Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC

10/27/2026

What does it actually take for a nonprofit board to stop just protecting the organization from risk, and start helping it find opportunity? This shift touches everything: how boards spend their meeting time, who gets recruited to sit around the table, how much flexibility board service actually allows, and what the board-CEO relationship needs to become.

I recently joined my friend and colleague David Bird, CEO of Great Kids, Inc. (Growing Great Kids), for a 60 minute webinar sponsored by Ideals Board and M&A Community. We unpack what this shift looks like in practice, including foresight and AI in the boardroom, board composition, and more. Click below to access the on-demand version of the webinar free.
https://mnacommunity.com/events/time-for-courage-the-future-of-nonprofit-board-leadership/

10/26/2026

Evansville, Indiana is home to some truly outstanding nonprofit leaders, Board members, and organizations. They also have a tremendous partner in Welborn that understands the value of healthy governance and supports it. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day in Evansville last week leading our Board Champions 201 program. This is my 7th consecutive year partnering with the Welborn Foundation with our Board governance and leadership programs. I always leave inspired by the conversations we have and the desire of these leaders to reflect healthy governance and impact in their organizations.

10/20/2026

Strategic visioning isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about being intentional about the future you want to create—and making the choices today that move you closer to it.

I recently had the opportunity to facilitate a strategic visioning retreat with the Board and senior leadership team of Great Kids, Inc. (Growing Great Kids)

The focus? Stepping back from the day-to-day to ask some important questions:

🔹 What future are we working toward?
🔹 What will it take to get there?
🔹 How do we ensure our Board and leadership team are aligned around the path forward?

When was the last time your Board made space to think beyond the next meeting?

10/15/2026

The right leadership can help an organization turn an ambitious vision into reality.

Congratulations to Debbie Mason on her selection as CEO of the NPWH!

It was a privilege for Nielsen Training & Consulting to support NPWH through this important leadership search and transition. As the organization looks toward its 2030 vision and 50th anniversary, Debbie’s leadership will be instrumental in building on its strong foundation and advancing its mission.

A successful executive search is about more than finding a candidate. It’s about bringing the right people and the right mission together at the right time.

Wishing Debbie and the entire NPWH community great success in this exciting next chapter!


Read the announcement:

Appointment marks a new chapter of leadership focused on advancing and protecting the WHNP profession, equipping clinicians for excellence, and building the future women’s health workforce.

10/13/2026

After years of serving in nonprofit leadership and now working with boards as a consultant and facilitator, I’ve seen firsthand how much a board can influence an organization’s success—for better or worse. I think of the great work being done by organizations such as BoardBuild, and also the many frustrations currently being expressed by nonprofit executives and Board leaders.

In The Nonprofit Quarterly, Aparna Rae raises important questions in her article, “Nonprofit Boards Are Failing the Sector. Here’s How to Fix Them.” It’s a conversation worth having.

What do you believe is the biggest barrier to effective nonprofit governance—and what can we do differently?

I’d love to hear perspectives from nonprofit executives, board members, and fellow consultants.


Read the article:

At a time when the nonprofit sector is navigating an existential breaking point, boards that lack interest in governance or the skills to meet fiduciary responsibilities are a weak link between a public desperate for support and the organizations stepping in to meet needs the government has abandone...

10/12/2026

Great to be back with CASA of Lexington for my 8th consecutive year facilitating their annual Board retreat!

An annual Board retreat is more than a day away from the regular meeting schedule. It’s an opportunity to step back, reflect on progress, strengthen relationships, and get aligned around the priorities that will move the organization forward.

Healthy Boards make time to work on the organization, not just in it. I’m grateful to partner with CASA of Lexington as they continue investing in strong governance and their mission of advocating for children who need a voice.

10/07/2026

I had the opportunity to facilitate a strategic planning retreat with the Board of Feed Louisville, focused on Board development and strengthening their collective leadership.

Feed Louisville is a chef-led community food hub relieving hunger, reducing food waste, strengthening food access, and creating economic opportunity. Advancing that mission requires a strong, engaged, and continually evolving Board.

We used the NTC Board Champions Board Assessment to reflect on the Board’s current strengths, opportunities, and priorities. Boards benefit from setting goals for their own development just as organizations set priorities for achieving their mission. Grateful for the thoughtful conversation, honest reflection, and commitment of the Feed Louisville Board to strengthening their impact.

10/05/2026

What if indecision costs us more than making the wrong decision?

In this episode, I sit down with Tierah “Bob” Lothbrok, author of Decide: Scenes from a Lifetime of Decisions, for a thought-provoking conversation about the choices we make—and the choices we avoid.

Tierah shares why she chose to explore decision-making through a novel, what it means to become a “Decider,” and why we don’t necessarily discover the right answer—we create it. We also explore the pressure to feel “ready,” why that can become a trap, and one small decision each of us can make today to start practicing the art of deciding.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between options, waiting for certainty, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on moving forward.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gDFlgW2SqeScdABWZUZUg?si=-p-mafi6R2OAgvTlIp30Hw

Nonprofit Vision With Gregory Nielsen · Episode

09/30/2026

I’ve been involved in nonprofit executive searches from a few different perspectives—CEO, board partner, and now consultant.

One thing I’ve learned: the executive search doesn’t begin when you post the job. Boards need to get clear on what the organization actually needs from its next leader—and make sure they’re aligned.

Sometimes the best thing a board can do is slow down before it speeds up. I wrote more about why the work before the search may be the most important part of the search.

I’ve been involved in nonprofit executive searches from a few different perspectives.  I’ve sat in the CEO’s chair. I’ve worked with boards. And today, through Nielsen Training and Consulting , I have the opportunity to help organizations navigate one of the most important decisions a b...

09/28/2026

It was a pleasure facilitating a retreat with the Board and senior leadership team of Panora Fiber focused on scenario planning and preparing for the future.

I was especially impressed by this company—not only by its commitment to providing outstanding service to its customers, but also by the genuine commitment to serving and strengthening its community.

Great organizations don’t simply plan for the future. They create the capacity to navigate uncertainty, recognize opportunities, and continue delivering on their mission.

Thank you to the Panora Fiber team for a thoughtful and engaging day!