Libsyn Directory

Grounded presence for nonprofit leaders in chaotic times with Danielle Marshall

Release Date: 02/18/2025

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

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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...

Strategic questions for strategic thinking for nonprofit leaders with Carol Hamilton

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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...

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

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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...

Innovation Starts with Nonprofit and Association Culture with Elizabeth Engel and Jamie Notter

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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 ...

Designing nonprofits for impact with Julian Chender

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

In episode 135 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton talks with organizational design consultant Julian Chender about how nonprofits can move beyond simple restructuring to intentional organizational design that aligns strategy, structure, and process. They discuss: how organizational design is not the same as restructuring how design choices impact effectiveness, collaboration, and long-term sustainability. the pitfalls of designing around personalities, the importance of strategic clarity when facing downsizing or merger decisions. The conversation...

Rethinking Nonprofit Program Evaluation with Kayla Meyers

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

In episode 134 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton welcomes guest Kayla Meyers, founder of Bridgepoint Evaluation, for a conversation about reimagining program evaluation in nonprofits. They discuss: Why evaluation is not an audit or judgment as it has sometimes been in the past It should be a collaborative, curiosity-driven process that opens communication, supports learning, and improves impact. How to create right-sized, useful evaluation practices rooted in strategy and driven by purpose. How evaluation can be a force for good—helping organizations...

Creating Safer Nonprofit Spaces with Paula Brantner

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

In episode 133 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton and guest Paula Brantner, workplace fairness consultant and founder of Accountability Ignited, unpack the real challenges nonprofits face in preventing harassment, bullying, and misconduct. They talk about: The often-overlooked gaps in nonprofit systems—particularly around reporting mechanisms—and The false sense of security many mission-driven organizations have about their immunity to these issues. How to take a proactive, values-based approach rooted in trauma-informed practices, Why codes...

Demystifying Government Grants for nonprofit leaders with Justine Krank

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

In episode 132 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Justine Krank discuss the realities and nuances of pursuing US government grants for nonprofit organizations. They discuss: common misconceptions including that government grants equals federal grants The challenges and compliance demands that come with government dollars. How to decode complex RFPs -- the hidden requirements that can make or break an application, and how to get an organization truly grant-ready — not just on paper, but with the capacity to manage the work. why the human side of...

When the Stakes Are High: Centering People in Tough Nonprofit Leadership Moments with Melissa Kessler

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

In episode 131 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Melissa Kessler explore the intersection of communications and organization development, particularly in moments of crisis, transition and change. They talk about how internal communications can either reinforce or undermine values, strategy, and humanity within an organization. how to navigate layoffs, restructuring, or organizational shifts with humanity why how we communicate is just as important as what we decide. Episode highlights: 💬 “It’s a Communications Problem” – Or Is It? [00:09:27]...

Nonprofits Under Attack: Defending Democracy, Community, and Innovation with Carol Hamilton

Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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...

More Episodes

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 mindful about your information consumption
steps to sustaining personal and organizational well-being.

Episode highlights:

[00:07:25] Navigating Leadership in Uncertain Times

[00:010:25] Embracing Imperfect Resilience Practices

[00:13:25] Shutting Out Noise vs. Making Space for Thought

[00:16:25] Finding Agency Amidst Chaos

[00:18:25] Trusting Experts and Strategic Organizers

[00:20:25] Centering Mission and Values

[00:24:25] Navigating Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindsets

[00:29:25] The Power of Local Action

[00:35:25] Holding Space for Complexity

[00:40:25] Emotional Contagion and Leadership Presence

[00:44:25] Boundaries, Community, and Self-Care

[00:49:25] Looking Ahead: Holding Values Firmly

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

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