NGO Soul + Strategy

Summary Quite a few smaller size social sector organizations assume that program evaluation is too complex or demanding an undertaking for them. Is that the case, though? If we want to introduce program evaluation to staff, leadership, and boards who have not yet been inducted into the importance of program evaluation: what are the most effective questions to generate genuine interest in and motivation to engage in such program evaluation? How can we build a more evaluation-friendly culture all around? Chari Smith, President and Founder of the consulting company Evaluation into Action has written a book that gives clear answers to these questions: Nonprofit Program Evaluation Made Simple (2021). She explains her core argument in this podcast episode. Chari's Bio: We discuss: Organizational culture is a complex tapestry made up of attitudes, values, behaviors, and artifacts of the people who work for your nonprofit. Quote: By gathering data, nonprofits can pivot from a reactive stance to a proactive one, by acting on the data gathered Resources: Chari’s LinkedIn ProfileWebsite of ‘Evaluation into Action’Book ‘Nonprofit Program Evaluation Made Simple’

Summary What are the main benefits of a network structure, where power, authority, and leadership are dispersed and shared across regions, from an effectiveness perspective? What are the most important enabling habits, practices and behaviors that go with that, as a change leader? And what are the most valuable network-related frameworks, concepts, resources, and tools at work in moving towards this structure? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Anu Kumar, President and CEO at Ipas, on the why, the what, and the how of changing an organization from a hub and spoke to a horizontal NGO model. Anu's Bio: We discuss: Resources: Anu's LinkedIn ProfileIpas WebsitearticlearticleGoing Horizontal YouTube

Summary Conflict within our organizations: we often don't really want to face them, but they are very much there. The result? Plenty of passive aggression to go around. What are the implications of such forms of conflict avoidance? In other NGOs on the other hand -- especially in the last few years it seems -- internal strife has come out into the open - sometimes spilling into the media in an unwanted fashion. On another note: is interest-based problem-solving still a helpful approach to conflict management skill building, or not? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Daniel Genberg, one of the foremost consultants on NGO governance matters, on how conflict mediation can come to the rescue when nonprofits deal with internal strife. Daniel's Bio: We discuss: Quotes "Conflict mediation is not so much about getting out of conflict but about restoring relationships, listening skills, and learning and understanding how a situation looks like from the other side" Resources: Daniel's LinkedIn Profile Morrow Sodali (former name Nestor Advisors) Center for Effective Dispute Resolution CIVICUS Essay Tosca on NGO sector scandals about abuse of power and the role of cultural issues SSIR: The Upside of Conflict, with Joseph McMahon, Allen Fowler and Elizabeth Field &nbs

Summary What are some structural things that are wrong in development aid and in civil society? Which mindsets most need to be decolonized when it comes to the relationship between global South civil society organizations (CSOs) and INGOs? Global North-founded INGOs need to be reimagined. How, in turn, do global South-founded NGOs have to change to take over many roles that INGOs currently still fulfill? And how do they need to recalibrate their power relationships with INGOs? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Charles Kojo Vandyck, a development practitioner based in Ghana, a leader at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), and a thinker on alternatives to development and alternatives to INGO models. Charles’ Bio: Alternative ConvosSpotify We discuss: Resources: Charles’ LinkedIn Profile Podcast Alternative Convos – on Spotify WACSI Website Reimagining the INGO Website YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe Email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her socia

Summary Leadership transitions are tricky -- and potentially risky -- moments in a nonprofit's life. What are the most common pitfalls or aspects that get overlooked when nonprofits -- and outgoing leaders themselves -- tackle such leadership transitions? What key strategies and tactics are essential to ensure a smooth leadership transition and maintain organizational stability? What are the habits, practices, and behaviors that are most aligned with a successful exit of an Executive Director? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Ignacio Saiz, who transitioned out of the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) some 2 years ago, on the right way to do this. Ignacio’s Bio: We discuss: opportunity Quotes: “Boards need to realize top leadership transition involves more than a recruitment”“Planned leadership transitions should be seen as a shared opportunity, not a cause for concern”“Transition takes at least two years, and has to include the transition-in period when the incoming leader needs active support” Resources: Ignacio’s LinkedIn Profile Ignacio's blog post on the matter (note links at the end to two good additional resources) YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn<

Summary What should I imagine, practically, when a team coach starts to support my team? What does a well-known team coach find the most rewarding about working with nonprofit teams? Can a team coach detect any differences in team behaviors or tendencies between their for-profit and nonprofit clients? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Alexander Caillet, CEO and co-founder of Corentus, Inc., on all of the above questions, including how to navigate team behaviors when it comes to organizational politics as well as decision-making. His answers may surprise you! Alexander’s Bio: · CEO and co-founder of Corentus, Inc. · Adjunct professor at Georgetown University, in its Leadership Coaching Certificate Program · Alexander also worked at other coaching and consulting companies · His education is in Organizational Psychology We discuss: Quotes: “I was surprised to encounter issues of hierarchy, power, DEI, and dysfunction in the nonprofit sector, I had not expected these as much in this sector” Resources: Alexander’s LinkedIn Profile Corentus Website Corentus Email Info on Corentus' offer on Low bono / Pro bono team coaching opportunity YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Youtube

Summary What is the state of DEI in US-founded international development organisations (both for-profit and nonprofit), and how has this state changed since 2021? What has been the action, as compared to the professed intentions for action? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Shiro Gnanaselvam, President and CEO at Social Impact, on DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) trends in US Development agencies. Shiro’s Bio: We discuss: Resources: Shiro’s LinkedIn Profile Social Impact website Social Impact’s blog post on overall survey results Social Impact blog post on 7 actions the US development sector must take YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Youtube

Summary What is life after leadership like? What happens to you as a person when you leave a high-powered, highly visible role in civil society? What happens with your sense of identity? Does this also perhaps touch on ego as well? What offers new meaning and purpose, when we live our life-after-leadership? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Sam Worthington, former President and CEO at InterAction, who stepped down from a position with much positional as well as symbolic power just about a year ago. Sam’s Bio: We discuss: doingbeing Quotes: “The transition is about having been the village chief before; now, I am no longer in the village” “My public persona never was my identity” Resources: Sam’s LinkedIn Profile Book David Brooks, From Strength to Strength Essay by David Brooks in The Atlantic: The New Old Age (gated) YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Youtube

Summary What is scaling? And how is it different from growing? What’s the role of partner strategies or multiplier strategies in scaling? What are the implications of scaling in an era of decolonizing aid, localizing development, and shifting roles of nonprofits and NGOs, shifting power, authority and decision rights? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Amy Ragsdale, Director at Spring Impact, a consulting, coaching and training agency specializing in scaling strategiesfor mission-focused organizations, on how to navigate the big scaling quandary. Amy’s Bio: We discuss: at the same rate as adding resources to an organizationimpacting a societal problem at a larger scale, by increasing impact exponentially, while adding resources incrementally Quotes: “Scaling is not the same as growing. The two are often confused. ” “Invention is not the same as innovation! (the latter involves testing and learning)” Resources: Amy’s LinkedIn Profile Website of Spring Impact Podcast Mission to Scale YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Youtube

Summary What are the vital steps a senior leader have to take as they step into a new leadership role? What to do and what to expect when you are transitioning into that new role? And, separately, to what extent are African leadership models and frameworks different from global North ones? Most importantly, what could global North imprinted leadership models learn from African ones? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Adama Coulibaly, Global Programs Director at Oxfam, on both these topics. He is a very experienced NGO leader, a coach, and an eloquent thinker and author on all things leadership. And he just transitioned into his new role at Oxfam, so he is here to speak from experience! Adama’s Bio: We discuss: Give yourself at least 2, if not 4 weeks between two jobs Use your break time to learn as much about your new organization as you can Communicate healthy boundaries immediately, otherwise, you will pay a stiff price Build on what works; don’t feel the need to change everything or most things Prioritize external engagement, insist on it, and commit to external engagements so that your calendar time for this is protected Quotes: “Positive thinking is not about utopia: I call myself a realistic positive thinker. There are a lot of negative things in the world. It is about how we balance negative and positive things” “If you have a weak transitioning period, you set yourself up for failure” “As soon as you enter the door, you have to problem solve, there is no honeymoon for senior leaders”Resources: Adama’s LinkedIn Profile Positive minds, a pro bono consulting, coaching, and mentoring group (see also Coul’s blog on this site) Coul’s blog post about leadership transition YouTube video of this podcast&a

Summary What should we think of when we consider organization integrity issues? How do you distinguish between positive and negative forms of power? How do we nurture power for organizational integrity? These are the fairly complex questions that we address in the podcast today. In this NGO Soul+Strategy episode, I interview Bhavika Patel, Senior Adviser for Equalities and Inclusion at Oxfam Great Britain, and Alex Cole-Hamilton, independent consultant and one of the founders of the Power and Integrity Initiative, on their work on positive power for organizational integrity. Bhavika’s Bio: Alex’s Bio: We discuss: Resources: Website of Power & Integrity Alex’s Website Bhavika’s LinkedIn Profile Alex’s LinkedIn Profile YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. tosca@5oaksconsulting.org You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter <

Summary How can the feelings of people who work in organizations both facilitate and suppress change? What makes people attach reputation and credibility to another person? And how does this relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and these may work out in practice? What's the problem with think tanks from the perspective of a decolonization goal, and what has been the problem historically? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Ajoy Datta, consultant, policy researcher, and coach, on decolonizing think tanks, policy research organizations, and consulting agencies. Ajoy’s Bio: We discuss: if Resources: Ajoy’s LinkedIn profile Ajoy’s Medium blog posts Ajoy’s Website Sample blog posts: 1, 2 YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Summary How should we think about the ‘collective journey to equitable development’ of Northern-founded NGOs, national NGOs and their funders? What obstacles stand in the way of continuing on that journey? Why does Humentum argue that NGO operating models need to enable ERA (Equitable, Resilient, and Accountable) development, and how does that need to come about? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Kim Kucinskas, Director for Community Strategy at Humentum, on nonprofit operations as a driver of transformation. Kim’s Bio: We discuss: strategic power in the operations modelEquitableResilientAccountableinstitutional architecturepeople and culturefunding, risk frameworksautonomyshift from risk transfer to risk sharing Quotes: “There is strategic value and potential in operations; not as “back-office functions” but as drivers of transformation” “We are at a tipping point in terms of significant NGO sector change” Resources: Kim’s LinkedIn profile Kim’s Email Humentum's ERA reports YouTube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels:

Summary How does a climate change activist movement such as Extinction Rebellion (XR) chose among strategies and tactics on the spectrum between more 'radical' actions such as civic agitation, (nonviolent) disobedience, high-profile stunts that may lead to arrests and more 'mainstream' actions that may (or may not?) help them build a more broad public base? How does Extinction Rebellion (XR) see the distinction between insider and outsider strategies in climate change activism? Is it necessarily the case that 'radical 'activism by nature is cyclical, i.e. that it cannot be maintained on a long-term basis because of the intensity of this activism model? And how does Extinction Rebellion deal with internal as well as external equity dimensions of the fact that low-income people and/or those who face discrimination tend to get hit harder by the impacts of climate change? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview a youth activist in the Netherlands (my original home country), on how she sees Extinction Rebellion tackle all these choices and trade-offs. Bio of the youth activist X: We discuss: Here you can find all the podcasts: https://5oaksconsulting.org/podcast/ Click the link below to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. https://5oaksconsulting.org/email/ Or email Tosca attosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organizational needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca's content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tosca5Oaks LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toscabrunovanvijfeijken/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tosca5Oaks Teachable: https://5oaks.teachable.com/

Summary Environmental activism, environmental justice and equity concerns: what, if anything, is challenging about holding all of these three concerns at the same time? Can a better integration or balance be achieved between these 3 concerns? To what extent is radical activism cyclical in nature because it is hard to keep activists motivated for peak public mobilization moments? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Aseem Prakash, Professor of Political Science and Founding Director at the Center on Environmental Politics at the University of Washington, Seattle (USA) on climate change activism by nonprofits and social movements. Aseem does much of his research together with Nives Dolsak, also a Professor at the University of Washington. Aseem’s Bio: Nives’ Bio: We discuss: Resources: Aseem’s Website Aseem’s LinkedIn Profile Academic article on climate change activism motivated museum vandalism (open access!): https://www.nature.com/articles/s44168-023-00054-5 Example of a article by Aseem and Nivek for broader audiences: HERE Their article on South Africa and coal:

Summary What are the strengths of a confederated nonprofit organizational structure and what are its inherent weaknesses and limitations? What is a ‘diversified network’ type of organizational structure? To what extent does having a confederated organizational structure, as well as the aspiration to be a diversified network, Impact the nature, legitimacy, adaptability, and quality of decision-making? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Doris Bäsler, formerly Oxfam, on the potential and peril when NGOs aspire to use a network structure Doris’ Bio: We discuss: Quotes: “Complexity of organizational structure is not inherently negative, if you understand it” “Being a diversified network is an imperative, not a nice to have in a world within which power is clearly shifting” Resources: Doris’s LinkedIn profile Doris’ Email Related Blogpost Youtube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels:

Summary What is the difference between forecasting and foresight, as a skill and an area of work? What are the pitfalls when international civil society organizations (ICSOs) apply crisis frameworks to trends that are actually longer-term, intersecting, and systemic? Decolonization and diversity: how are these big current discussions and areas for taking action intersecting with what sometimes is called 'anticipatory capacity': the capacity to anticipate futures and know how to act in order to try to influence them? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview consultants and former Amnesty International practitioners Danny Vannucchi and Heather Hutchings, on anticipating the future of civil society operating space - the legal, political and normative space for CSOs to do their work. Their report, commissioned by the International Civil Society Centre (ICSC) as part of its long-term work on civic space, is titled: Anticipating Futures for Civil Society Operating Space. ICSC's mission is to strengthen the impact and resilience of international civil society organizations to support people to change their world for the better. The Centre does this by convening civil society actors, offering training, research and other activities. The Centre is planning further work on civil society's anticipatory capacity and is keen to get in touch with potential partners. Email Miriam Niehaus at ICSC: mniehaus@icscentre.org Heather’s Bio: Storm ConsultingDanny’s Bio: We discuss: shaping visions forging strategies to shape the future that emergesactionable Quotes: “How to not sit at the table laid out by others, but rather, invite others to sit at your own table – that is the challenge” “Crisis response is an important part of NGOS’ public relations

Summary What is ‘transscalar activism’ in a nutshell? And how is it different from what academics call the 'Boomerang' model of international advocacy NGO networks? When did international NGO advocacy begin attracting the attention of academics, and why? What had shifted at that point, what had changed? What was the dominant narrative in academia for a long time? And what was wrong with that? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Elizabeth Bloodgood, Associate Professor at Concordia University, Canada, and Christopher Pallas, Professor at Kennesaw University, USA, on major shifts in advocacy and campaigning approaches among NGOs. Trust me: their empirical research, based on practitioner case studies, is relevant for us practitioners. Elizabeth’s Bio: Christopher’s Bio: We discuss: Beyond the Boomerang: From Transnational Advocacy Networks to Transscalar Advoacychoose Resources: Elizabeth’s LinkedIn Profile Faculty page of Elizabeth Faculty page of Christopher Christopher’s Google Scholer page Book: <&l

Summary What’s problematic about philanthropy in the ways the sector has practiced it for many decades? Are there limits to trust-based philanthropy? How do boards of grant-making philanthropies such as the Global Fund for Children have to change their composition, mindset, and oversight practices to lessen a compliance and upward accountability lens and to make themselves more responsive to actual needs? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview John Hecklinger, President and CEO at Global Fund for Children, on how we can practice philanthropy that’s less colonial in mindset and practices. John’s Bio: We discuss: Quotes: “Everyone was getting smarter together once the board composition became more representative of the grantee partners it worked with” Resources: John’s LinkedIn Profile Global Fund for Children (GFC) Website GFC’s blogs Podcast episode #22, NGO Soul + Strategy, with Dorothy Nyambi of MEDA Benchmarking study on Shifting Power among 17 CSOs (International Civil Society Centre) Youtube video of this podcast Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces. Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Summary What are the characteristics of 'digitally native' campaigning organizations? How do digital NGO campaigning organizations compare and contrast with traditional, 'brick and mortar' NGOs? Do digitally native civil society organizations and traditional NGOs sufficiently seek to complement each other, in order to maximize impact? I don't think they do. In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Nina Hall, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Johns Hopkins University, on my episode 'Digital advocacy NGOs: a necessary, complementary force'. Nina’s Bio: Transnational Advocacy in the Digital Era, Think Global, Act Local ( We discuss: Resources: Nina’s professional Website Nina’s personal Website Nina’s book: Transnational Advocacy in the Digital Era: Thinking Global, Acting Local, Oxford University Press, 2022 Nina's book recently won the ISA ICOM best book prize, see HERE Stanford Social Science Innovation Research excerpt of Nina's book - HERE Twitter thread by Nina on the book – HERE Youtube video