Why Culture Matters
- Tom Iselin
- Oct 13, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Why Culture Matters
WHY CULTURE MATTERS
Over the last nine episodes, you’ve learned that a strong, well-defined culture is one of the foundational cornerstones of a high-performance, gold-standard nonprofit.Once your culture is in place and functioning well, it becomes:
a collective mindset
a moral beacon
a unifying force that guides everything your organization says and does
A solid culture propels your organization toward its dreams.
But let’s be real: building a culture—any culture—is work.Culture is abstract, like happiness or beauty. It's easy to recognize, but much harder to define.
SEEING CULTURE VS. DEFINING CULTURE
It’s simple to spot:
a toxic work environment
a disengaged board
passive staff
burnout, apathy, or tension
But defining a healthy culture? That takes clarity, intention, and articulation.
As we’ve covered earlier, culture is the outward expression of how and why your nonprofit operates.It answers the big questions:
What does it mean to be part of your organization?
What does it mean to serve on your board?
What does it mean to be staff?
What does it mean to volunteer?
Your mission tells people what you do.Your vision tells people where you’re going.But your culture tells people who you are.It conveys what you stand for and what you believe.
If you don’t know—collectively—who you are, what you stand for, and what you believe…How can you fulfill your mission?How can you expect to end up where you want to go?
THE POWER OF A WELL-DEFINED CULTURE
Many nonprofits hobble along because they never articulate a culture.
A well-defined culture:
creates unity
aligns hearts and minds
drives consistent behaviors
anchors the organization during change
strengthens staff and board performance
Culture is the ethos—the prevailing spirit that permeates everything your nonprofit says and does.
THE THREE CORE ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
There are many cultural elements to choose from, but the three most important are:
Guiding beliefs
Standards
Behaviors
These shape the foundation of your culture.
Next, identify descriptive cultural facets that symbolize your culture—words such as:
excellence
accountability
teamwork
impact
honest communication
Think simplicity.Think essence.Think ethos.
WRITE YOUR CULTURE STATEMENT
Once you’ve defined your facets, write a two- or three-sentence culture statement that captures those ideas clearly and memorably.
Then determine how to express your culture in day-to-day operations:
staff behavior
board conduct
volunteer engagement
program delivery
communication
leadership decisions
CELEBRATE YOUR CULTURE
Don’t hide your culture—celebrate it.
Talk about your culture at:
fundraising events
board meetings
staff gatherings
volunteer trainings
retreats and social functions
Culture grows when it’s spoken, shared, and reinforced.
REMIND PEOPLE… OFTEN
People forget easily.So find ways to keep your culture front and center:
post your culture statement on a wall
include it in annual reports
reference it during onboarding
weave it into strategic planning discussions
If you want people to live your culture, they must hear it, see it, and feel it frequently.
SUMMARY
Culture is the heartbeat of your nonprofit.It defines who you are, what you stand for, and how you operate. When done right, culture becomes the unifying force that drives excellence, inspires behavior, aligns decisions, and propels your nonprofit toward its vision.Take time this week to begin defining or refining your culture—it will become one of the greatest assets your organization will ever possess.
Tom Iselin
“America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitator”
Additional Resources:
Articles
Tom's Books, Podcasts, and YouTube Channel
About the Author
Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.
Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.
Board Retreats & Strategic Planning
If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!
Board Retreats and Strategic Planning Services:
858.888.2278
