Discover how strategic thinking powers future‑focused leadership. Learn six essential skills for nonprofit leaders and mission‑driven organizations

What if partnerships weren’t a last resort—but a proactive strategy for growth, sustainability, and greater mission impact? Learn how to cultivate readiness for nonprofit partnerships and what readiness looks like.

Read Greg Petersen's 2026 outlook for nonprofits, including requirements to meet the current landscape and questions to help prepare for the new year.

Shared back office services are a powerful way for nonprofits to strengthen their operational backbone and unlock capacity, reduce risk, and create space for leaders to focus on mission impact. Learn the benefits of shared back office services for nonprofits and how they help strengthen capacity.

As we close out 2025, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to every nonprofit leader, partner, and colleague who walked this challenging road with us. Read our reflections on 2025 and how we worked to support nonprofit leaders.

Leadership transitions are inevitable. Planning for them isn’t. Learn what the leadership cliff is, why succession planning is so important, and what readiness for succession planning looks like.

Strategic planning is not just a document or a deadline—it’s a process, helping organizations move from intention to impact and align mission, vision, and values. Here are our insights on how to approach strategic planning, including five foundational elements to include.

In the current landscape of uncertainty, organizations are being forced to pause. And while that pause can feel like a setback, it can also be an opportunity. Here are three areas where nonprofits can invest—even during a pause.

The nonprofit sector is navigating a prolonged period of disruption. What’s needed now more than ever is connection. Get our insights and considerations about using connection and emotional intelligence as a leadership strategy.

Government shutdowns can create more than uncertainty and chaos. In these conditions, it is hard to stay focused on the strategic vision you have set. Here are four key actions to consider, plus lessons from the 2015 - 2017 Illinois budget impasse and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In times of uncertainty or crisis, nonprofit leaders are called to be steady, clear, and compassionate communicators. Here are three practical communication templates you can copy and customize for your key stakeholders.

In every strategic collaboration, there’s a moment when resistance surfaces. These moments can feel like roadblocks—but they’re actually signposts. And when handled with care, it can become a powerful source of alignment and trust.

In times of change or transition, the shadow cast by leadership significantly influences organizational culture. Learn what the leadership shadow is, why it matters in mergers and partnerships, and three distinct ways leaders shape culture during change.

Communication can either build trust or erode it during the transitions of mergers and partnerships. Here are five communication practices that help nonprofit leaders build trust and navigate change with clarity and compassion.

Storytelling can shift culture, align values, and inspire transformation. Learn why storytelling is critical to organizational culture and how to use stories to shape your culture.

The most successful collaborations aren’t the ones that stick rigidly to their original plans. They’re the ones that adapt. Here are five guiding principles for evolving collaborations intentionally as things change over time.

Sustained collaboration thrives when trust is cultivated not just between individuals, but across entire organizations. It requires more than shared goals—it demands shared culture, clarity, and commitment. Here are five lessons nonprofit leaders can take to heart when building sustained collaborations.

In times of uncertainty, what if the answer isn’t to look inward and scale back, but to look outward? Here are five key insights from our nonprofit merger study that show how sustained nonprofit collaboration can power resilience.

Even in times of uncertainty, leadership still holds meaningful influence. Here are five key strategies nonprofit leaders can use to empower their teams, strengthen their organizations, and stay aligned with their mission.

In times of uncertainty, leadership isn’t about having the answers - it’s about showing up, staying grounded, and communicating with clarity and care. Read why communication matters now more than ever, and our five principles to guide your communication strategy during uncertain times.