Neuro-informed teaching and learning
“To truly support people, lead teams, and design effective learning, we need a new prescription. We need a Neuro-Informed lens that helps us see the… Read More »Neuro-informed teaching and learning
Nancy Bacon
I work at the intersection of learning, nonprofits, and leadership. I am a teacher, instructional designer, and nonprofit person who has worn every hat possible. I regular write, speak, and consult on learning strategy, design, and leadership.
Gatherings that teach, connect, and build community
I came across the book Potlatch as Pedagogy: Learning Through Ceremony in a small bookshop in Ketchikan, Alaska. In it, Indigenous educator Sara Florence Davidson and her… Read More »Gatherings that teach, connect, and build community
Information Isn’t Action: Returning to Our Theory of Change
Forgive me if I sound impatient. The world is calling us to act—boldly and urgently—with every tool we’ve got. In my line of work, that… Read More »Information Isn’t Action: Returning to Our Theory of Change
There’s not one playbook: Teaching for real-world challenges
I’ve never been a big fan of the phrase “best practice.” It’s too transactional—like there is one right answer waiting on a shelf. Our social… Read More »There’s not one playbook: Teaching for real-world challenges
Physics vs. Engineering: Why people don’t understand your model and how to fix it
I was recently talking with an Executive Director and asked about her program. She looked at me apologetically and said that the model underpinning her… Read More »Physics vs. Engineering: Why people don’t understand your model and how to fix it
“Should” isn’t motivating: How to help boards step up
Boards are under pressure to “step up” as federal and state cuts constrict the oxygen that nonprofits need to breathe. Urgency, however, doesn’t translate to… Read More »“Should” isn’t motivating: How to help boards step up
Learning lives in community
In March 2025, something big happened: a new evaluation curriculum designed for small nonprofits launched in Charlotte, NC. It marked the culmination of a year-long… Read More »Learning lives in community
Can you put that in a graphic?
On Monday, February 24, 2025, the National Council of Nonprofits shared a timeline of actions they had taken in January and February. I love everything… Read More »Can you put that in a graphic?
Listening
I was halfway through writing a different blog when I picked up Andrew McMaster’s new book, Listening Without Agenda. It’s a cold Sunday afternoon on… Read More »Listening
How to Prepare Nonprofit Boards for Uncertain Times
I’ve been thinking a lot about boards lately. I was one of five petitioners in an unsuccessful school board recall effort. (If you are interested in… Read More »How to Prepare Nonprofit Boards for Uncertain Times
Using Science to Communicate Science
Too often, focusing on adult learning is sidelined as unnecessary introspection. This belief rests on the view that the experience of learning as a child somehow… Read More »Using Science to Communicate Science
The power of story to share context and create connection
In college we had an old-fashioned mailroom. Letters were sorted into rows of wooden slots, the front side of which were glass doors with dial… Read More »The power of story to share context and create connection