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:

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:

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📚Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact

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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 offers nonprofit leaders practical insights into building organizations that are resilient, adaptable, and positioned for impact.

Episode highlights:

The Why Behind the Work - [00:08:08]

Defining Organizational Design - [00:13:53]

Structure, Silos, and Collaboration - [00:14:41]

Common Mistakes in Nonprofit Design - [00:18:23]

Balancing Human-Centered Values and Strategy - [00:20:40]

Downsizing by Design - [00:24:36]

Participation and Ownership - [00:23:32]

Benchmarking vs. Mass Customization - [00:30:01]

Strategic Plans Require Organizational Design - [00:37:40]

Mergers and Strategic Alliances - [00:41:21]

Examples of Successful Mergers - [00:44:16]

The Key Question for Leaders - [00:47:57]

Guest Bio:

Julian Chender is the founder of 11A Collaborative, an organization design firm focused on creating healthy society through healthy organizations. In his early years, Julian was an internal consultant at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) under Tony Fauci during the agency's response to the global Ebola and Zika crises. From there, he moved to external consulting, eventually joining Accenture's Operating Model & Organization Design practice shortly after its acquisition of Kates Kesler. Through 11A Collaborative, Julian has consulted to purpose-driven organizations across sectors. He is a Certified Organization Design Practitioner and an ICF-Certified Coach who holds a master's degree in Organization Development from American University and a B.A. in History from Swarthmore College.

Important Links and Resources:

Julian Chender

11A Collaborative

Organization Design Forum

Downsizing by Design: A Guide for Nonprofits

Candid Social Impact Staff Retention survey

Board Source Purpose Driven Leadership

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

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 tell fuller, more meaningful stories about their work and the communities they serve.

Episode highlights:

Guest Bio:

Kayla (Mueller) Meyers is a seasoned program evaluator with over a decade of experience in assessing and improving programs for nonprofits and public organizations. She specializes in evaluation capacity building and mixed-methods program evaluation, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her clients

Important Links and Resources:

Kayla Meyers

Bridgepoint Evaluation

Bridgepoint Evaluation Newsletter

Humphrey School of Public Affairs

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