Insights & Research

Research-backed strategy for mission-driven leaders

Two professionals having a strategic consulting discussion at a modern office table

Featured Insight22 min read

How to Find and Hire the Right Consultant for Your Nonprofit Organization

A practitioner's guide to finding, evaluating, and hiring the right nonprofit consultant. Covers what they do, what they cost, red flags to avoid, and the 5 questions that separate great consultants from mediocre ones.

Tools, frameworks, and perspectives to help mission-driven leaders build stronger organizations and create lasting impact.

Hands planting a seedling in soil representing philanthropic investment and growth

GuidePhilanthropic Strategy

What Is Philanthropic Strategy? A Practitioner's Guide for Donors, Foundations, and Mission-Driven Leaders

Learn what philanthropic strategy is, why it matters, and how to build one that creates lasting impact — from a consultant who has guided 100+ organizations through the process.

Two professionals having a strategic consulting discussion at a modern office table

GuideNonprofit Consulting

How to Find and Hire the Right Consultant for Your Nonprofit Organization

A practitioner's guide to finding, evaluating, and hiring the right nonprofit consultant. Covers what they do, what they cost, red flags to avoid, and the 5 questions that separate great consultants from mediocre ones.

Team of professionals collaborating at a modern conference table

ResearchOrganizational Development

6 Evidence-Based Practices to Retain Nonprofit Talent and Reduce Turnover

High turnover undermines mission impact. Drawing from research and field experience, we identify six evidence-based practices that nonprofit leaders can implement to retain their most valuable asset — their people.

Diverse nonprofit team collaborating around a conference table during a board meeting

GuideFund Development

How to Hire a Capital Campaign Consultant: The Definitive Guide for Nonprofit Leaders

Learn how to hire the right capital campaign consultant for your nonprofit. Covers fees, RFP templates, red flags, interview questions, and a proven selection framework from 30+ years of fundraising consulting.

Professional annual report documents and charts spread across a desk

GuideCommunications

How to Write a Nonprofit Annual Report That Strengthens Donor Relationships

Your nonprofit annual report is more than a compliance document — it is a strategic relationship tool. This guide walks you through the essential sections, storytelling techniques, and equity-centered practices that turn your annual report into a donor retention engine.

Person writing a compelling case for support document at a desk with notes and research materials

GuideFund Development

How to Write a Nonprofit Case for Support That Actually Raises Money

Learn how to write a nonprofit case for support using The Giddings Case Framework — a consultant-tested methodology with templates, a scoring rubric, and real mid-size nonprofit examples.

Consultant facilitating a strategic planning session with a diverse group of nonprofit professionals in a collaborative workshop setting

GuideStrategic Planning

How to Choose a Nonprofit Strategic Planning Consultant (And What to Expect)

A guide to hiring a nonprofit strategic planning consultant — what they do, what it costs, red flags to avoid, and how equity-centered planning produces better outcomes.

Nonprofit board members engaged in a professional training session around a conference table

GuideBoard Development

Nonprofit Board Training: The Complete Guide to Building an Effective Board (2026)

Expert guide to nonprofit board training from more than 30 years of consulting. Covers topics, costs, free resources, IRS compliance, and how to assess your board's needs.

GuideStrategic Planning

Nonprofit Strategic Planning: The Complete Guide for Mission-Driven Organizations

Most nonprofit strategic plans never get fully implemented. Research suggests implementation failure rates of 60-90% are common across sectors. This guide is grounded in what actually works for mission-driven organizations, drawn from our work with more than 100 nonprofits.

Diverse professionals seated around a boardroom table with laptops, attentively watching a woman present at a whiteboard during a governance meeting

GuideBoard Development

February 26, 2026

Nonprofit Governance Best Practices: A Practical Guide for Boards That Actually Govern

Too many nonprofit boards confuse governance with management — and the organizations they serve pay the price. This practitioner's guide covers the seven pillars of effective nonprofit governance, the most common governance failures we see in the field, how to build an equity-centered governance framework, and the specific practices that separate high-performing boards from boards that simply meet quarterly and approve minutes.

Storyteller sharing a compelling narrative with an engaged audience in a warm setting

GuideCommunications

February 25, 2026

Nonprofit Storytelling: How to Turn Your Mission into Stories That Move People to Give

Most nonprofit storytelling fails not because organizations lack compelling stories, but because they tell them in ways that center the organization rather than the people and communities they serve. This practitioner's guide covers how to collect, craft, and deploy stories that build donor relationships, strengthen grant applications, and advance your mission — without exploiting the communities you exist to serve.

Nonprofit executive in a coaching conversation with a professional leadership coach

GuideLeadership

February 25, 2026

Nonprofit Executive Coaching: What It Is, When You Need It, and How to Find the Right Coach

Most nonprofit executive directors operate without the one resource that leaders in every other sector consider essential: a coach. This practitioner's guide covers what nonprofit executive coaching actually is, when it makes the biggest difference, what to look for in a coach, and how to build a coaching engagement that produces real leadership growth — not just another line item in your professional development budget.

Hands joining together over a table symbolizing collective impact and collaboration

GuideStrategic Planning

February 21, 2026

Nonprofit Communications Strategy: A Practitioner's Guide for Mission-Driven Leaders

Most nonprofit communications strategies are built for marketing, not leadership. This practitioner's guide reframes communications as a strategic management tool — one that aligns stakeholders, drives fundraising, and advances mission. Learn how to build a communications strategy that actually moves the organization forward.

Diverse group of community and nonprofit leaders collaborating around a strategy table

GuideSocial Impact

February 21, 2026

How to Implement Collective Impact: A Practitioner's Guide for Mission-Driven Leaders

Most collective impact initiatives produce impressive reports and unchanged systems. The difference between initiatives that create real change and ones that don't comes down to implementation — specifically, how they handle power, governance, and community accountability. This practitioner's guide covers what actually works, what consistently fails, and how to build a collective impact initiative that produces equitable outcomes.

Nonprofit development team reviewing fundraising strategy documents

GuideFund Development

February 21, 2026

Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy: A Practitioner's Guide to Sustainable Revenue

Most nonprofits have a fundraising plan. Very few have a fundraising strategy. The difference determines whether an organization builds sustainable revenue or stays trapped in a cycle of reactive grant-chasing and donor fatigue. This guide covers how to build a fundraising strategy that actually works — grounded in relationship, equity, and organizational reality.

Financial documents and calculator representing nonprofit funding strategy planning

PlaybookFund Development

February 18, 2026

The Post-DOGE Playbook: How Local Organizations Can Pivot After Federal Funding Cuts

Federal funding is being restructured at an unprecedented pace. This step-by-step playbook gives local nonprofit leaders a 90-day action plan to diversify revenue, stabilize operations, and build financial resilience after DOGE cuts.

Diverse group of professionals collaborating around a conference table

GuideSocial Impact

February 18, 2026

How to Build a Stakeholder Engagement Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide

A practical, equity-centered guide to stakeholder engagement for mission-driven organizations. Learn the 7-step process, the 5 levels of engagement, and how to move beyond tokenism to genuine shared power.

Professional woman leading a strategy discussion in a modern office setting

StrategySocial Impact

February 18, 2026

Beyond the Acronym: Equity Strategy When DEI Is Under Fire

DEI is under political fire, but equity work continues. A pragmatic framework for nonprofit leaders navigating the backlash — how to reframe strategy, protect programs, retain talent, and sustain impact without retreating.

Professional working on strategic planning documents at a desk

GuideStrategic Planning

February 18, 2026

Theory of Change: A Practical Guide for Nonprofits

Whether a funder just asked for one or you are revisiting an outdated framework, this guide walks you through every component of a theory of change — with an equity-centered approach that most guides ignore entirely.

Person presenting a communications strategy on a whiteboard to colleagues

GuideOrganizational Development

February 18, 2026

Nonprofit Capacity Building: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Do It Right

The definitive guide to nonprofit capacity building — covering the eight key areas, a practical five-step framework, where to find grants, how to measure outcomes, and why an equity-centered approach produces better results.

Data visualization and analytics dashboard showing organizational strategy metrics

ResearchStrategic Planning

February 15, 2026

The State of Strategic Planning in Social Impact Organizations: A 2026 Analysis

Industry research shows that 60-90% of strategic plans never fully launch—and the social impact sector is no exception. Drawing on more than 30 years of field work with over 100 mission-driven organizations, Giddings Consulting Group introduces the GCG Equity Planning Model, a five-step framework for equity-centered strategic planning.

Diverse professional team collaborating around a table in a modern office setting

ArticleOrganizational Development

January 15, 2026

Retaining Nonprofit Talent: Six Practices That Actually Work

High turnover undermines mission impact. Drawing from research and field experience, we identify six evidence-based practices that nonprofit leaders can implement to retain their most valuable asset—their people.

Diverse professionals collaborating at a board meeting around a wooden table

ArticleSocial Impact

January 12, 2026

Measuring Social Impact: A Framework for Mission-Driven Organizations

Impact measurement remains one of the most challenging—and most essential—capabilities for mission-driven organizations. This comprehensive framework provides the tools, methodologies, and practical guidance to demonstrate your organization's true value to communities, funders, and stakeholders.

Professional mentoring session between senior and emerging nonprofit leaders

ArticleLeadership Development

January 10, 2026

Nonprofit Succession Planning: Ensuring Leadership Continuity

Executive transitions are inevitable, yet most nonprofits remain unprepared. A strategic succession plan protects your mission, preserves institutional knowledge, and positions your organization for continued impact—whether the transition is planned or unexpected.

Hands coming together in unity representing donor community and philanthropic giving

ArticleFund Development

January 8, 2026

Nonprofit Fundraising Trends 2026: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

The fundraising landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. From AI-powered donor intelligence to community-centric giving models, discover the strategies that will define nonprofit fundraising success in 2026 and beyond.

Professional team engaged in strategic discussion around conference table in modern boardroom

ArticleBoard Development

January 5, 2026

Board Development Best Practices: Building High-Impact Nonprofit Boards

Effective nonprofit governance requires more than filling seats—it demands strategic board development that aligns leadership capacity with organizational mission. This comprehensive guide provides actionable frameworks for building boards that drive meaningful community impact.

Diverse team collaborating on strategic planning with laptops and whiteboard

ArticleStrategic Planning

January 1, 2026

Nonprofit Strategic Planning in 2026: An Equity-Centered Guide for Mission-Driven Leaders

Strategic planning is evolving. In 2026, the most effective nonprofit leaders are moving beyond traditional frameworks to embrace equity-centered approaches that create lasting community impact. Here's how to build a strategic plan that truly serves your mission.

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