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 ...
Jul 01, 2025•50 min•Ep. 126
In episode 125, of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton talks with Michele Walls. Michele shares her deep well of experience in nonprofit fundraising, communications, and strategic development. They explore: the importance of thoughtful relationship-building, patience, and team collaboration in securing sustainable funding. how fundraising is a team effort and a long game. how to move from reactive panic to strategic action—even amid uncertainty and funding contractions. Episode highlights:...
Jun 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 125
In episode 124 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and LeeAnn Mallorie discuss about 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 unc...
Jun 03, 2025•40 min•Ep. 124
In episode 123 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Josh Hirsch discuss using AI in fundraising and donor engagement. They explore: The evolution of AI, and its potential to enhance how organizations connect with donors. How to train AI tools effectively, leveraging data responsibly, and using AI to enhance—rather than replace—human-driven strategy. Why nonprofit leaders who embrace AI thoughtfully do not need to fear the technology EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The Evolution and Role of AI in...
May 20, 2025•35 min•Ep. 123
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 dri...
May 06, 2025•48 min•Ep. 122
In episode 121 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Rachel Jellinek discuss the power of video storytelling for nonprofits. They talk about: how nonprofits can use video effectively to connect with their audiences, How to maintain ethical storytelling practices. the importance of focusing on strengths rather than deficits, ensuring those sharing their stories have agency, and balancing emotional impact with authenticity. The conversation also explores common mistakes nonprofits make ...
Apr 15, 2025•35 min
In episode 120 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Leah Kral discuss how to foster innovation within nonprofits. They discuss six key practices for driving meaningful change: uncovering hidden needs, asking courageous questions, empowering collaboration, embracing experimentation, committing to continuous learning, and building a culture of persuasion. Through relatable stories and actionable advice, together they emphasize the importance of strategic thinking, adaptability, and cre...
Apr 01, 2025•41 min
In this solo episode of Nonprofit Mission Impact, Carol Hamilton delves into scenario planning and its value for nonprofits navigating an era of heightened uncertainty. She emphasizes how scenario planning moves organizations from a state of overwhelm to proactive action, outlines a step-by-step approach and shares a recent client story to illustrate its usefulness. Podcastathon 2025: She also highlights The Arc of Montgomery County and its important role in supporting people with developmental ...
Mar 18, 2025•16 min
In episode 118 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton talks with Meghan Speer about the concept of holistic communication within nonprofit organizations. They discuss: the importance of ensuring consistency and clarity across all communication channels to enhance donor engagement and confidence. insights into breaking down silos, fostering collaboration among internal teams, and how to map out donor touchpoints to deliver a seamless and human-centered experience. The conversation highlight...
Mar 04, 2025•35 min
In episode 117 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Danielle Marshall collaborate on another “learning out loud” episode. They discuss the challenges nonprofit leaders face in these chaotic, uncertain and threatening times. They explore: strategies for resilience, intentionality, and community building, the importance of grounding oneself in mission and values. how to filter out the noise, maintain agency, and support collective action. the significance of strategic focus, how to be ...
Feb 18, 2025•50 min•Ep. 117
In episode 116 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton interviews Jami Yazdani, a nonprofit project management expert specializing in helping organizations achieve their goals effectively. The conversation: Focuses on the nuances of project management in mission-driven organizations, Offers practical insights for nonprofit leaders to balance strategic vision and operational execution. Emphasizes prioritization, clear communication, stakeholder inclusion, and sustainable planning as critical...
Feb 04, 2025•42 min•Ep. 116
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. They talk about: The difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning Why acting like a three year old can be good for you (ask why five times in a row) How adaptability will be a key differentiator as to which organizations continue to grow and thrive. Episode Highlights: [00:10:05] Strategic Thinking v...
Jan 21, 2025•53 min•Ep. 115
In episode 114 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton is re-releasing a favorite from last year. It includes: What strategic planning is and is not The five steps to a comprehensive strategic planning process The Keys to ensuring your plan gets put into action and stays relevant The five steps are 1. kick off, 2. discovery or listening tour, 3. explore, 4. decide, 5. plan & act Strategic planning: Strategic planning is a structured process for setting priorities for the medium term (3-...
Jan 07, 2025•20 min•Ep. 114
In this reflective episode 113 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton curates and shares a collection of "permission slips" for nonprofit leaders. These invitations, offered by previous guests, encourage leaders to: embrace self-awareness, humility, and the value of collaboration recognize that cultivating healthy organizational cultures and effective leadership requires intentionality, grace, and a willingness to grow lean into personal development and foster collective stewardship Invest...
Dec 17, 2024•19 min•Ep. 113
In episode 112 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton shares several guests perspectives on the question: “what permission slip they would give to nonprofit leaders or what they would invite them to consider, to avoid being a martyr to the cause and as they work towards cultivating a healthier organizational culture.” Together they: Provide thoughtful, actionable advice to foster healthier, more sustainable, and inclusive organizational cultures. Explore why acknowledging your humanity and...
Dec 03, 2024•18 min•Ep. 112
In episode 111 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Asila Calhoun explore: The challenges nonprofit staff face when transitioning into leadership roles Managing difficult conversations: a key leadership skill Effective leadership in remote environments. Episode Highlights: [00:06:15] Common Challenges of New Leaders New leaders often struggle with delegation, managing former peers, and giving feedback. Asila discusses how these challenges stem from an inability to let go of tasks or ...
Nov 19, 2024•33 min•Ep. 111
In episode 110 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton discusses who should be involved in a nonprofit strategic planning process. She: Explores How a more inclusive approach that leverages diverse perspectives from both internal and external stakeholders Challenges the traditional top-down approach, Describes the role of each group of stakeholders in the process Episode highlights: Inclusive Strategic Planning [00:00:00] Challenges with Traditional Strategic Planning Models [00:02:06] Defi...
Nov 05, 2024•20 min•Ep. 110
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. She highlights the importance of preparation, comprehensive stakeholder involvement, and continuous adaptation to ensure the strategic plan remains relevant and actionable. Hamilton underscores that nonprofits should consider a strategic planning process that includes pre-retreat work, stakeholder engagement, and post-...
Oct 22, 2024•14 min•Ep. 109
In episode 108 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton explores how nonprofit leaders can measure and map their organization’s impact through building out their theory of change and program logic models. I explain: That you already have a theory of change, even if it hasn’t been formalized. how making these models explicit not only helps funders and stakeholders understand the value of an organization's work but also aligns teams and improves programs. how organizations can better understan...
Oct 08, 2024•21 min
In episode 107 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Kim Romain discuss the intricacies of leadership in nonprofit organizations, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by executive teams. Romain emphasizes the importance of cultivating a collaborative, mission-driven leadership culture that avoids burnout and fosters a sense of belonging among team members. She highlights the critical role of self-awareness and the need for leaders to step back from day-to-day prob...
Sep 24, 2024•39 min
In episode 106 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton talks with Julia Patrick, a seasoned nonprofit leader and philanthropist. On the episode, Patrick shares her perspectives on the evolving challenges and opportunities in nonprofit board governance, emphasizing the importance of strategic board management, the integration of younger leaders, and the need for continuous training to foster board engagement and effectiveness. The discussion also covers innovative solutions such as board lia...
Sep 10, 2024•38 min
In episode 105 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton continues to celebrate her four year podiversary by reflecting on how nonprofits can create healthier and more sustainable organizational cultures. Through a series of guest responses, the episode explores the necessity of fair compensation, flexible work environments, and the importance of mental and physical health for nonprofit staff. It also touches on the exploitation of passion in the sector, the need for diversity and inclusion o...
Aug 27, 2024•33 min
In this special episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton celebrates four years of podcasting and reflects on the lessons learned from her 100+ episode journey. The podcast, aimed at nonprofit leaders striving to build a better world without martyrdom, offers practical advice, deep analysis, and engaging conversations. This episode gathers insights from various guest experts, focusing on key themes such as cultivating healthy organizational cultures, prioritizing progress over pe...
Aug 13, 2024•38 min
In episode 103 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton, Tip Fallon, and Stephen Graves explore the nuances of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), exploring the differences between inclusive and equitable leadership. The conversation highlights the importance of not only representation but also the behavior and mindset of individuals within organizations, emphasizing the need for fairness and addressing power imbalances. This episode provides valuable insights for nonprofit leaders seeki...
Jul 30, 2024•44 min
In episode 102 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Jeff De Cagna discuss the concept of the "duty of foresight," stressing the need for boards to prepare for future challenges. They critique traditional leadership paradigms and promote stewardship as a more inclusive and effective approach. The conversation covers various topics, including the evolution from VUCA to BANI and the need to challenge orthodox beliefs to create resilient and forward-thinking organizations. Episode highli...
Jul 16, 2024•52 min
In episode 101 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Michael Randel discuss Michael’s research into nonprofit organizations that received significant funding from Mackenzie Scott’s trust-based philanthropy initiative. The impact of these transformative gifts on nonprofits, Six key areas of organizational preparedness and grant readiness Good practices for handling substantial donations. Episode highlights: [00:09:30] Mackenzie Scott's Trust-Based Philanthropy Philanthropy Approach - M...
Jul 02, 2024•48 min
In episode 100 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton goes solo to celebrate this special 100th episode. She reflects on the insights and lessons learned from her podcasting journey exploring nonprofit leadership and organizational health. Celebrating a significant milestone, she emphasizes the importance of creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultures, addressing toxic organizational behaviors, and reimagining a healthier nonprofit sector. Through her conversations with various gue...
Jun 18, 2024•26 min
In episode 99 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Mary Reeves, PhD discuss: the importance of effective governance in nonprofit organizations. the transformational experiences board members often undergo the Japanese concept of Ikigai—finding purpose through what you love, are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Mary's reflections provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of nonprofit governance and the importance of continuous learning and integra...
Jun 04, 2024•35 min
In episode 98 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton hosts Danielle Marshall for another learning out loud episode where we do a deep dive into a topic. Today’s topic is leadership in the nonprofit sector, especially the declining interest in nonprofit leadership as highlighted by the "Push and Pull" report by the Building Movement Project. We explore the dual reactions of frustration and affirmation in response to the report, discuss the challenges and support needs of nonprofit leaders, ...
May 21, 2024•36 min
In episode 97 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton, Elizabeth Engel and Shelly Alcorn discuss Why addressing climate change has shifted from a moral imperative to a business imperative for associations and nonprofits How climate change is impacting all sectors and industries now how associations are uniquely positioned to address climate change by leveraging their influence Why shifting away from the single points of failure built into the traditional ways association services have been ...
May 07, 2024•38 min
