Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work

The Diligent Institute has just released its latest research report, Governance outlook 2027 for mission-driven organizations, based on insights from 230 nonprofit and public sector leaders.In this episode, Kira Ciccarelli, Senior Research & Programs Manager at the Diligent Institute, and Ellen Glasgow, Senior Vice President for Mission-Driven Organizations at Diligent, unpack the report's key findings and explore what they reveal about the priorities, risks and governance challenges shaping the year ahead.They explore how nonprofit and public sector boards can respond to funding uncertainty, redesign meetings around strategy and decisions, strengthen risk oversight, build scenario-planning discipline and put the right foundations in place for responsible AI use.Stay tuned to the end to hear the actions boards can take now to become more strategic, resilient and prepared for 2027. Download the full research report: www.diligent.com/resources/research/mdo-governance-outlook

As funding pressures, rising costs and growing accountability demands reshape the landscape for mission-driven organizations, strong financial oversight has never been more important. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Ryan Alexander, founder of RA Partners and author of Protect your mission The finance framework for nonprofit leaders, and Hannah Romick, co-founder and CEO of Conscient Strategies, explore how boards and leadership teams can use financial oversight as a strategic tool to strengthen governance and protect their mission.The conversation covers the questions every board should be asking about cash flow, revenue and financial sustainability, how organizations can build transparency and trust through stronger governance, and why internal controls are critical for reducing risk and protecting resources. Ryan and Hannah also discuss funding complexity, mission drift, scenario planning, board education and the role of technology in helping leaders make more informed financial decisions. Stay tuned to the end to hear Ryan and Hannah's advice on the single most important thing boards can do to strengthen financial oversight, improve decision-making and better safeguard their mission. Further resources on financial oversight and governanceFinancial oversight & risk management: A 5‑step guide for nonprofit boardsA practical guide to mastering financial oversight for public sector boardsProtect your mission The finance framework for nonprofit leaders by Ryan AlexanderConscient Strategies

As nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations face growing pressure to demonstrate impact, boards need more than just numbers. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Jennifer McKenzie, founder of Organised Synergy, and Dottie Schindlinger, Executive Director of the Diligent Institute,  explore how storytelling and mission metrics work together to help boards communicate impact with greater clarity, credibility and confidence.The conversation covers how boards can identify the right mission measures, use data more strategically, strengthen fundraising and donor engagement, and build trust through authentic storytelling. Jennifer and Dottie share practical advice on board development, the role of technology in supporting mission impact, and how nonprofits can approach AI responsibly while uncovering new insights from their data. Stay tuned to the end to hear Jennifer and Dottie's advice on the single most important thing boards can do to better connect mission metrics, storytelling and mission impact.Further resources on board mission measurement and advocacyHow to leverage data for your mission-driven organization's successHow nonprofit boards can unlock digital advocacy and crush it on Linkedin

Student voice is most powerful when it’s more than feedback but actually part of governance. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Zachary Patterson, co-founder of the National Student Board Member Association and former student board member, explores how school boards can meaningfully include students in decision-making.We discuss the unique perspective student board members bring, why representation matters, and what separates genuine participation from a symbolic seat at the table. The conversation also covers practical ways boards can better support student board members through onboarding, training, access to information and technology, and stronger relationships with board leaders.Be sure to listen to the end, where Zachary shares the one action every board can take in the next 30–60 days to better support and empower its student board members. The Edvanced CohortDiligent, the National Student Board Members Association (NSBMA) and the Consortium for State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) are proud to collaborate on a national professional development initiative to support students serving on district governing boards called The Edvanced Cohort. Inquiries from districts that wish to submit their student representative for consideration for the 2026-2027 cohort are currently being accepted, find out more here.

Board self-assessment is one of the most effective, and often overlooked, tools for strengthening governance. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, governance experts Barbara Paxton of BoardStrong and Steve Schroeder, former school board member and governance leader, explore how mission-driven boards can turn self-evaluation from a box-ticking exercise into a catalyst for continuous improvement.They discuss why many boards struggle with self-assessment, the key areas boards should evaluate, and practical ways to gather honest feedback, build trust, and turn insights into meaningful action. They also share how regular self-evaluation can strengthen board engagement, accountability and mission impact. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode, where Barbara and Steve share their top advice for boards looking to get started and build a stronger culture of continuous improvement.Further resources on board self-assessmentSelf-assessments for transformative public school boardsA checklist for volunteer board self-evaluations