The Sector Is Shifting: Here's How to Lead

Social impact leaders are scaling back, funding streams are evaporating, and public trust is eroding. In this candid kickoff to Season 4, Eric and Jonathan hold space for what’s really happening in the field—and why this moment demands courageous communication, community resilience, and reimagined leadership. This isn’t a time to shrink. It’s a time to show up.

• The surprising parallels to early COVID-era chaos (and how that can inform today’s crisis response)
• Why you might need to ‘scale back’ strategically—and how to do it without losing your sense of purpose.
• The key to rallying donors, partners, and staff using open communication and powerful impact stories.
• The #1 mistake leaders make when forced to let go of talented people (hint: it involves your support network)
  
  

Whether you’re facing sudden federal cutbacks or seeking to maintain momentum in a tough environment, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you adapt without compromising your impact.

Don’t let external forces derail your organization’s good work. Tune in now and learn how to protect your mission, inspire your team, and stay resilient. Even when the odds feel stacked against you.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - View from the field: What social impact leaders are experiencing right now

[01:50] - The ripple effects of federal policy shifts: Retrenchment and risk mitigation

[03:40] - “It feels like early COVID again”: Chaos, fear, and identity crisis in the sector

[06:20] - The grift narrative: Online misinformation and the backlash against nonprofits

[07:23] - Getting hyper-local: The strategic (and risky) pivot toward smaller spheres

[08:38] - Unprecedented losses: Real-world stories of scale-downs and shutdowns

[10:28] - Why the blame game backfires: Compassion over critique

[13:17] - From freeze to activation: What separated resilient orgs during COVID

[15:47] - "Now is the best time": Standing strong in your community

[18:22] - A call to funders: Emergency support is urgently needed—again

[19:25] - Action steps for leaders: Reconnect, recommit, and re-partner

[21:34] - Leading through contraction: Compassionate downsizing and clarity of mission

[23:53] - Over-communicating with intention: The power of transparency and storytelling

Quotes:

• “Now is the best time to stand up for science… for a community that's trying to protect itself from a changing environment.” – Jonathan Hicken [00:15]
• “We need to be better at getting these stories out in a way that actually cuts through.” – Eric Ressler [07:07]
• “There’s almost this feeling that we’re not allowed to be successful or be optimistic right now.” – Jonathan Hicken [11:30]
• “Organizations that activated quickly—even imperfectly—came out stronger.” – Eric Ressler  [13:50]
• “Start to prepare to help the people on your team land on their feet.” – Jonathan Hicken [22:25]

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Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.