Mission: Impact Carol Hamilton

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

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/
 
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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
Be in touch!
✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting
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