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.

Episode highlights:

Carol shares her top five reasons the sector is essential:

1. Filling critical gaps in services and support

2. Driving social movements for justice and inclusion

3. Building social capital and connections in communities

4. Strengthening democracy and civic life

5. Spurring social innovation that reshapes society

• Leverage campaigns like Nonprofits Get It Done to tell the sector’s story

Important Links and Resources:

https://nonprofitsgetitdone.org/

https://www.urban.org/research/publication/what-financial-risk-nonprofits-losing-government-grants

https://www.vera.org/news/trumps-war-on-nonprofits-will-make-us-all-less-safe

https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Yentel-Written-Testimony.pdf

https://www.aam-us.org/2025/06/26/eo-impact-is-there-an-existential-threat-to-nonprofit-status

https://nonprofithub.org/a-brief-history-of-nonprofit-organizations/

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

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In this episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton gives a tribute to nonprofit consulting star and nonprofit governance and fundraising expert Sabrina Walker Hernandez, President & CEO of Building Better Boards, by re-releasing their conversation from 2021. Ms. Hernandez passed away in July 2025 after a long battle with cancer.

Episode highlights:

[00:06:45] Finding Her Why: From Law to Nonprofit Service

[00:13:00] Breaking Down the Fundraising Cycle

[00:18:30] A Mantra for Courage: It’s Not About You

[00:21:15] Helping Board Members Identify Donors: The List Generator

[00:25:55] Cultivating With Authenticity

[00:29:75] Fundraising in Underserved Communities

[00:35:55] Where to Begin: Budget and Strategy

[00:40:30] Innovating Fundraising Approaches

Guest Bio:
Sabrina Walker-Hernandez was the President & CEO of Building Better Boards. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. One of Sabrina’s greatest successes was that she increased operation revenue from$750,000 to $2.5 million over an 8-year period as well as being responsible for the planning and operations of a $12 million comprehensive capital campaign in the 3rd poorest county in the United States. She facilitated numerous workshops with hundreds of nonprofit professionals and was a master trainer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Sabrina gained a certificate in Nonprofit Management by Harvard Business School. She was an active community leader and volunteer in Edinburg, Texas.

Important Links and Resources:

Tributes to Sabrina:

https://texasborderbusiness.com/in-loving-memory-of-sabrina-walker-hernandez/

https://riograndeguardian.com/tributes-pour-in-for-sabrina-walker-hernandez/

https://www.legacychapelsrgv.com/obituaries/sabrina-walker-hernandez

https://www.youtube.com/@SupportingWorldHope

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 128 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Michael Randel joins Carol to explore how psychological safety—often dismissed as a “soft” concept—plays a critical role in nonprofit team performance, learning, and innovation.

They discuss:

• The connection between organizational readiness and the deeper human dynamics that shape effective leadership and collaboration.

• What psychological safety looks like in action,

• Why it’s vital in today’s polarized climate,

• How nonprofit leaders can foster inclusive, high-trust environments where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and learn from mistakes.

Episode highlights:

Guest Bio:

Michael Randel helps leaders and their teams move through Change and Growth with Calm and Confidence. He developed the RCA Seasons of GrowthTM framework to help people understand and move through the three common phases of change. This allows leaders to navigate the challenges of change and bring about transformational results. With 30 years of experience, Michael works with philanthropic foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and public sector agencies to help them navigate change with success and poise with his expertise in organizational change. The influence and impact of Michael’s work has been recognized with multiple global awards, and his clients include Amnesty International, AstraZeneca, NASA, United Nations, and the World Bank.

Important Links and Resources:

Michael Randel

Randel Consulting Associates

RCA Resources

RCA Resources for Psychological Safety

RCA Solutions

Amy C. Edmonson

The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmonson

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