Épisodes

  • People Centered HR for Nonprofits with MR Rolfe

    People Centered HR for Nonprofits with MR Rolfe
    Feb 24 2026

    People-centered HR isn't a luxury—it's essential. Learn how nonprofit leaders can build equitable, transparent, and humane people practices that strengthen their organizations, even amid uncertainty and limited resources. In episode 143 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton speaks with Megan Rolfe about:

    • what it really means to practice people-centered HR in nonprofit and social-change organizations—especially small teams navigating limited resources, rising uncertainty, and growing demands for equity.

    • reframing HR not as a compliance or risk-management function, but as a shared set of agreements about how people work together.

    • equitable compensation, including the difference between living and thriving wages, transparency in pay practices, and

    • balancing risk, safety and boldness in today's environment

    Throughout, Megan emphasizes progress over perfection, collective responsibility, and the relief that comes from remembering: you don't have to do this all by yourself, all at once, or exactly right.

    Episode highlights:

    [00:08:06] Finding HR by Accident—and Choosing It on Purpose

    [00:10:05] Why Small Organizations Are Where HR Can Be Transformative

    [00:12:50] What People-Centered HR Really Means



    [00:14:30] Protecting the Organization Because of the People

    [00:18:52] Living Wage vs. Thriving Wage

    [00:21:44] Start Where You Can: Entry-Level Pay Matters Most

    [00:24:52] Concrete Steps Toward More Equitable Pay—Without New Money

    [00:29:23] Why Pay Transparency Builds Trust

    [00:31:07] Navigating Risk, Fear, and "Safety" in Uncertain Times

    [00:34:15] Scenario Planning for People, Not Just Programs

    [00:37:030] A Mantra for Leaders Carrying Too Much

    Guest Bio:

    Megan Rolfe provides small social justice organizations with the HR support they need to move work forward and impact change. Having spent 15+ years supporting nonprofits and small businesses focused on making the world a better place, equipping the teams that most need capacity for their vital work holds a special place in her heart


    Important Links and Resources:

    Megan "MR" Rolfe

    Blue Swallow Consulting: Resources including working towards a thriving wage and first steps towards more equitable compensation

    Vega Mala Consulting: includes more resources on equitable compensation

    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
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    40 min
  • When Strategy Meets Organization Design for Nonprofits with Jeanne Bell

    When Strategy Meets Organization Design for Nonprofits with Jeanne Bell
    Feb 10 2026

    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.

    Episode highlights:

    09:05 | Why the STAR Model Matters in Nonprofit Life 13:20 | A Clear, Shared Definition of Strategy (And Why It's Non-Negotiable) 15:15 | When to Revisit Strategy: The Changing Sociopolitical Context 17:25| Beyond Flat vs. Hierarchical: Designing for Roles, Accountability & Power 20:20 | The Critical Role of Cross-Functional Spaces 23:05 | Stop Creating Ineffective Committees & Task Forces 27:25 | Recommendations vs. Decisions: Be Honest About Power 30:05 | Rewards & Compensation: The Hidden Restraints on Organizational Design 35:35 | Job Descriptions: A Mechanistic Tool Limiting Flexibility 38:20 | Why Management Teams Don't Work (And What to Build Instead) 42:05 | The Question Every Nonprofit Leader Should Ask 44:35 | Closing Reflections

    Guest Bio:

    Jeanne Bell is the co-founder of Just Org Design. She has consulted on nonprofit strategy and organizational change for over 25 years. Jeanne also curates Nonprofit Quarterly's Leading Edge Program, recruiting and presenting nonprofit practitioners advancing more equitable nonprofit leadership practices. Previously, Jeanne led Compass Point Nonprofit Services, one of the country's premier leadership and capacity-building organizations. While serving as CEO, Jeanne also chaired the board of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, a national association of nonprofit capacity builders and academics. She currently serves on the boards of Community Works and The Resilience Initiative (advisory). She has a Masters in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Francisco. Jeanne loves living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

    Important Links and Resources:

    Jeanne Bell

    JustOrg Design

    The Missing Discipline: How How Organization Design Can Align and Propel Justice-Committed Nonprofits

    Designing Organizations by Jay Galbraith

    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.

    😀 Follow Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn
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    46 min
  • Practicing Presence in Polarized Times for nonprofits and associations with Danielle Marshall

    Practicing Presence in Polarized Times for nonprofits and associations with Danielle Marshall
    Jan 27 2026
    Polarization isn't just a political issue—it's a leadership challenge, and this episode examines how nonprofit leaders can respond with presence rather than reactivity. In this "Learning Out Loud" episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton and guest Danielle Marshall explore how nonprofit leaders can navigate today's polarized environment with greater awareness, empathy, and intention. Together they: Explore the tension between "winning" difficult conversations and staying grounded, clarifying purpose, and choosing 'right relationship' over being right. Unpack how polarization shows up not just in public discourse, but in workplaces, boardrooms, and personal relationships—and Discuss how small, practical practices like pausing, setting intentions, and taking responsibility for impact can help leaders build bridges instead of deepening divides. Episode Highlights [00:00:27] Polarization Moves From the Headlines Into Daily Life [00:01:20] Being Right vs. Being in Right Relationship [00:02:28] The Emotional Toll of Polarization [00:03:00] Modeling Constructive Dialogue as a Leader [00:06:18] Polarization Is Everywhere—Even When It's Not Directed at You [00:08:16] Entering Conversations With Awareness [00:09:22] Learning How to Listen Requires Practice [00:11:31] How Social Media Amplifies Division [00:13:00] Conflict Entrepreneurs and the Cost of Engagement [00:15:01] Choosing Curiosity Over Combat [00:16:44] Resetting Mid-Conversation [00:18:25] Owning Your Triggers [00:19:18] Learning From Missteps and Making Repair [00:22:02] Clarifying Meaning Instead of Making Assumptions [00:23:42] Defining Polarization [00:25:12] The Stories We Make About "Those People" [00:27:02] Setting Intentions Before Difficult Conversations [00:30:22] What Does "Right Relationship" Mean? [00:31:42] Accountability Without Punishment [00:34:10] Polarization as a Chasm—and the Skills That Build Bridges [00:35:47] Start With One Practice [00:36:23] Closing Conversations With Care [00:37:24] Begin Where You Are Guest Bio: Danielle Marshall is an equity strategist and executive coach committed to helping organizations and leaders embed inclusive practices into their operations in meaningful and sustainable ways. As the founder of Culture Principles, she designs tailored strategies that strengthen team dynamics, enhance problem-solving, and cultivate inclusive leadership. Danielle also coaches senior executives to deepen their cultural competencies, fostering greater empathy, effective communication, and equitable decision-making. An ICF-certified Executive Coach and engaging speaker, she brings extensive experience in organizational development, equipping leaders with the skills and confidence to navigate diverse work places with impact and integrity. Important Links and Resources: Danielle Marshall Culture Principles Linktree Unpacked: Culture Chronicles 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
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    43 min
  • Scenario Planning for Nonprofits in Uncertain Times with Carol Hamilton

    Scenario Planning for Nonprofits in Uncertain Times with Carol Hamilton
    Jan 13 2026

    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.

    Episode Highlights 00:00–02:00 | Naming the Reality of Nonprofit Leadership Right Now 02:00–03:20 | Scenario Planning - a tool for the times we are in 03:20–05:00 | What Scenario Planning Is—and Is Not 05:00–06:30 | Why Traditional Planning Often Falls Short 06:30–08:00 | Shifting From Overwhelm to Agency 08:00–09:45 | What the Scenario Planning Process Looks Like 09:45–10:45 | Finding Common Priorities Across Futures 10:45–12:00 | An Invitation to Lead with Intention

    Important Links and Resources:

    Scenario planning services

    Quote from Mariame Kaba From "Read This When Things Fall Apart" Edited by Kelly Hayes

    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
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    13 min
  • [Re-release] Grounded presence for nonprofit leaders in chaotic times with Danielle Marshall

    [Re-release] Grounded presence for nonprofit leaders in chaotic times with Danielle Marshall
    Dec 30 2025
    Explore how nonprofit leaders can cultivate grounded presence, clarify their sphere of control, and stay anchored in mission and values while leading through ongoing uncertainty and disruption. As nonprofit leaders continue navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty, this "learning out loud" episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton and guest Danielle Marshall offers a grounded, human-centered exploration of how leaders can steady themselves—and their organizations—amid chaos. Drawing on lived experience, strategic frameworks, and resilience practices, the conversation centers on: cultivating a grounded presence,clarifying what is within one's sphere of control, andanchoring decision-making in mission, values, and community. Rather than offering quick fixes, the episode invites nonprofit leaders to slow down, filter the noise, strengthen boundaries, and choose intentional actions that sustain both personal wellbeing and collective impact over the long haul. Episode Highlights [00:00–02:05] Regrounding in Turbulent Times [04:15–06:39] Grounded Presence as a Leadership Practice [06:39–08:23] Chaos Is the Strategy—So Center Your Why [08:23–10:19] Filtering the Noise & Choosing Information Wisely [12:08–14:44] Resilience Isn't Perfection [15:24–17:31] Making Space for Presence [19:23–20:41] Scenario Planning & the Sphere of Control [21:21–23:32] Don't Reinvent the Wheel—Find the Organizers [24:07–25:41] Mission as the Unifying Center [26:03–27:57] Agency Over Outrage [29:13–31:08] Community Built Before Crisis [31:08–33:26] The Power of the Local [34:56–36:05] Intentionality Over Fear [40:39–42:40] Boundaries as Leadership Responsibility [46:03–49:00] Doubling Down on Values Important Links and Resources: Danielle Marshall Culture Principles Linktree Unpacked: Culture Chronicles Draw Together with Wendy MacNaughton Guardian US edition). Week magazine Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American on Substack How to survive the end of the world podcast with adrienne and Autumn Brown The feminist survival project 2025 podcast Dear White Women podcast On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder which is available in a video series The Sum of Us by Heather McGee Decluttering Your Leadership by Judy Oyedele 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
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    50 min
  • Strategic questions for strategic thinking for nonprofit leaders with Carol Hamilton

    Strategic questions for strategic thinking for nonprofit leaders with Carol Hamilton
    Dec 16 2025

    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.

    Episode Highlights Setting the Frame: Strategy Through Reflection and Humanity

    [00:00:00–00:01:13]

    Caring for Basic Needs to Make Better Decisions

    [00:04:10–00:08:01]

    Don't Go It Alone: Expanding Perspective Through Support

    [00:08:01–00:10:31]

    Two Essential Leadership Questions: "What Am I Missing?" and "Tell Me More"

    [00:10:31–00:12:03]

    Surfacing Expectations and Assumptions

    [00:12:03–00:14:27]

    Asking "So What?" to Get to Strategic Impact

    [00:14:27–00:16:45]

    From Individual Practice to Organizational Insight

    [00:17:00–00:18:03]

    Interrogating Organizational Design

    [00:18:03–00:19:00]

    Culture as the Silent Driver of Strategy

    [00:19:00–00:20:33]

    Filtering New Opportunities Through Alignment and Capacity

    [00:20:39–00:21:59]

    Resisting Frantic Urgency in Favor of Sustainable Focus

    [00:22:05–00:24:00]

    Closing Reflection: Strategy as Moment-by-Moment Human Practice

    [00:24:08–00:25:53]


    Important Links and Resources:

    Independent Sector coalition data base

    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
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    27 min
  • Navigating Through the In-Between with Interim Nonprofit Leadership with Erin Stratford Owens

    Navigating Through the In-Between with Interim Nonprofit Leadership with Erin Stratford Owens
    Dec 2 2025

    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

    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
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    34 min
  • Innovation Starts with Nonprofit and Association Culture with Elizabeth Engel and Jamie Notter

    Innovation Starts with Nonprofit and Association Culture with Elizabeth Engel and Jamie Notter
    Nov 18 2025

    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:

    [00:06:00] Revisiting Lean Startup, 10 Years Later [00:010:50] Defining Lean Startup and Design Thinking [00:011:50] Culture: The Invisible Barrier [00:014:40] When Culture Undermines Innovation [00:19:00] Insight Over Perfection [00:22:00] People Don't Resist Change—They Resist Being Changed [00:24:40] Low Fences, Not No Silos [00:27:00] Listening Beyond the Boardroom [00:30:40] Volunteer Culture Matters Too [00:31:00] The Role of Healthy Conflict [00:37:35] What a Culture Supportive of Innovation Looks Like [00:41:20] From Reactive to Proactive Transparency [00:44:35] The Questions Nonprofit Leaders Should Ask

    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:

    ✉️ 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
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    48 min