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Written by Jacquelyn Davis, Managing Partner, Volution Advisors, edited by AI Over the past year, nearly every nonprofit leader we speak with raises the same question: What should we actually be doing about AI? Like many leaders, I think about ethics, accuracy, and how AI can truly serve mission-driven organizations. I worry about the loss of human connection and critical thinking.  Call me a dinosaur, but I did not even understand – much less use AI, a year ago.  Today, I en

Jacquelyn Davis   , Managing Partner, Volution Advisors  In nonprofit organizations, people often assume the most important relationships are external—between the organization and its funders, partners, or community. But the most important relationship in a nonprofit isn’t external. It’s the relationship between the Executive Director and the Board Chair. When this partnership is strong, the organization moves forward with clarity and momentum. Decisions are made efficiently,

by   Jacquelyn Davis , Managing Partner Organizations rarely fail because of weak strategy alone. More often, failure occurs when culture quietly undermines execution. Diagnosing culture gaps requires looking beyond stated values and into everyday behaviors. Here are the most common signals and how to interpret them. 1. Stated Values vs. Observed Behavior Warning Signs Values posters exist, but behaviors don’t reflect them. Leaders tolerate behavior that contradicts stated no

by   Jacquelyn Davis , Managing Partner Why High-Performing Organizations Build Culture as Intentionally as Strategy Peter Drucker’s famous line — “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” — endures because leaders experience its truth every day. We sometimes see organizations with brilliant strategic plans, spot-on theories of change, and ambitious growth targets, yet still struggle to execute, adapt, and sustain performance. The missing ingredient is often not strategy or imple

Each year, I choose a word as a North Star. Not a resolution. Not a checklist. Just a simple guardrail for how I want to live and show up. Something I can come back to when things feel hard or overwhelming. Last year, my word was gratitude . I chose it knowing—feeling—that 2025 was going to ask a lot of us. And it did. There was so much in the world that felt heavy, unjust, and deeply concerning. Gratitude wasn’t about pretending things were fine. It was about learning how to

This year has been tough for the social impact sector on many fronts - from federal cuts, philanthropic constriction, government shutdowns, and increased need.  As we reflect on the resilience of leaders this year, we want to share what we’re seeing and learning. Over this past year, our team at Volution Advisors has walked alongside several organizations navigating two extremely difficult but defining challenges at the same time: Executing reductions-in-force (RIFs) with hum

Jacquelyn Davis   , Managing Partner, Volution Advisors He cried. He didn’t expect it. My coaching client – a 60 year old white man, raised in a culture that equated composure with strength—had spent a career with a stiff upper lip. He’d led teams, navigated crises, managed turnarounds, and carried the quiet, heavy responsibility of leadership alone. He believed, deeply, in handling things with steadiness and calm. He had always shown up prepared, thoughtful, even stoic. That

By  Jacquelyn Davis ,   Managing Partner, Volution Advisors I know — governance doesn't sound like the most exciting topic. It might bring to mind bylaws, meetings, slide decks, and minutes. But here's what we've seen time and again working alongside our clients:   strong governance can be one of the most transformative tools a nonprofit has for driving impact and ensuring sustainability. In the nonprofit world, so much focus (rightly) goes to programs and the day-to-day work

A Guide for Leaders By  Jacquelyn Davis   , Managing Partner, and  Jessica Sutter, Ph.D.   , Advisor In today’s challenging funding environment, many nonprofits and charter schools face a sobering reality: resources are tight and needs are growing. Many organizations are seeking new ways to sustain their missions, expand reach, and protect long-term impact.   Nonprofits are typically launched by passionate founders who are inspired to drive impact for a particular cause, and

By  Jacquelyn Davis  , Managing Partner, Volution Advisors Are you feeling stuck in that unsettling middle ground? Or even worse? In 2021, Adam Grant described a state many of us found familiar during COVID: not quite depressed, not quite thriving—something in between. He called it   languishing . Understanding the Spectrum Flourishing   is like Socrates described: life humming along, energy coursing, the sense that you're exactly where you're supposed to be. Depression   is

Donors aren't simply "doing nonprofits a favor." They are joining a mission they cannot carry out alone. When leaders recognize their equal role, the conversation shifts from asking for money to inviting someone into a shared journey of change.

Leading high-performance organizations doesn’t come from occasional bursts of effort or relying on a few star performers. The Michael Jordan approach leaves the vast collective talent in an organization untapped – and it doesn't win games. High-performance comes from building a culture of continuous growth—a system where people know what success looks like, receive feedback regularly, and are supported to keep stretching and developing their skills and knowledge.

Jacquelyn Davis   , Managing Director & Philanthropic Advising Lead, Volution Advisors In today's unpredictable economic and funding landscape, many organizations are facing the difficult decision to reduce their team for financial health and viability. To maintain culture and employee morale, it’s critical to manage these transitions carefully, strategically, and humanely. There is a strong interplay between organizational health and team feelings of value with responsible,

Nicky Goren   , Partner & Philanthropic Advising Lead, Volution Advisors Monisha Kapila’s   LinkedIn post ,   “Navigating Turbulent Waters: Why Nonprofit Leaders Need Executive Coaching,”   captures the emotional and strategic reality of nonprofit leadership. Her metaphors—of coaching as a   lighthouse, anchor, compass, and safe harbor —ring especially true in a sector that has weathered storm after storm in recent years. Echoing Jacquelyn Davis’s   LinkedIn post   calling on

Monisha Kapila   , Partner & Executive Coaching Practice Lead, Volution Advisors Leading a nonprofit organization has never been easy, but the challenges facing today's social sector leaders feel particularly intense. In these moments of complexity, many leaders are feeling isolated in their challenges, questioning their decisions, or struggling to maintain clarity about their organization's direction. At Volution Advisors, all of our Executive Coaches have been in the CEO’s

As federal support shrinks and community needs surge, private foundations face unprecedented pressure — and unprecedented opportunity. Some are stepping up boldly, while others remain on the sidelines. Drawing insights from ten candid interviews with philanthropic leaders, Volution Advisors’ Jacquelyn Davis explores how the sector is navigating this pivotal moment — and why the time to act is now.