Ask a Nonprofit Expert

Real Questions. Practical Solutions.
NPQ Logo

February 5, 2026

Welcome back to Ask a Nonprofit Expert, NPQ’s advice column for nonprofit readers, by civic leaders who have built thriving, equitable organizations.

This series offers Leading Edge members ([link removed]) the opportunity to submit tough challenges anonymously and get personalized advice. In this column, we’ll publish answers to common questions to strengthen our entire community’s capacity.

In today’s issue, Niloufar Khonsari answers a reader’s question about balancing transparency and timeliness in organizational decision-making.

Stuck on a problem? Submit your question here. ([link removed])

Dear Ask a Nonprofit Expert,

Our leadership team is invested in greater inclusion and transparency when it comes to important organizational decisions. But so many of us have had nightmare experiences with attempts at consensus that take too much time and sometimes do not even conclude with a clear decision.

What decision-making methods can we consider?

Sincerely,

Transparency-Committed Reader

Dear Transparency-Committed Reader,

You’re not alone. So many of us want decision-making to reflect our collective values (like transparency, care, and shared power), but it’s hard to actually put those values into practice. That gap between what we believe and how we decide can be frustrating. And getting stuck in the process is a common concern I hear from groups.

I am happy to share, though, that decision-making doesn’t have to be a nightmare. There are tested and thoughtful ways to structure group decisions that are participatory, time-bound, and lead to real action.

Before diving into specific decision-making methods, here’s a grounding principle: Decision-making is a shared practice. It’s something we learn and get better at together. When group decisions feel frustrating, it’s often because there wasn’t a shared understanding of how the process works, or there was a mismatch between intentions and structure. But decision-making can actually be a predictable, easeful part of your work, where people grow closer together, appreciate differences, and things move forward effectively.

Continue Reading ([link removed])

Sponsored Content

Lead with purpose in 2026. ([link removed])

Step into 2026 ready to make an impact. Upcoming programs offered in both in-person and live virtual formats.

Explore what’s ahead. ([link removed])


** Latest Articles
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

Resistance and Redistribution in Alaska

by Margi Dashevsky

“Rooted in Indigenous sovereignty and stewardship, Alaska’s grassroots resistance to drilling is a call to imagine a world built on collective care—not extraction.”
Read Article ([link removed])
[link removed]

The Missing Discipline: How Organization Design Can Align and Propel Justice-Committed Nonprofits

by Jeanne Bell and Daniel Tucker

“The gap between our aspirations and our operations in justice-centered nonprofits is largely due not to a lack of effort, but to the lack of a coherent theory and practice of organization design.”
Read Article ([link removed])
[link removed]

Democracy Dies in the Homeowners Association

by Coty Poynter

“The erosion of civic engagement, the fragmentation of communities into self-segregating enclaves—none of this is small.”
Read Article ([link removed])
[link removed]

ICE, Violence, and Legal Crisis in Minneapolis

by Jennifer Johnson

“When federal agents operate without accountability, and states are blocked from investigating, we’re seeing a fundamental breakdown in the rule of law.”
Read Article ([link removed])

Sponsored Content

The 2025 Nonprofit Trends Report ([link removed])

Get your report on the challenges facing global nonprofits, and what they’re doing to overcome them.

Get the report ([link removed])


** Check out our upcoming webinars.
------------------------------------------------------------


**
------------------------------------------------------------

As a Leading Edge member, you get exclusive access to all our upcoming webinars—deep dives into the issues that matter, led by movement leaders and experts.
[link removed]
[link removed]
Become a Member ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

Sponsored Content

Invest sustainably in 2026. ([link removed])

You may be invested in fossil fuels without knowing it. Align your retirement plan with your values and invest with Green Century today.

Download our Sustainable Investing Guide. ([link removed])

Ask a Nonprofit Expert is the sector’s go-to advice column by civic leaders, for nonprofit readers. In this new series, NPQ Leading Edge members can submit pressing questions about navigating nonprofit challenges. Our cohort of seasoned nonprofit leaders will publish thoughtful, actionable answers to pressing organizational challenges and leadership dilemmas. Ready to get unstuck? Submit your question anonymously here ([link removed]) !

Copyright (C) 2025. All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])