Mission: Impact

In episode 98 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton hosts Danielle Marshall for another learning out loud episode where we do a deep dive into a topic.

Today’s topic is leadership in the nonprofit sector, especially the declining interest in nonprofit leadership as highlighted by the "Push and Pull" report by the Building Movement Project. We explore the dual reactions of frustration and affirmation in response to the report, discuss the challenges and support needs of nonprofit leaders, particularly BIPOC leaders, and emphasize the importance of culturally relevant support, universal design, and sustainability in leadership roles.

Episode Highlights

- [00:06:01] The "Push and Pull" report by the Building Movement Project, tracks the declining interest in nonprofit leadership roles, a persistent issue in the sector.

- [00:07:25] The importance of training, mentoring, and coaching, and reflects on her own experience of not knowing she could negotiate for executive coaching.

- [00:08:41] The added challenges faced by BIPOC leaders, including gaps in board and staff support and heightened expectations for rapid change.

- [00:010:54] The unrealistic expectations placed on nonprofit leaders and the renegotiation of work-life balance.

- [00:012:59] The additional pressure on BIPOC leaders who serve communities they identify with, dealing with systemic oppression and trauma patterns.

- [00:15:00] Rethinking Leadership Roles with culturally relevant support and universal design and its potential benefits for creating more inclusive and supportive leadership roles.

- [00:23:30] The trend of having co-executive directors. Potential and challenges.

- [00:28:30] The challenge of always adding new expectations and the importance of focusing on sustainability.

- [00:31:01] The importance of boards and staff supporting executive directors in carving out time for development and peer support.

The conversation underscores the complexity of nonprofit leadership, the need for systemic changes to support leaders better, and the importance of culturally relevant and sustainable support systems to encourage more people to step into these critical roles.

Guest Bio:
Danielle is an inclusive leader focused on strengthening collaboration among teams, leaders, and stakeholders to foster problem-solving, create solutions, and improve culture. She finds her inspiration in leading systemic change work that promotes equity and inclusion.

Danielle founded Culture Principles in response to a persistent need to operationalize Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion metrics, centering REDI goals and creating accountability systems. She supports clients through her Mapping Equity Framework focused on Unearthing Knowledge, Elevating Strategy, and Transforming Sustainability. She centers her work around organizational assessment, racial equity learning intensives, and the development of racial equity action plans. Understanding that each organization arrives at this work from different perspectives, she utilizes assessment in building a customized strategy for each unique partner. Previously Danielle served as a non-profit leader for 20+ years and today works on strategy development that enables nonprofits to achieve equitable mission-driven results. Danielle holds a Master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University and draws on her background as an I/O psychologist in applying a racial equity lens to organizational policies, practices, and programs. She is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)/ Executive Coach (ACC).

During her playtime, you can find Danielle traveling, knitting, and kayaking in all 50 states.

Important Links and Resources:

The Push and Pull: Declining Interest in Nonprofit Leadership

Related Episodes:

E72: Exploring Passion Exploitation with Lauren Brownstein

E78: Renegotiating our relationship with work with Carol Hamilton

E92: Three stages of nonprofit leadership with Patton McDowell

E95: Building shared nonprofit leadership with Emily Taylor

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In episode 97 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton, Elizabeth Engel and Shelly Alcorn discuss

• Why addressing climate change has shifted from a moral imperative to a business imperative for associations and nonprofits

• How climate change is impacting all sectors and industries now

• how associations are uniquely positioned to address climate change by leveraging their influence

• Why shifting away from the single points of failure built into the traditional ways association services have been delivered is important

• Ways to reduce your organization’s carbon footprint

Episode highlights:

[00:08:25] Shift from Moral to Business Imperative

The shift of climate change from a moral to a business imperative, driven by observable impacts like extreme weather events causing significant property and economic losses.

[00:10:15] Association's Role at COP27

The proactive participation of associations like the American Psychological Association and the American Institute of Architects in COP27, bringing attention to industry-specific impacts of climate change.

[00:13:17] Climate Impact on Association Operations

The direct impacts of climate change on associations, such as disruptions from extreme weather events and the carbon footprint of large gatherings like annual meetings.

[00:28:23] Strategic Adaptations for Climate Resilience

The need for associations to develop resilience by adopting proactive strategies like no single point of failure in operations, reflecting a shift towards decentralized and adaptable operational models.

Guest Bios:
Shelly Alcorn

Shelly is a Principal in Michelle Alcorn and Associates and specializes in non-profit trade associations and professional societies. Shelly stands at the intersection of technology, the education-to-employment system, and the association of the future. She conducts strategic, leadership and staff retreats, and speaks on critical issues faced by the association community and society including existential risks such as the rise of artificial intelligence and the coming impacts of climate change.

Elizabeth Weaver Engel

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.

Important Links and Resources:

Downloadthe whitepaper at:http://ac3coalition.com

Join the Association Climate Action Coalition communityat:https://ac3.breezio.com

Not too Late: Changing the Climate Story from despair to Possibility, editor - Rebecca Solnit

Crystal City example: https://ggwash.org/view/91781/take-note-downtowns-crystal-city-suffered-its-office-apocalypse-and-came-out-better

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In episode 96 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Dr Victoria Boyd discuss

• The misconceptions about starting a nonprofit

• Why a program logic model is a better place to start for new organizations than a business plan

• Some of the key questions nonprofit founders need to ask themselves as they get started.

Episode highlights:

07:34 - Common Misconceptions about Starting Nonprofits what to focus on instead

16:22- The Logic Model as the heart beat of the organization

25:29- **Defining your Unique Value Proposition

27:39 Building shared leadership intentionally

Guest Bio:
Dr. Victoria Boyd

Author, Trainer, Consultant, and founder of The Philantrepreneur Foundation. Host of the Nonprofit Corner Podcast.

Important Links and Resources:

The Philantrepreneur Foundation - https://drvictoriaboyd.com/foundation/

Nonprofit Corner Podcast: https://nonprofitcorner.org/home

Related Episodes:

Episode 17: Program Evaluation with Wendy Wolfe

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In episode 95 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Emily Taylor discuss

• the challenges nonprofit CEOs face as they become victims of their own success.

• how nonprofit leaders can become disconnected from their community as their organization grows

• how when an organization is overly associated with the CEO, this can result in a culture of dependence and bottleneck decision-making

Episode Highlights

[11:15] Recognizing Organizational Dependence

how nonprofits become overly dependent on a charismatic CEO and how this can stifle organizational growth and sustainability.

[20:56] Strategic Reflection Before Planning

nonprofits should engage in reflective practices to understand their true challenges before embarking on strategic planning.

[23:03] Gaining Objective Insights

the benefit of having an outsider's perspective to identify common goals and values among staff that may be clouded by internal bias or jargon.

[33:02] The Human Aspect of Leadership

leaders must view themselves as humans with limitations, which can foster a healthier organizational culture and enable growth beyond the capabilities of a single individual.

Guest Bio:
Emily Taylor

Emily Taylor works with nonprofit leaders who are ready to catapult their organizations into their next stage of growth by shifting their decision-making from intuitive to intentional. Leaders who seek Emily’s expertise are not only frustrated with the typical strategic planning process but don’t feel fully informed to make big, long-term decisions. Instead, she first grounds the organization in ‘who they are’ to help them prioritize the challenges that lie ahead.

To achieve this, Emily applies her individualized strategic listening methodology with an organization's community, allowing teams to 'see their value' and align their decision-making as an organization, not just the CEO. She helps them find a planning process that fits their needs, not something that is out of the box, which is why most organizations get frustrated with strategic planning!

Important Links and Resources:

Emily Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-taylor-teenybig/

Paper on pre-strategic planning:

https://mailchi.mp/teenybig/you-shouldnt-jump-into-your-next-strategic-plan

Related Episodes:

Episode 21: Investing in the next generation of nonprofit leaders with Andy Robinson

Episode 60: Why bother doing strategic planning?

Episode 70 Values Based nonprofit strategic planning

Episode 90 Five steps to successful nonprofit strategic planning with Carol Hamilton

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In episode 94 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Rebecca Epstein discuss the article that Rebecca wrote with Mistinguette Smith published in the Nonprofit Quarterly in 2023.

Paving a Better Way: What’s Driving Progressive Organizations Apart and How to Win by Coming Together. The conversation between Rebecca and Carol covers the intricacies and challenges of leadership and organizational dynamics within the nonprofit sector, particularly in the context of social justice work. Their discussion touches upon generational conflicts, power dynamics, organizational clarity, and strategies for effective leadership, especially in the recent crises we have all experienced over the past several years.

Episode highlights:

Generational and Cultural Dynamics in Nonprofits

[00:08:30] The recent increased conflict within organizations between leaders and staff, often on generational and racial lines. How these conflicts are similar and different to those of the past.

Addressing Internal Conflicts and Building Resilience

[00:15:30] Conflicts within organizations, such as public call outs and accusations of racism as well as the push for structural changes.

Organizational Clarity and Strategy

- [00:20:30] The importance of organizational clarity regarding power and decision-making, and how it should reflect an organization's values and strategies.

The Challenge of Aligning Strategy and Leadership

- [00:25:30] The challenges organizations face in aligning their leadership style with their identity and mission as well as aligning expectations across segments of staff.

Addressing Trauma in Nonprofits

- [00:35:30] Understanding and addressing trauma embedded in social justice work – the trauma that stems from the issue the organization is addressing, intergenerational trauma, personal and interpersonal trauma. How might trauma at all these levels be addressed responsibly?

Current Trends and Challenges

The dialogue offers nonprofit leaders a range of insights and considerations for fostering healthy, effective, and resilient organizations that can navigate the complexities of social change work.

Guest Bio:
Becca Epstein is a coach and consultant to social justice organizations and their leaders with over 20 years of experience in community organizing, organizational development, and nonprofit leadership. Becca is a co-founder of The Management Center, a former Vice President at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and a convener of the “Paving a Better Way” working group. Her practice focuses on leaders, organizations, and movements confronting strategic challenges, seeking transformation, and advancing equity and justice. Becca holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management and Public Policy from NYU, a BA in Anthropology from Amherst College, and is a Certified Professional Coach.

Important Links and Resources:

Paving a Better Way: What’s Driving Progressive Organizations Apart and How to Win by Coming Together by Rebecca Epstein and Mistinguette Smith

Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis by Maurice Mitchell

Learning From an Intergenerational Blowup Over Social Justice by Steve Kaagan & John Hagan

Rebecca Epstein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-epstein-797aa75/

https://www.beccaepsteincoaching.com/

Internal Family Systems - No Bad Parts: https://bookshop.org/p/books/no-bad-parts-healing-trauma-and-restoring-wholeness-with-the-internal-family-systems-model-richard-schwartz/16396062?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q7ZNqD5nvZg5Rc0AW1G0doLAO72cWnAFeCHvmKdI5QkEjpu1QDdtWIaAtc-EALw_wcB

Polarities - Polarity Partnerships: https://www.polaritypartnerships.com/

Related Episodes:

These articles were also discussed on:

Episode 75: Co-creation with Carol Hamilton and Danielle Marshall

Nature of the employee-employer relationship/what is work:

Episode 78: Renegotiating our relationship with work with Carol Hamilton

Episode 85: Building equitable compensation frameworks with Mala Nagarajan

Be in Touch:

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In episode 93 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Pooya Pourak discuss the importance of transparent, impact-centric fundraising, the use of technology for efficiency, and the necessity of fair compensation for nonprofit employees. They delve into the nuances of donor engagement, exploring how to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance and collaboration. They also discuss the potential of AI in the sector, while maintaining the human element that is essential to nonprofit work.

Episode Highlights:

09:40 - Donor Engagement and Trust:

Pooya presents statistics on donor engagement and trust, highlighting the disconnect between nonprofits and donors, and the strategies to improve transparency and communication.

12:00 Language and Fundraising:

The conversation shifts to the language used in fundraising and how it affects donor relationships. They discuss the importance of genuine, mission-aligned connections over transactional interactions.

14:00 Shifting Status Quo Assumptions:

Carol and Pooya discuss how nonprofits can break free from counterproductive practices and adopt strategies that promote long-term sustainability and diversified fundraising sources.

16:30 Nonprofit Ecosystem Complexity:

Pooya reflects on the complexity of the nonprofit ecosystem, including the roles of various stakeholders, from other nonprofits to donors, foundations, and policy.

22:00 Testing Hypotheses in Fundraising:

Pooya details the testing of two hypotheses aimed at increasing generosity and online giving, including the influence of unrestricted donations and the effectiveness of matching gifts.

31:00 The Future of the Nonprofit Sector:

Looking ahead, Pooya anticipates the growing role of AI in the sector and emphasizes the need to balance technological advances with maintaining the sector's human-centered approach.

34:00 Fair Compensation

The interview concludes with Pooya advocating for fair compensation in the nonprofit sector and encouraging a shift from competition to collaboration to enhance collective impact.

Guest Bio:
Pooya Pourak

Pooya is co-founder and CEO of MatchNice, a social impact tech startup on a mission to connect the nonprofit ecosystem and maximize social impact. His team is working on a new kind of impact-centric fundraising platform to increase transparency, engagement and accountability in digital fundraising. Pooya brings 15+ years of experience leading digital transformation across business, government, and now the nonprofit sector. He is the Host and Producer of The Nonprofit Lab, a podcast dedicated to the journey of discovery in the nonprofit sector with an aim to uncover and shake up the status quo. Pooya runs his own consulting practice where he helps our government listen to the needs of diverse stakeholders and put their feedback into action to inform large-scale systems delivery. Pooya holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology in Industrial & Systems Engineering and is also a certified yoga instructor.

Important Links and Resources:

https://www.matchnice.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pooyapourak/

Charity Vest https://www.charityvest.org/

Google for Nonprofits https://www.google.com/nonprofits/

Be in touch!

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In episode 92 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Patton McDowell explore the multi-generational nonprofit workforce, discussing the unique hurdles and opportunities that come with each stage of a non-profit career—from emerging leaders grappling with gaining practical experience to mid-career professionals encountering a plateau, and up to executive directors feeling isolated at the top. They underscore the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and the benefits of strategic personal planning.

Show highlights:

Generational Workforce Challenges

Generational Workforce Challenges

- [00:07:00] Discussion on the challenges faced by different generations in the nonprofit sector.

Opportunity and Experience for Emerging Leaders

- [00:08:05] Patton talks about the emerging leader generation facing the issue of opportunity and joy market entry difficulties

Mid-Career Plateau

- [00:19:25] Patton introduces the idea of a "mid-career plateau" and how to overcome it.

Non-Traditional Career Paths

- [00:22:00] Carol discusses lateral moves and specialization as alternatives to traditional progression.

Executive Leadership Loneliness

- [00:24:22] Patton discusses the isolation felt by those in executive leadership roles.

Co-Executive Director Model

- [00:29:00] Carol asks Patton about shared leadership roles and his views on them.

Predictable Turnover

- [00:33:00] Carol reflects on predictable turnover and proactive recruitment approaches.

Organizational Exchanges

- [00:39:10] Patton and Carol discuss the benefits of organizational exchanges and site visits.

Personal Retreat for Leaders - [00:42:20] Patton recommends nonprofit leaders take personal retreats for strategic planning and Carol speaks on her own practice of personal strategic planning.

Guest Bio:
Patton is the Founder of PMA Nonprofit Leadership, a coaching and consulting firm specializing in leadership development, fundraising, and strategic planning for nonprofits. He led fundraising efforts at two universities after starting his career at Special Olympics International. He's a Master Trainer for AFP Global, hosts the podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, and authored a best-selling book of the same name. He holds a bachelor's degree from UNC Chapel Hill, an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte, and a Doctorate from the University of Southern California. Patton currently serves as an Executive in Residence at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University.

Important Links and Resources:

Patton McDowell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattonmcdowell/

PMA Nonprofit https://www.pmanonprofit.com/

Charlie Gilkey - https://www.productiveflourishing.com/

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In episode 91 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and George Weiner discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the nonprofit sector. They delve into the significance of AI in the sector, emphasizing the need for strategic adoption and policy development. The conversation then shifts to the integration of AI into everyday tools They cover practical applications of AI and discuss crafting AI policies as well as the potential for AI to enhance nonprofit operations, particularly in grant writing and reporting.

Episode highlights:

[00:06:00] AI Adoption and Policy in Nonprofits

[00:08:00] Hype Cycle of AI:

[00:11:00] - AI in Everyday Life:

[00:13:00] - AI for Nonprofit Content Creation

[00:15:00] Crafting Nonprofit AI Policies and Guidelines

[00:16:00] - Integrating AI in Nonprofits:

[00:20:00] - Avoiding Overextension with AI:

[00:24:00] - Practical AI Tools for Nonprofits:

[00:27:00] Time Saving vs. Time Reallocation with AI

[00:29:00] AI in Grant Writing:

Guest Bio:
George Weiner is the Chief Whaler, WholeWhale.com. He co-founded CTOs For Good, PowerPoetry.org. He is a Dad, and a nonprofit geek.

Important Links and Resources:

WholeWhale.com

George Weiner

Cause Writer AI https://causewriter.ai/

The Smart Nonprofit by Beth Kanter and Allison Fine

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Smart+Nonprofit:+Staying+Human+Centered+in+An+Automated+World-p-9781119818120

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In episode 90 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton goes solo and talks about:

• What strategic planning is and is not

• the five steps to a comprehensive strategic planning process

• Keys to ensuring your plan gets put into action and stays relevant

The five steps are 1. kick off, 2. discovery or listening tour, 3. explore, 4. decide, 5. plan & act

Strategic planning:

• Strategic planning is a structured process for setting priorities for the medium term (3-5 years).

• It involves gathering insights from stakeholders, identifying themes, exploring futures, and making decisions to focus the organization’s future in service of its mission.

What it is NOT

• It’s not about predicting or controlling the future.

• Just the document, it's about conversations that build alignment and shared understanding.

• It is not just a retreat

Kick Off

• Setting yourself up for success

• Let everyone know what is happening and what is coming

• Pull together a team

• Equity considerations

Discover

• Go on a listening tour

• Interviews, focus groups, surveys – what will work for you.

• How are you making participation accessible?

Explore

• Share the current state as well as hopes and aspirations

• Explore the wider landscape and ecosystem for trends

• imagine new futures for the organization

Decide

• Prioritize and decide on the future directions and goals: Where will you put your energy?

• Revisit your mission and vision – are they aligned with where you are going?

Plan & Act

• Define action steps, success indicators, and feedback mechanisms.

Keeping the Plan Fresh

• Agree on a process for reviewing and updating the plan

Important Links and Resources:

Common Mistakes Organizations Make in Strategic planning:

https://www.gracesocialsector.com/store/p13/strategic_plan_mistakes.html

Be in touch

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In episode 89 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Miguel Guadalupe discuss

issues of generational engagement in leadership, highlighting the frequent oversight of Generation X and stressing the unique adaptability and valuable perspective that this generation brings to the table. Miguel emphasizes the necessity for Generation X to advocate for recognition in leadership roles, reflecting on a LinkedIn post that sparked a broader conversation about the career stagnation felt by many in his generation.

Episode highlights:

Don’t Forget GenX: underrepresentation and unique contributions of Generation X in leadership and decision-making processes.

Adapting to change: how Generation X's experience with the evolution of technology equips and other big changes over their career equips them with adaptability, a valuable skill set for leadership.

Perpetual Utility player: Many of the Gen Xers who commented on Miguel’s LinkedIn post shared the feeling of being overlooked in their professional lives.

Visibility and Advocacy: Miguel suggests that Generation X should take a lesson from Millenials and Gen Z and take a more assertive stance in advocating for their visibility and leadership opportunities.

Guest Bio:
Miguel Guadalupe is Vice President of Donor and Community Relations at The Bowery Residents' Committee, or BRC in NYC. BRC helps over 10,000 individuals a year suffering from homelessness, mental illness, and addiction with the dignity and compassion they deserve. Miguel manages donor engagement, fundraising, and event planning, as well on service as BRC liaison to local elected officials, community organizations and businesses wherever a BRC program is located. He is also Vice Chair of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, and helps to produce America's largest cultural celebration, in NYC, while helping to raise and distribute over $200K annually to students attending higher education.

Important Links and Resources:

Miguel’s viral LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7036817928465350656?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_feedUpdate%3A%28V2%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7036817928465350656%29

Miguel Guadalupe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguelguadalupe/

The Bowery Residents' Committee https://www.brc.org/

Be in Touch:

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🌟 Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review.

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