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.

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.

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.

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.

In episode 131 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Melissa Kessler explore the intersection of communications and organization development, particularly in moments of crisis, transition and change. They talk about

• how internal communications can either reinforce or undermine values, strategy, and humanity within an organization. 

• how to navigate layoffs, restructuring, or organizational shifts with humanity

• why how we communicate is just as important as what we decide.

In episode 130 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol reflects on five years of podcasting and the sobering state of the nonprofit sector in 2025. While celebrating milestones, she also underscores the challenges nonprofits face amidst unprecedented political attacks, funding cuts, and threats to long-standing principles like nonpartisanship. Despite these challenges, Carol highlights the resilience, innovation, and critical role nonprofits play in society—from filling essential gaps to fueling social movements, strengthening democracy, and sparking innovation. She calls on nonprofit leaders to share their stories, advocate for the sector, and remind their communities why nonprofits matter now more than ever.

In episode 126 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Matt Hugg discuss the unique landscape of nonprofit careers. 

Together, they explore:

•  what makes nonprofit work meaningful and distinctive, including the opportunities and challenges for those transitioning into or advancing within the sector. 

• how nonprofit professionals can align their skills and passions, 

• how to navigate career shifts, and maintain their connection to mission-driven work. 

This conversation offers nonprofit leaders practical wisdom on supporting their teams and nurturing their own professional journeys.

In episode 124 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and LeeAnn Mallorie discuss navigating leadership from a place of embodiment, resilience, and grace. They explore:

• how tuning into the body can help leaders make better choices, weather organizational turbulence, and come through crisis with renewed purpose. 

• How our effectiveness and influence are deeply tied to how we relate to ourselves—and that honoring our inner wisdom is not a luxury, but a necessity in today’s climate of uncertainty and change.

In episode 122 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and James Young discuss the role of community, social innovation, and problem-solving in nonprofit leadership. They explore 

• how organizations can foster meaningful collaboration, 

• move beyond traditional silos, and embrace an interdisciplinary approach to tackling complex challenges. 

• the importance of balancing expertise with curiosity, 

• strengthening both bonding and bridging social capital, and designing intentional community experiences that drive impact. 

Together, they reflect on how associations and nonprofits can evolve to meet the shifting needs of their members and society at large.