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Your work is as meaningful to us as it is to you.

Your partner for strategy that leads culture.

The Hive Collective is a national firm on the cutting edge of strategy and transformation for nonprofit organizations.   We help you create strategies that drive your culture and provide a hands-on partnership that structures your organization for success. We are dedicated to strengthening organizations by cultivating cultures that lead to community, profound impact, and highly functional, purpose-focused leadership.

At The Hive Collective, culture IS strategy.   Organizational culture happens whether you plan on it or not. No matter how hard you work on your strategy or structure, it is the consistent organizational and human behaviors that are responsible for its success or its demise. Prioritizing the human factor in board governance, strategy, and implementation will lead you to the change you envision.

In strategic planning, we work with you to create a plan, structure, and organizational culture worthy of the purpose of your organization.  When we develop strategy with you, we ensure that your strategic direction is both resilient and inclusive, whether it’s crafting long-term, organization-wide plans or shorter-term projects. Your values will anchor this strategic vision in the lived realities and evolving aspirations of your organization and its stakeholders.

Our approach to nonprofit advising and design, leadership coaching, and team coaching extends beyond traditional frameworks to embrace the complexity and dynamism of organizational and team effectiveness. By fostering an environment where creativity and innovation are fundamental to problem-solving, we unlock the collective wisdom of your team with participative methods.

Effective board governance stems from a culture of belonging, mutual respect, and a unified purpose. A board should be a space for transformation, leading to sustainable outcomes and aligned with the values and mission of your organization. Our approach to board governance promotes a culture of deep listening and open inquiry, where the diversity of perspectives is seen as a strength and alignment of actions and values is paramount.

The Hive Collective is more than a consultant to you; we are partners dedicated to shaping change, together. We invite you to join us in reimagining what is possible for your organization and the communities you serve.

Your partner for strategy that adapts.

We prioritize five principles for purpose-driven leadership:

Purpose before organization

Prioritizing the organization’s purpose, above the organization itself.

Respect for ecosystem

Acknowledging that the organization’s actions can positively or negatively impact its surrounding ecosystem, and a commitment to being a respectful and responsible ecosystem player.

Equity mindset

Committing to advancing equitable outcomes, and interrogating and avoiding the ways in which the organization’s strategies and work may reinforce systemic inequities.

Authorized voice and power

Recognizing that organizational power and voice must be authorized by those impacted by the organization’s work.¹

Shift the Context

Organizations become impactful when they choose to shift the context within which they act in the world.²

1. From BoardSource. The Four Principles of Purpose-Driven Board Leadership.  Beth Ellen Holimon, Founder and CEO of The Hive Collective, is a BoardSource Certified Governance Consultant.

2. Peter Block, Community: The Structure of Belonging.

The Hive Collective

The Hive Collective is a growing consortium of thought partners in nonprofit theory and practice who believe both the ends and the means matter. We believe that one person, one comment, and one thought can change the way the world works.  Justice and equity drive us to action every day.

We derived our name from the practice of beekeeping and the communal life honey bees lead.  The honey bee dedicates her short six week life to something she will never see –  hundreds of pounds of honey that come from her work.  Her work will sustain the thousands of bees who come after her. Incredibly, she will only create 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime, but the contribution to her community is life sustaining!

Sumona MajumdarPodcastPodcast – Sumona Majumdar
July 10, 2024

Podcast – Sumona Majumdar

Building Shared Values and Collective Governance with Sumona Majumdar The Hive Collective Podcast: Shifting Power in Nonprofits Listen-> Building Shared Values and Collective Governance with Sumona Majumdar 44:47  THE HIVE…
Harrison BrookiePodcastPodcast – Harrison Brookie
July 9, 2024

Podcast – Harrison Brookie

Harrison Brookie: Improv Comedy for Organizations JUL 09, 2024 SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 Listen->Harrison Brookie: Improv Comedy for Organizations 55:46  In this episode, we dive into the world of improv…
Meeting Participationboard cultureMeetingsIs Everyone Participating in Your Board Meeting? 
May 31, 2024

Is Everyone Participating in Your Board Meeting? 

Is Everyone Participating in Your Board Meeting?  -Beth Ellen Holimon When I observe board meetings for meeting quality, I’m looking for four main things – Who is participating? Who controls…

The results of our program exceeded expectations. The program content was what we needed to inspire and re-energize our Board as a more cohesive team of dedicated volunteers. With a better understanding of our governance strengths and opportunities and a renewed commitment to the values of belongingness, diversity, equity, and inclusion, we were ready to take on our challenges with a deeper understanding of where we are and where we wanted to grow. Thank you, The Hive Collective, for being a supportive member of our team as we navigate these challenging times.

Stand Up Placer Board of Directors, Auburn, CA

[The Hive Collective] is amazing and very knowledgeable about governance systems, boards and CEO. In my opinion [they] brought a sense of enlightenment to the group because focusing in the future is so needed.

Sherman College of Chiropractic, Spartanburg, South Carolina

I highly recommend [The Hive Collective] for their outstanding work in developing a successful fundraising plan and updating the mission and vision for our community action organization…and creating a comprehensive plan that is enabling us to secure the necessary funding to continue our vital work in the community. [The Hive Collective] was able to quickly assess our needs and develop customized solutions that were tailored to our unique circumstances.

Jen Trowbridge, CEO, Northwest Indiana Community Action Network