From Strategic Planning to Action: How Nonprofits Turn Vision Into Execution
This spring, we celebrated NASA’s Artemis II mission, and the return of humans traveling around the moon. Watching the capsule land safely down back on Earth reminded of something important: NASA did not reach this point through vision alone. The mission succeeded...
Top Questions on Strategic Planning (and the Answers Nonprofits Actually Need)
Too many nonprofits spend months creating a strategic plan only to place it on a shelf beside last year's annual report and forgotten board materials. But the goal of strategic planning is not to produce paperwork. It is to create clarity, alignment and momentum for...
How Can Nonprofits Build Trust Through Radical Accountability?
Every few months, another nonprofit headline grabs attention for the wrong reasons: questions about executive compensation, concerns about donor dollars, leadership misconduct or organizations making bold claims without clearly explaining the impact behind them. Most...
Leading in Uncertainty: How Scenario Planning Helps Nonprofit Leaders Prepare for What Comes Next
When King Charles III visited the United States last week, most of the headlines focused on ceremony, but behind the scenes, the visit was widely described as a diplomatic masterclass in navigating uncertainty and strengthening long-term alliances. As the king noted:...
Top 10 Moonshot Goals for the Social Sector
As a futurist for the social sector, I am often asked about what to expect in the coming years. While there are many things I don’t know, there are few I do. The social sector will continue to rise to the moment. We’ve already navigated a pandemic, economic shifts,...
How Nonprofits Navigate an 80-Year Shift: Strategy Lessons from the Field
If it feels like things are moving fast, it is because they are. The pace of change has accelerated. More importantly, the number of things changing all at once has increased. Multiple systems are shifting at the same time: technology, workforce expectations, trust in...
Ideas to Impact: Why Most Social Change Fails Early and How to Do Better
My favorite graduation gift is the bestselling book, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. I give it often, because it speaks to people who feel called to do meaningful work in the world. One of the mentors tells the protagonist, Santiago, “When you really want something to...
5 Common Traps Boards Face When Hiring a Nonprofit CEO
In the past year alone, 10 of our longtime clients have gone through CEO transitions. That tracks with what national research is telling us: leadership turnover in the nonprofit sector is accelerating, and more organizations are entering transitions — whether they...
Resilience at the Edge of the World: What Antarctica Teaches Us About Leading Through Uncertainty
Antarctica has a way of checking your ego fast. There is no powering through here. No forcing the agenda. Ice shifts. Weather changes. Plans adjust. Nature does not negotiate. You can be prepared, thoughtful and experienced, and still be reminded very quickly that you...
Your 2026 Nonprofit Financial Check-Up: What Every Leader Should Review Now
As we approach the end of the year, every leader I know is thinking about financial health. With today’s uncertain economic environment, rising costs and inflation, changemakers are feeling the strain. Financial stability is no longer a “nice to have.” It is your...
