Nonprofit organization design is about how an organization works: how decisions get made, how power flows, how people collaborate across boundaries, and how strategy actually gets translated into day-to-day action. In episode 142, of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Jeanne Bell dig deeply into why organization design—often overlooked or reduced to org charts—is actually a missing discipline nonprofits need to truly operationalize their strategy and values.

They discuss:

• How nonprofits are too often stuck in false dichotomies (flat vs. hierarchical), 

• Why too many organizations are burdened by overly complicated compensation systems, and hindered by management team structures that don’t reflect how strategy actually needs to happen. 

• How by aligning Galbraith’s STAR model elements—strategy, structure, processes, rewards, and people, nonprofit organizations can genuinely act on their missions. 

This episode offers nonprofit leaders a grounded, liberating framework for rethinking how their organizations make decisions, how people collaborate, and what it really means to design for impact.

As nonprofit leaders move into 2026, uncertainty no longer feels episodic—it feels constant. Scenario planning offers nonprofit leaders a practical way to navigate uncertainty by shifting from reactive decision-making to clearer priorities, stronger alignment, and more confident, values-aligned choices—even when the future is unpredictable.

In this episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton names the fatigue, overwhelm, and decision paralysis many leaders are carrying after this past year of heightened disruption. She introduces scenario planning as a practical, grounding strategy tool designed specifically for uncertain times. She discusses:

• What scenario planning and is not

• Why it is a tool that is particularly suited to the times we are in

• How scenario planning helps nonprofit leaders regain a sense of agency, clarify what’s within their control, and align staff and board around thoughtful, values-aligned responses to multiple possible futures.

Through clear explanations and client examples, the episode shows how scenario planning can help leaders move from reacting and spinning to steering with intention.

In episode 119 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol explores scenario planning and its importance for nonprofits facing increased uncertainty. She highlights how it enables organizations to shift from feeling overwhelmed to taking proactive steps.

In episode 115 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Michael Butera dive into the challenges and opportunities facing associations as they adapt to 21st-century realities. 

In episode 114 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton re-releases a favorite from last year that delves into the intricacies of strategic planning for nonprofits. The episode clarifies what strategic planning encompasses and what it does not, offering a foundational understanding crucial for any organization.

In episode 110 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton discusses who should be involved in a nonprofit strategic planning process.

In episode 109 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton discusses the critical components of nonprofit strategic planning, emphasizing that it's much more than just a retreat.

In episode 90 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol discusses nonprofit strategic planning, detailing what it encompasses and what it doesn't. She outlines the five essential steps involved in a comprehensive strategic planning process and shares key strategies to ensure that the plan is actionable and remains relevant over time.

In episode 84 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol and Heather Burright discuss how nonprofit strategic planning, implementation and staff and volunteer skills development all fit together. 

In episode 70 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol discusses how to ensure your nonprofit's strategic plan remains active and effective rather than just sitting on the shelf.

In episode 69 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol and guest Jeanne Bell discuss the necessity of aligning internal nonprofit culture with external strategies to achieve success. They explore methods for integrating organizational strategy into implementation and emphasize the importance of creating interdisciplinary spaces for strategic discussions.

In episode 60 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol goes solo to discuss the issues people have with nonprofit strategic planning and why strategic planning is important.

In the special one-year anniversary episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton examined the advantages and disadvantages of conducting nonprofit strategic planning online versus in-person. She emphasized strategies for planning in a VUCA world—characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity—and discussed how organizational culture continues to endure in a remote work environment.