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.

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Important Links and Resources:

Independent Sector coalition data base

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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

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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:

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:

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📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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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:

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📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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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:

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

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📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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In episode 133 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton and guest Paula Brantner, workplace fairness consultant and founder of Accountability Ignited, unpack the real challenges nonprofits face in preventing harassment, bullying, and misconduct.

They talk about:

• The often-overlooked gaps in nonprofit systems—particularly around reporting mechanisms—and

• The false sense of security many mission-driven organizations have about their immunity to these issues.

• How to take a proactive, values-based approach rooted in trauma-informed practices,

• Why codes of conduct need to include all constituents, including for example sponsors and vendors to be effective

For nonprofit and association leaders seeking to build safer and braver organizational cultures, this episode is full of actionable insight.

Episode highlights:

Inadequate Legal System - [00:08:23]

Reporting Systems as Ground Zero - [00:9:45]

Small Organizations Are Especially Vulnerable - [00:11:00]

Aligning Codes of Conduct with Values - [00:13:19]

Moving Beyond Punitive Approaches - [00:15:48]

Codes Should Live Beyond the Employee Handbook - [00:17:01]

Who's in the Ecosystem? Everyone. - [00:18:00]

Special Risk Zones: Conferences and Galas - [00:21:00]

Building Visible, Trained Allies Programs - [00:24:35]

Multiple Reporting Channels Are Key - [00:27:00]

Trauma-Informed Listening - [00:38:18]

Power Dynamics and Systemic Barriers - [00:37:00]

Organizational Excellence: 3 Leading Practices - [00:42:00]

Proactive Culture-Building as a Strategic Imperative: It can happen anywhere - [00:46:10]

Guest Bio:

Paula Brantner of Accountability Ignited builds harassment and toxic workplace prevention systems that reflect your values and transform your culture. She works with academic societies, professional organizations, nonprofits, and political organizations on training, reporting systems and policy development to encourage reporting, ensure accountability, and build a harassment-free environment. Prior to founding Accountability Ignited in 2016, Paula spent 18 years (including eight as executive director) with Workplace Fairness, a legal nonprofit that educates workers about their legal rights in the workplace. An employment lawyer for over 30 years, Paula has degrees from UC Law-San Francisco and Michigan State University's James Madison College. She has a credential from the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI-CH), and incorporates training in trauma-informed and anti-racism principles and practices into her work.

Important Links and Resources:

Paula Brantner

Accountability Ignited

Building Inclusive Scientific Communities and Leadership Case Studies from Professional Societies

Be in Touch:

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📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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In episode 132 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Justine Krank discuss the realities and nuances of pursuing US government grants for nonprofit organizations.

They discuss:

• common misconceptions including that government grants equals federal grants

• The challenges and compliance demands that come with government dollars.

• How to decode complex RFPs -- the hidden requirements that can make or break an application, and

• how to get an organization truly grant-ready — not just on paper, but with the capacity to manage the work.

• why the human side of building relationships even in the often opaque government grant space is important

Episode highlights:

[00:08:17] Clearing Up Misconceptions About Government Grants

[00:09:24] The Challenge of Reading RFPs

[00:11:48] Why It Matters Who Writes the RFP

[00:13:49] The Hidden Details in Grant Links

[00:16:02] Budget Pitfalls in Grant Applications

[00:17:32] Federal vs. State and Local Funding

[00:20:08] Balancing Risk, Reward, and Compliance

[00:23:18] Shifting Grant Strategies Amid Funding Freezes

[00:25:45] Building True Grant Readiness

[00:28:40] How to Research Relevant Funding Streams

[00:30:56] The Often-Overlooked Human Element

[00:32:31] The Bottom Line: Alignment and Capacity

Guest Bio:

Justine founded Gold Dust Grants in January 2023 after almost 10 years in the nonprofit field. She's an Intersectional Professional with a background rooted in reproductive justice, a B.A. from UC Berkeley, and over six years of dedicated institutional grant writing experience, bringing in almost $12 million as Lead Writer. As a consultant, she leverages her experience in nonprofit contracts & compliance, and her legal studies background, to help nonprofits submit clear and cohesive proposals with a strong case for support. While the bulk of her grant experience is writing for Transition-Age Youth programs (ages 14-25), she also has extensive experience in: Housing, Mental Health, Workforce Development, and LGBTQIA+ services. She has worked on successful proposals totaling over $25 million in awards funded

Important Links and Resources:

Justine Krank

Gold Dust Grants Consulting

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