/ Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them 📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Nonprofit Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

In episode 135 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton talks with organizational design consultant Julian Chender about how nonprofits can move beyond simple restructuring to intentional organizational design that aligns strategy, structure, and process. They discuss: how organizational design is not the same as restructuring how design choices impact effectiveness, collaboration, and long-term sustainability. the pitfalls of designing around personalities, the importance of strategic clarity when facing downsizing or merger decisions. The conversation offers nonprofit leaders practical insights into building organizations that are resilient, adaptable, and positioned for impact. Episode highlights: The Why Behind the Work - [00:08:08] Defining Organizational Design - [00:13:53] Structure, Silos, and Collaboration - [00:14:41] Common Mistakes in Nonprofit Design - [00:18:23] Balancing Human-Centered Values and Strategy - [00:20:40] Downsizing by Design - [00:24:36] Participation and Ownership - [00:23:32] Benchmarking vs. Mass Customization - [00:30:01] Strategic Plans Require Organizational Design - [00:37:40] Mergers and Strategic Alliances - [00:41:21] Examples of Successful Mergers - [00:44:16] The Key Question for Leaders - [00:47:57] Guest Bio: Julian Chender is the founder of 11A Collaborative, an organization design firm focused on creating healthy society through healthy organizations. In his early years, Julian was an internal consultant at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) under Tony Fauci during the agency's response to the global Ebola and Zika crises. From there, he moved to external consulting, eventually joining Accenture's Operating Model & Organization Design practice shortly after its acquisition of Kates Kesler. Through 11A Collaborative, Julian has consulted to purpose-driven organizations across sectors. He is a Certified Organization Design Practitioner and an ICF-Certified Coach who holds a master's degree in Organization Development from American University and a B.A. in History from Swarthmore College. Important Links and Resources: Julian Chender 11A Collaborative Organization Design Forum Downsizing by Design: A Guide for Nonprofits Candid Social Impact Staff Retention survey Board Source Purpose Driven Leadership Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them 📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Nonprofit Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

In episode 134 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton welcomes guest Kayla Meyers, founder of Bridgepoint Evaluation, for a conversation about reimagining program evaluation in nonprofits. They discuss: Why evaluation is not an audit or judgment as it has sometimes been in the past It should be a collaborative, curiosity-driven process that opens communication, supports learning, and improves impact. How to create right-sized, useful evaluation practices rooted in strategy and driven by purpose. How evaluation can be a force for good—helping organizations tell fuller, more meaningful stories about their work and the communities they serve. Episode highlights: 🚩 Evaluation's Troubled History - [00:08:10] ❌ From Punitive to Collaborative - [00:13:10] 💡 Why Smaller Orgs Should Evaluate - [00:16:10] 🛠️ Start with Strategy - [00:19:10] 🔁 Formalizing Feedback Loops - [00:20:40] 🍽️ Make It Make Sense - [00:22:10] 🗣️ Turning Data Into Stories - [00:26:10] ❓The One Question Nonprofit Leaders Should Ask - [00:31:50] Guest Bio: Kayla (Mueller) Meyers is a seasoned program evaluator with over a decade of experience in assessing and improving programs for nonprofits and public organizations. She specializes in evaluation capacity building and mixed-methods program evaluation, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her clients Important Links and Resources: Kayla Meyers Bridgepoint Evaluation Bridgepoint Evaluation Newsletter Humphrey School of Public Affairs Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them 📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Nonprofit Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn