"I think we overestimate the importance of knowing and underestimate the power of listening."
James Misner, Founder of The Kipos Group
The not for profit world and its leaders are in crisis. Not to mention the people they serve. I want to honor and learn from these leaders. So this month we’re exploring Leadership Beyond Profit; what it means to lead when the goal isn’t revenue, but social impact.
In the latest episode of Transformative Leadership Conversations, I talk with James Misner who is a seasoned nonprofit leader who’s spent 25 years walking alongside communities that are often marginalized or misunderstood and helping organizations do some of the hardest and most essential work on the planet.
But as James shared with me, it’s a draining time for nonprofit leaders.
“They’ve gone from being the heroes who hold broken things together to the targets of vitriolic attacks... but they’re not backing down.”
The backdrop to our conversation is a sector in crisis: funding is drying up, trust is fraying, and leaders are being asked to do more with less—while the problems they address only intensify.
So what do you do when your mission is urgent, your community is vulnerable, and your resources are shrinking?
You lead anyway. And you lead differently.
James shared what that looks like:
Shifting from idealism to pragmatism: “You can be angry or sad. But you can’t stay there. Now is the time for operationalizing your values.”
Focusing on strengths, not deficits: Whether it’s building a fundraising program or rethinking service delivery, innovation starts with what’s already working.
Reframing fundraising as impact-building: “People don’t give because of perfect metrics—they give because they care. Start with the story, not the ask.”
Recognizing that proximity breeds insight: Smaller nonprofits, closer to the ground, are often creating the most innovative solutions but they also need help to scale.
Being real with your people: “Sometimes leaders just need to vent. Then they need to act.”
James’s team recently worked with a nonprofit that has developed a radically effective way to stop human trafficking across land borders. The only barrier to scale? Funding. With help from James’s organization, The Kipos Group, they’re now building the systems to go from a $5 million to a $50 million organization.
That, to me, is the essence of leadership beyond profit. Holding tight to purpose while adapting to reality while at the same time staying grounded in community in which you’re working.
“The best innovation always comes out of pain.”
This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the nonprofit sector—or anyone who wants to lead with more conviction, clarity, and compassion.
Let me know what resonates. I’d love to hear from those of you working in the social impact space—what’s shifting in your world?
You’re always welcome to take a seat at the table—where every conversation has the potential for transformative change.
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