Carol Hamilton, Founder, Grace Social Sector Consulting
I’ve devoted my career to closing the gap between nonprofits’ external missions and their internal capacities to realize those missions.
I call my process Wholistic Effectiveness – or WE. Because indeed, when we team up, WE address that gap with grace—a simplicity, a strength, an openness to possibility.
And your entire organization runs at its best.
…which leads me to the why’s behind my company name, Grace Social Sector Consulting ….
>Grace, as in that gift we give ourselves and others to be ourselves, without perfection; and the grace within a great strategy—a plan that’s straightforward and human-centered.
>Social Sector, as a more positive and more encompassing term than “nonprofit,” and more about what IS rather than what is NOT.
>Consulting, as a strategic thought partner with nonprofits, association boards, staff, and key volunteers. Collectively, we change the world for the better.
I call my process Wholistic Effectiveness – or WE. Because indeed, when we team up, WE address that gap with grace—a simplicity, a strength, an openness to possibility.
And your entire organization runs at its best.
…which leads me to the why’s behind my company name, Grace Social Sector Consulting ….
>Grace, as in that gift we give ourselves and others to be ourselves, without perfection; and the grace within a great strategy—a plan that’s straightforward and human-centered.
>Social Sector, as a more positive and more encompassing term than “nonprofit,” and more about what IS rather than what is NOT.
>Consulting, as a strategic thought partner with nonprofits, association boards, staff, and key volunteers. Collectively, we change the world for the better.
Tap our top-tier consulting services to:
- Foster an equitable, engaged, all-voices-heard culture where your board, staff and your community's expertise is respected
- Bring clarity, focus, and alignment to your most purposeful priorities
- Develop an easy-to-activate strategic plan, not an ineffective relic that just rots on a shelf
- Secure a proven expert whose sole focus is systems-based strategy (vs. consultants who bolt on strategic planning to their core expertise in, say, policy, fundraising, 1:1 coaching, or executive transition)
- Make more effective decisions—even within large, consensus-driven groups
- Raise your funding potential—because grantors love organizations that work from a clear plan that demonstrates their impacts over time
So, whether we meet in person, online, or a bit of each
I’ll arrive with a bias for action. Listen deeply. Speak candidly. Remain down-to-earth. Bring a learning orientation. Serve as a safe rudder in a storm. And guarantee we laugh. A lot.
Sure, our process is analytical. It’s also rooted in honoring group dynamics—how everyone is feeling and engaging. That’s why our equity-driven work combines both left brain (analytics) with right brain (emotions). Over time, we’ll move through a whole-brain process via which your entire organization thrives.
What I know for certain: The best teams laugh together as they work together. They’re curious and inquisitive as they challenge conventional wisdom, imagine new possibilities, and solve pressing challenges.
They ask unusual questions, like this one (among my favorites): “What if we were to…?”
Sure, our process is analytical. It’s also rooted in honoring group dynamics—how everyone is feeling and engaging. That’s why our equity-driven work combines both left brain (analytics) with right brain (emotions). Over time, we’ll move through a whole-brain process via which your entire organization thrives.
What I know for certain: The best teams laugh together as they work together. They’re curious and inquisitive as they challenge conventional wisdom, imagine new possibilities, and solve pressing challenges.
They ask unusual questions, like this one (among my favorites): “What if we were to…?”
As your strategic collaborator, I’ll ensure you and your team
- Boost your ability to move your mission forward
- Cultivate healthy, equitable, inclusive, and thriving cultures in which all stakeholders are heard
- Secure a proven expert whose sole focus is systems-based strategy
- Generate results-driven change based on your top strengths
- Identify big and small opportunities for innovation within your organization and/or mission
- Feel confident about tackling and intentionally realizing your strategic priorities
- Make more effective decisions—even if you work with a large or a consensus-driven group
- Achieve bigger goals--without arguing, lobbying, and turf wars
Learn more about my approach
Want additional cred?
- Work with a broad range of clients on strategic planning, impact mapping, assessment, and service offering reviews + audits—all through an equity lens
- Deeply understand strategic planning within nonprofit sector—it’s been my sole focus for the past decade
- Host of the Mission: Impact podcast
- Bring expertise on organization development (in fact, I have a Master’s in OD)…a fancy term for helping groups work better together via improved group dynamics and smarter strategy.
- Been creating online learning experiences for 20+ years (including online conferences, scenario-based e-learning, webinars, and hybrid leadership-development programs).
- Licensed consultant through the nonprofit Standards of Excellence program
- Member of the Institute for Conservation Leadership’s consultant network
- Member of the Maryland Nonprofit’s consultant network