Frequently Asked Questions

Every team has an operating system: the roles, habits, and rhythms that shape how work gets decided and done. Most teams never design theirs on purpose. It just forms over time, and that's often why progress stalls and good people burn out.

Agile is a way of working built for a world that keeps changing. Instead of making one big plan and hoping it holds, Agile teams work in short cycles, focus on what matters most, keep their work visible, and pause regularly to improve. We help teams use those habits to design an operating system that actually works for them.

Scrum is a simple framework that turns Agile habits into a repeatable routine. It gives your team a shared rhythm for planning, doing, and improving the work together.

That rhythm runs in sprints, which are short cycles of work, usually two weeks long. Each sprint starts with a planning session where the team agrees on what matters most. During the sprint, the team checks in briefly each day. At the end, the team looks back on what worked and what to change. Two weeks is long enough to make real progress and short enough to change course before small problems get expensive.

Think of Scrum as a container. It works for almost any kind of work, from carrying out a strategic plan to launching a new program to testing a new idea.

Agile started in software, but the challenges it solves show up everywhere: too many priorities, unclear ownership, and work that gets stuck. We work with nonprofits, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit boards. We have worked with a youth arts nonprofit, an environmental nonprofit run largely by volunteers, and the management team of a small business development organization. Most of these teams had never heard of Scrum before we started.

We also bring workshops to cohorts, conferences, and convenings. We partner with foundations, entrepreneurship centers, and capacity-building organizations to support the organizations in their networks. We're based in Chicago and work with teams across the country.

Yes, and small teams often benefit the most. When you have limited time and people, every hour spent on the wrong priority or a repeated conversation costs more. These practices are lightweight by design. They help a small team get more done with the capacity it already has, without adding layers of process.

If your team has asked any of the four questions every growing team faces, it's probably time.

It usually means fewer. The daily check-in takes about 15 minutes. Planning and reflection happen once every two weeks. Most teams find that these short, focused touchpoints replace the scattered status updates, side conversations, and "quick syncs" that eat up their week.

The time you get back comes from less rework, fewer dropped tasks, and less confusion about who's doing what.

Yes. We're based in Chicago and work in person with teams across the Greater Chicago area. We also work with teams anywhere in the country, either virtually or in person. Virtual sessions work just as well for most engagements, and for on-site work outside the Chicago area, travel costs are included in the engagement.

The free 30-minute call is a conversation, not a pitch. We'll ask about your team, what's getting in the way, and what you're trying to accomplish. If we think we can help, we'll recommend a starting point. If we don't think we're the right fit, we'll tell you.

Most teams start in one of three ways:

• Half-Day Intensive: one working session where you leave with a two-week plan ready to run.
• Sprint Starter: your first full sprint, with coaching from start to finish.
• Sprint Builder: two sprints over a month, enough time to build habits that last.

If you have a bigger goal or a larger team, we can design a Sprint Catalyst engagement.

No to both. Most teams today are hybrid, remote, or working on different schedules, so a shared digital space where everyone can see the work is important. If you already use a project management or collaboration tool, we'll build on it. If you don't, we can recommend free or low-cost options that fit your team's size and budget. A tool only works when it's paired with the right habits and a clear process, and that's what we help your team build.

It's also normal for some people to feel unsure at first. We start by listening to your team so we understand what's actually happening before we suggest changes. From there, we co-create the implementation with your team, so the new way of working fits how your people actually work and belongs to them from the start. We explain why each practice matters, not just what to do, and we stay close during transitions so people feel supported while they learn.

Engagements range from a single half-day session to multi-month programs, and pricing depends on your team's size and goals. We'll recommend an option that fits your needs and budget on the free call.

Outside funding can often help. Nonprofits sometimes use capacity-building grants for this kind of work. Small businesses and entrepreneurs may have access to support through accelerators, entrepreneurship centers, or business development organizations. If you're not sure what's available to you, we're happy to talk it through.

Yes. For nonprofits, we offer a sliding scale based on your annual operating budget, so organizations of every size can access this work. For small businesses and entrepreneurs, pricing is based on your company's size and revenue, so early-stage founders and growing teams each get an option that fits where they are.

Contact us to learn which rate applies to you.

Your team keeps running the system without us. Our goal is to build your team's ability to work this way on its own. Every engagement ends with the tools, resources, and practice your team needs to keep going.

You won't be on your own, either. Clients get access to a shared digital knowledge base and an online community of fellow Catalyst Impact Studio clients, where you can learn from peers, swap what's working, and get support as your practice grows.

You'll see progress quickly in clearer priorities, fewer stalled projects, and less time lost to confusion. Over time, it shows up in what matters most to you, whether that's more reliable programs, more revenue, or growth with less friction.