Waller Consulting

10/13/2026

A long-time Executive Director's retirement can be gracious, planned, and drama-free. It can also be one of the highest-risk moments in the life of an organization.

There is a very specific face board chairs make when a long-time ED says, “I think it’s time for me to retire.” It’s the face of someone trying to look supportive while internally screaming.

Because you know immediately: this is not a normal board agenda item. This is the moment that will test whether the organization is actually stable or has simply been held together by one very capable person.

Before you rush into the search, ask better questions.
Who has the funder relationships?
Does the board understand the real state of the organization?
Is staff steady, or are they terrified?
Is the outgoing ED ready to transfer knowledge, or is everything living in her head?
Do you need an interim leader before you need a permanent hire?

The board does not need to panic, but it does need to get clear.

The board’s job is not just to replace the ED. It’s to protect the organization through the transition. That starts with knowing what kind of transition you’re actually facing.

We created a free Leadership Transition Diagnostic to help boards assess readiness, risk, and next steps before making expensive decisions.

Take the diagnostic. Then lead like the adult in the room.

10/08/2026

We’re headed to the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits 2026 Conference! 🎉


Waller Consulting will be there on October 20 and 21, exhibiting and attending, and we can’t wait to connect with nonprofit leaders, colleagues, and friends from across North Carolina.

If you haven’t registered yet, consider this your sign to register now! See all my NC people soon! 👋

10/06/2026

The moment a long-time ED announces she is leaving, everyone wants certainty.

Staff want reassurance.
Funders want confidence.
Board members want a process.
The outgoing ED wants the organization protected.

That pressure can make boards move too fast.

Before posting the job, assess what the organization actually needs. A clean transition starts with clarity, not panic.

Take our free Leadership Transition Diagnostic: https://www.capacitytodream.com/services/upshift

10/02/2026

I'm speaking at ! Join me on October 22 for "Before the Resignation: A Peer Workshop for Navigating Leadership Change Without Losing Momentum".

Looking forward to learning and connecting with Maryland's nonprofit community!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4xsMGXB

09/30/2026

One of the hardest things to say in a strategic planning room is also one of the most important:

The organization is not the mission.

The program you've run for 20 years isn't the mission. The way your board has always operated isn't the mission. The funding stream you've built your organization around isn't the mission.

Those are all vehicles for accomplishing something bigger. And sometimes organizations get so busy protecting the vehicle that they stop asking whether it's still taking them where they need to go.

That's one of the reasons strategic planning matters. Not because everything old needs to go. Some things have endured because they work extraordinarily well. But longevity alone isn't evidence that something should continue.

The question is whether the organization you're building today is capable of creating the impact your community needs tomorrow.

That's a much harder conversation than updating goals and objectives. It's also a much more worthwhile one.

09/22/2026

Here's something I wish more boards understood before they walk into a strategic planning retreat:

Your staff does not acquire 30% more capacity because everyone got excited about the new strategic plan.

I've watched organizations identify genuinely smart, mission-aligned priorities—and then behave as though those priorities can simply be stacked on top of everything the organization is already doing.

That's not strategy.
That's workload.

For every significant new priority, somebody needs to ask:
What are we going to stop doing?
What gets less attention?
What requires additional money or people?
Who actually owns this?
And what are we deliberately choosing not to tackle yet?

Those conversations can be uncomfortable. They can also be incredibly freeing. Because sometimes the most strategic thing an organization can say isn't “yes.” It's “not now.”

09/15/2026

Nonprofits rarely suffer from a shortage of good ideas. The hard part is choosing.

We've had the privilege of working with Our Military Kids through two strategic planning cycles—first in 2021 and again in 2025.

In 2021, the conversation centered largely around a powerful question: How can we help more military kids?

There were plenty of good answers. Expand eligibility. Increase grant amounts. Offer additional support during longer deployments. Build awareness. Strengthen partnerships. Reach more families who didn't know help was available.

But by 2025, the conversation had evolved. The question wasn't simply how to do more. It was how to grow impact responsibly,

What can staff realistically carry?
What processes can technology simplify?
How can we make it easier for families to access support while protecting charitable dollars?
If we increase the size or number of grants, how will we sustainably fund that growth?
If we expand eligibility, are our systems ready for the demand that could follow?

Those are the conversations that make strategic planning meaningful.

One of the things I appreciate about organizations that take strategic planning seriously is that the conversation moves beyond “What else could we do?”

The harder questions are:
What can we do exceptionally well?
What can we actually sustain?
Where will investing additional money, people, and attention create the greatest impact?
And what might we need to say no to—even when it's a perfectly good idea?

That last question is where strategy gets real. A mission can inspire a hundred worthwhile ideas. But your organization probably doesn't have the staff, money, time, or infrastructure to pursue all hundred of them well.

The purpose of a strategic plan isn't to capture every possibility; It's to make choices about which possibilities matter most to the people you exist to serve.

09/09/2026

If your strategic plan doesn’t change anything… was it really a strategy? 👀

Strategic planning isn’t about creating a prettier version of what you’re already doing. It’s about making decisions:

→ What do we stop doing?
→ Where do we invest?
→ What matters most right now?
→ What does our community actually need from us?

And yes, sometimes that means letting go of things you love.

Because real strategy should create clarity, focus, and just enough discomfort to move you forward.

09/02/2026

📣 ECCO IS SEARCHING FOR ITS NEXT CEO!

Waller Consulting is proud to partner with East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) in the search for its next Chief Executive Officer! ECCO is looking for an experienced, visionary, and mission-driven leader to guide the organization into its next chapter.

This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who is passionate about:
✨ Building strong, high-performing teams
✨ Cultivating a culture of philanthropy and developing donor relationships
✨ Strengthening community partnerships and serving as a visible ambassador
✨ Leading organizational growth, strategic planning, and change
✨ Advancing ECCO’s mission to help neighbors navigate life’s challenges and build pathways toward stability and self-sufficiency

The ideal candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience, strong financial and operational acumen, a demonstrated commitment to philanthropy, and the ability to inspire and build relationships across a diverse community.

Get the full job description on ECCO's website: https://eccocharleston.org/employment/

Interested or know someone who may be a great fit? We want to hear from you! Please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line [ECCO CEO Job Posting].

Know someone who should see this? Share this post and help us find ECCO’s next leader!

Employment Thank you for your interest in East Cooper Community Outreach. As we grow, we are in search of diverse, dedicated, energetic, and motivated individuals to join our team. At this time, ECCO is looking to hire the following positions:   spacer Chief Executive Officer Lead the Next Chapter ...

09/01/2026

We’re taking a moment to celebrate an incredible leader and shine a spotlight on what’s next for one of our own Waller Consulting Advisors.

After three years of dedicated and impactful service, Krystal Watson will step down as President & CEO of Project R.E.S.T. on September 4. Krystal has led with compassion, vision, and an unwavering commitment to survivors, strengthening the organization’s foundation and expanding pathways to safety, stability, and justice.

As Project R.E.S.T. enters this next chapter, we’re especially proud to highlight Waller Consulting Advisor Mary Dell Hayes, who will serve as Interim President & CEO beginning September 4!

Here’s to honoring the leadership that came before, supporting strong transitions, and celebrating the incredible people who continue to make a difference in our communities.

Congratulations to Krystal on an impactful three years, and congratulations to Mary Dell on this next chapter! 👏

Project R.E.S.T. is entering a new chapter of leadership. After thr...