Event-driven change: Navigating a critical moment during financial pressures   

Challenge

A global nonprofit faced a period of layoffs and restructuring due to sweeping funding changes. Leadership knew the stakes were high – staff confidence was shaken, morale was low, and the risk of reputational damage was real. The executive team needed alignment and a clear strategy for guiding the organization through this sensitive moment.   

Approach

ChangeMakers designed an 8-week change sprint that paired strategic communications with executive coaching and alignment. We worked with the leadership team to prepare messaging, anticipate tough questions, and ensure consistency in how the change was communicated across the organization. The sprint also included internal and external risk planning, ongoing reputation monitoring, and the use of ChangeMakers’ data intelligence tools. By leveraging our Reputation Scorecard, tracking sentiment in real time, and recalibrating based on both qualitative and quantitative feedback, we ensured gaps were closed quickly and the organization stayed aligned.  

Results

When the layoffs were announced, staff reported greater understanding and trust in leadership’s decision-making. Employees reached out to say they felt respected and informed – even going so far as to ask leadership how they were doing. Executives described the process as a unifying moment for the leadership team – transforming a feared announcement into a demonstration of clarity and resilience.