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] –

🔁 Communications Is Change [00:12:29] –

💔 Communicating Layoffs with Humanity [00:14:30] –

🧠 Leaders Are Always Ahead of the Curve [00:18:24] –

🔄 Defining “Internal” vs. “External” in Complex Systems [00:19:32] –

🧩 Communication Is Not Strategy [00:20:57] –

💬 Who Gets Told What—And When [00:22:55] –

⚠️ Managing With Compassion Through Uncertainty [00:24:54] –

👥 The Impact on Those Who Remain [00:30:15] –

🌅 Ending Well: The Missing Ritual [00:33:15] –

🪦 Organizational Death and Grief [00:35:55] –

🧘‍♀️ Leading in Chaos: Self-Care Is Strategic [00:42:15] –

📝 Your Crisis Plan Should Include Snacks [00:44:04] –

Guest Bio:

Melissa George Kessler is a consultant and executive coach working in the areas of strategy and organization effectiveness through her independent practice, Organizations + Communications, and with partner firms. She began her career as a reporter and editor; later ran the communications shops for two agriculture associations; and has worked extensively in trade policy and education. Over a 20 year career, Melissa has done work with non-profit and private-sector partners throughout the urban and rural United States and in Asia, Africa and Latin America. She also has spoken at various OD conferences and is the author of a book chapter on communications and strategic change. Melissa splits her time between her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the national capital area.

Important Links and Resources:

Melissa Kessler

Organizations + Communications LLC

The Workplace Psychological Contract Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It

Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes

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 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 share their stories, advocate for the sector, and remind their communities why nonprofits matter now more than ever.

Episode highlights:

Carol shares her top five reasons the sector is essential:

1. Filling critical gaps in services and support

2. Driving social movements for justice and inclusion

3. Building social capital and connections in communities

4. Strengthening democracy and civic life

5. Spurring social innovation that reshapes society

• Leverage campaigns like Nonprofits Get It Done to tell the sector’s story

Important Links and Resources:

https://nonprofitsgetitdone.org/

https://www.urban.org/research/publication/what-financial-risk-nonprofits-losing-government-grants

https://www.vera.org/news/trumps-war-on-nonprofits-will-make-us-all-less-safe

https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Yentel-Written-Testimony.pdf

https://www.aam-us.org/2025/06/26/eo-impact-is-there-an-existential-threat-to-nonprofit-status

https://nonprofithub.org/a-brief-history-of-nonprofit-organizations/

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.

😀 Follow Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

In this episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton gives a tribute to nonprofit consulting star and nonprofit governance and fundraising expert Sabrina Walker Hernandez, President & CEO of Building Better Boards, by re-releasing their conversation from 2021. Ms. Hernandez passed away in July 2025 after a long battle with cancer.

Episode highlights:

[00:06:45] Finding Her Why: From Law to Nonprofit Service

[00:13:00] Breaking Down the Fundraising Cycle

[00:18:30] A Mantra for Courage: It’s Not About You

[00:21:15] Helping Board Members Identify Donors: The List Generator

[00:25:55] Cultivating With Authenticity

[00:29:75] Fundraising in Underserved Communities

[00:35:55] Where to Begin: Budget and Strategy

[00:40:30] Innovating Fundraising Approaches

Guest Bio:
Sabrina Walker-Hernandez was the President & CEO of Building Better Boards. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. One of Sabrina’s greatest successes was that she increased operation revenue from$750,000 to $2.5 million over an 8-year period as well as being responsible for the planning and operations of a $12 million comprehensive capital campaign in the 3rd poorest county in the United States. She facilitated numerous workshops with hundreds of nonprofit professionals and was a master trainer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Sabrina gained a certificate in Nonprofit Management by Harvard Business School. She was an active community leader and volunteer in Edinburg, Texas.

Important Links and Resources:

Tributes to Sabrina:

https://texasborderbusiness.com/in-loving-memory-of-sabrina-walker-hernandez/

https://riograndeguardian.com/tributes-pour-in-for-sabrina-walker-hernandez/

https://www.legacychapelsrgv.com/obituaries/sabrina-walker-hernandez

https://www.youtube.com/@SupportingWorldHope

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