You may see this disguised in the language of “shifting our funding priorities,” “no longer accepting unsolicited proposals”, “pausing to examine the effectiveness,” and the like.

Soon enough, we will see who our true friends, backers, and supporters are.

Still, as changemakers we require resources to do our work -- eliminating racism and patriarchy, decolonizing and healing our communities, ending the exploitation of poor and working people is a lot of work! So we are left asking ourselves the question: Who will backfill the hole in our budget when supporters disappear or no longer align with our values?

If you don’t already have individual donors that you can rely on to invest and support your work, now is the moment to find, cultivate, and win them over. If you’re like many social justice leaders and have neglected pursuing wealthy individuals to invest in your organization because you assume their values don’t align, you’re likely missing out.

There are certainly potential donors who share your analysis and vision for the future, we just have to create pathways to their involvement. An individual donor base can help ensure stability over the long-term and be crucial in times of crisis, like now. And that’s what we’ll be focusing on a great deal this year with the newsletter and other content: How to tell stories and messages in a way that illuminates your values and helps you attract and secure new backers.

If this piques your interest, help us out by taking this quick survey to figure out what content you want to see first!

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Only one of these approaches is even close to the right path.

The Problem with Guessing

Yes, it’s important to consider what you’ve accomplished recently—but that alone isn’t good enough. A much sounder method is to break down the reliable sources of funding you actually expect to secure.

What counts as reliable? Think commitments already made, donors with a track record of consistent support, or fundraising events that have proven year after year to raise a certain amount.

You might be thinking: “If I only set goals based on past performance, how will I ever grow my budget?”

Fair question. You can account for new donors—but you need a method for explaining your projection.

Here’s One Approach

Let’s say you want to raise an additional $100,000 from new donors. You decide to focus on mid-level donors who give around $10,000 annually. Based on your previous fundraising efforts, you know you’re successful about 20% of the time with appeals at this level.

So to secure 10 new donors, you’ll need 50 solid prospects you’re actively cultivating.

But… if you don’t have 50 new prospects—or anything close to that—you’re probably not in a position to project $100,000 in new revenue. Similarly, if you don’t have a sense of your success rate with potential donors, you probably aren’t ready to make a projection at all.

And that’s okay. We all have to start somewhere.

But it is a mistake to stick ambitious goals on the wall without understanding where the money could come from. That leads to frustration and disappointment among your team and board—which can have more harmful ripple effects.

The Better Path Forward

Organizations looking to break out of the blind goal-setting pattern should use whatever fundraising data they have to set goals that are both realistic and ambitious.

Yes, fundraising requires a bit of magic to see success. But every great magician will tell you what’s behind every trick: science.

1. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund - offers competitive grant programs to reflect community needs and the foundation’s strategic initiatives - Feb. 14, 2026

2. The Roblee Foundation - funding requests in race, ethnicity, and gender equity. - Feb 17, 2026

3. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Social Justice Organizing Grant Program supports grassroots organizations with budgets less than $350K - Feb 17, 2025

4. Frank Hadley & Cornelia Ginn Foundation - education programs that support academic success, social-emotional growth. - Mar 1, 2026

5. Grants to Address Mental Health in Criminal Justice System - Sydney R. Baer Jr. Foundation provides grants in this area to nonprofit organizations. - Mar 1, 2026

6. Philadelphia Area Racial Equity Grants - Offered by the Nelson Foundation. - Mar 1, 2026

7. J.M. Kaplan Fund - Grants to nonfiction writers in the arts, history, and the environment via the Furthermore initiative. - March 1, 2026

8. Meyer Memorial Trust - Addressing Trauma and Healing for Black Communities in Oregon / Justice Oregon for Black Lives - March 3, 2026

9. Montclair Fund for Women’s grant awards - Supporting education and social justice and focusing on women of color. - Mar 6, 2026.

10. T Mobile Hometown Grant - Get up to $50,000 to bring your community project idea to life. - March 31, 2026

11. Professional Excellence Grants - center student success, reinforce systems that recognize, value, and support a quality, professional educator workforce - March 31, 2026.

12. Trust for Civic Life - Civic Hub Grant - grants provide flexible funding for local groups in our priority regions- July 2026

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1. Leadership Fellows at The Trust - rolling deadline

2. Harvard Health Coverage Fellowship - rolling deadline

3. Seeding Disruption Fellowship - rolling deadline

4. Google Creative Fellowship - March 9th, 2026

5. ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships - March 11th, 2026

Creating Pathways to the Gaming Industry for Youth

Damon Packwood from GameHeads discusses leveraging the gaming industry as a pathway out of poverty for youth. He shares how his organization grew through strategic partnerships and community commitment, bridging the gap between tech and underrepresented youth in Oakland. Explore grassroots activism, nonprofit leadership, and how GameHeads is shaping the future of the gaming industry while empowering the next generation of tech leaders.

Subscribe and Listen Now on Your Favorite Streaming Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube |

There’s no doubt that nonprofits are taking storytelling more seriously today than just a decade ago. The advent of social media and YouTube, as well as the technological advancements that have made photography and videography more affordable, have allowed social justice organizations to explore creative ways to use these tools to advance their campaigns and mission.

However, somewhere along the way, for many organizations, the spirit of storytelling culture has gotten buried beneath disconnected fundraising practices and the systematizing, cherry-picking, and outsourcing of story production.

As professional changemakers, we often lose sight that the best stories are birthed naturally and cultivated over time to perfection. This means remembering that anyone in our orbit can be a storyteller - a community member, a volunteer organizer, a staff person, even a donor - as well as remembering that it is critical to create space for stories to be shared spontaneously, not just relegated to specific storytelling committees or story collection forms.

Most important, however, in creating a healthy storytelling culture within our organization is demonstrating a good listening culture. Too often, managers and staff discourage impromptu story tangents in meetings, dismissing them as time-wasting distractions. This type of behavior can severely undermine a healthy storytelling culture. But, when we show ourselves to be good listeners by giving our peers, colleagues, and community members the value of our time to hear what they have to say, we communicate that their voices, experiences, and stories are embraced as an important part of our daily work as an organization.

Some of my favorite classic movie quotes below may help you remember how powerful storytelling can be, and while these lines may have been first crafted by screenwriters just know that similar lines of inspiration also flow out of regular people every single ordinary day - people like you!

1. “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Coach Carter

2. “There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” - The Matrix

3. “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers.” - The Black Panther

4. “We walk away from our dreams afraid we may fail, or worse yet, afraid we may succeed.” - Finding Forrester

5. “To see the world, things dangerous to come, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.” - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

6. “My people, my people, what can I say; say what I can. I saw it but didn’t believe it; I didn’t believe what I saw. Are we gonna live together? Together are we gonna live?” - Do The Right Thing

7. “Hate put me in prison. Love’s gonna bust me out.” - The Hurricane

8. “Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing. After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested.” - Life of Pi

9. “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.” – The Lion King

10. “You know that feeling where everything feels right? Where you don’t have to worry about tomorrow or yesterday, where you feel safe and know you’re doing the best you can? There’s a word for that, it’s called love.” -Akeelah and the Bee

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In this episode, host Jordan Thierry interviews the visionary behind GameHeads, Damon Packwood, as he shares his journey from growing up in San Francisco to founding a groundbreaking organization in Oakland. Discover how Damon's strategic partnership approach and commitment to community led to the creation of a unique program that bridges the gap between tech and underrepresented youth. Tune in to learn how GameHeads is shaping the future of the gaming industry and empowering the next generation of tech leaders.

It’s an awesome example of the magic that can happen when you invest in building relationships and are prepared to seize the moment. 

If you’re inspired by Damon and found this episode helpful, you can show your appreciation by making a donation to his organization at https://give.communityin.org/a1yq92?ref=sh_eB9BK6_ab_3FpjaGVbb0u3FpjaGVbb0u  

This episode was produced by Jordan Thierry of Dream Chase Media, with essential production and marketing expertise from Aranza Garcia and Issac Gsoria. 

For more episode content, grant and fellowship opportunities, and our book club chat room, visit https://howtobuildanonprofit.org

It provides a picture of what the organization will look like in the far-off future, forcing leaders to make educated predictions and assumptions. This clarity helps guide decision-making and ensures that all activities and programs align with long-term goals.

Additionally, by highlighting unique strategies or appealing to particular community members, nonprofits can stand out from the crowd. This differentiation is crucial for attracting donors and supporters who are aligned with your organization’s specific impacts and approach.

By understanding how to articulate a clear and inspiring vision, nonprofits can better align their efforts, engage stakeholders, and make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond. This powerful tool has an influence on every aspect of a nonprofit’s work, from shaping core values to attracting resources and inspiring action.

Here is a checklist for key elements of an effective vision statement:

1. An effective vision statement has a future-oriented outlook, describing the organization’s ideal future state. It provides direction and purpose, serving as a blueprint for decision-making.

2. Vision statements should be audacious, building on the organization’s current strengths while encompassing future aspirations. They should be ambitious enough to excite stakeholders but not so lofty as to seem unattainable.

3. A clear and concise vision statement is crucial for organizational success. Effective vision statements are typically between 5-20 words and shouldn’t exceed 25 words.

4. A vision statement must align with the organization’s core values. It should reflect the organization’s mission, objectives, and values, creating a sense of purpose and direction. This alignment helps foster unity and inspires people to work together towards a shared vision.

5. The final vision statement should be informed by and tested by the community. Nonprofits should be prepared to go through multiple iterations, refining the vision statement based on feedback until it resonates broadly with all stakeholders.

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This past weekend revealed the violent murderous acts ICE enacts on people in the name of protecting the border, but what is really an effort to reaffirm white supremacy in the US and immobilize the power of the people. This is a fight for all of us. And it’s important to know our organizations - assuming you work within one - can be implicated. The current government will continue to classify organizations connected to protestors as engaging in domestic terrorism to go after their funders and staff. That’s just one tactic; there are others. If you’re running a social justice nonprofit, here’s what’s happening and why it matters:

• They’re Looking at Your Foreign Connections

  • A presidential memo (NSPM-7) directs federal agencies to investigate nonprofits with international ties for potential Foreign Agents Registration Act violations. Got overseas partners or funding from abroad? You’re likely on their radar.

• Grant Funds Are Under the Microscope

  • The feds are investigating whether organizations use federal grant money for lobbying. Even if you’re careful about separating advocacy from grant-funded work, expect questions.

• IRS Enforcement Is Ramping Up

  • Changes at the IRS could make it easier to pursue criminal tax enforcement. Any gray areas in your tax-exempt status could become problems fast.

• They’re Going After Nonprofit Funders and Staff

  • Here’s the scary part: NSPM-7 explicitly targets “funders, officers and employees” of organizations under investigation. This isn’t just about your org—it’s about the people who fund you and work for you personally.

• States Are Piling on

  • Some state AGs are aggressively enforcing charitable registration rules, so you’re dealing with pressure from multiple directions.

• What You Can Do

  • Check if FARA applies to you. Audit how you’re using grant money. Make sure your compliance paperwork is bulletproof. Know who’s funding you. Get your state registrations in order everywhere you operate. And seriously consider talking to a lawyer about your specific situation.

Bottom line: They’re using regulatory tools to put pressure on organizing and advocacy work that will protect the ideals of an inclusive democracy, fight state violence and suppression, and address current and historical injustices.

Today’s article is the third of a three-part series with my colleague and friend Patty Narváez-Wheeler, Founder and Managing Director of Práctica Consulting. Throughout my years working and learning from Patty, I’ve seen how masterful she is in team development toward equity and systems change. I’m honored she has agreed to share some insights on questions I have about how to lead teams in a moment that is rightfully scary, overwhelming, and unprecedented for nonprofits.

Jordan: Many organizations and public agencies have been threatened with losing funding if they don’t end JEDI-focused initiatives, and some have given in to these pressures—at least on the surface. Some have stripped JEDI-related terminology from their policies and communications but insist they will continue to live out the values nonetheless. Realistically, can an organization be effective in improving internal justice, equity, and inclusion without naming it?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: The most straightforward answer is: “yes… but it depends.” Words matter, but not as much as action—and today’s environment complicates that common-sense truth. In my experience, the core ingredients that make JEDI work successful are consistent: grounding in employee and community voice or data; adequate resourcing; executive backing; accountability structures; and a clear power analysis. These elements can be measured both individually and collectively. The name of the initiative or the glossary of terms has never been on that list.

However, as you noted, this administration hasn’t only harmed the work rhetorically; it has threatened funding. So the real question becomes about exposure and risk tolerance in this new landscape which includes your own positionality as a leader (how supported and trusted are you) and your organization’s positionality (are there genuine legal or funding risks?). And I want to take a moment to say we need to extend grace to leaders right now, because we are not all experiencing this moment the same way.

And extending grace does not mean accepting the whitewashing of history or centering fragility. It is absolutely limiting and, at times, even harmful when we’re pressured to dilute or censor the accurate, specific terminology required to name things clearly. But even pre-Trump era, I’ve seen the “right” terms weaponized, brilliant anti-oppressive analysis never mature into impact, and seen groups spend months discussing terminology instead of building momentum.

We absolutely need precise language to anchor our analysis—and the work is stronger when a workforce shares that understanding. But language alone has never been what moves systems. It’s the practice behind the words that creates real change.

The pressures are mission-specific and region-specific. For many, this isn’t about a lack of courage; it’s about organizational survival and the impact a funding loss could have on the communities they serve.

So my first piece of advice is: do not make this decision in isolation. Lean on internal and external SMEs to assess real risks—legal, programmatic, financial, and relational. And as reluctant as we may be, we also need to honestly engage with current critiques of DEI while reviewing our own feedback and impact data to see whether anything meaningful or constructive emerges. Sometimes there is.

Second: follow where that process leads. Recently, I supported a partner organization through this discernment process. Because of their positionality, we clarified that their strategy needed to be legally defensible, not risk-averse, given no actual funding threats and layers of executive protection. In other organizations, the risks are very real. If your assessment indicates substantive legal or funding exposure, you may have to make language changes. If you do, be transparent about how you arrived at the decision and commit to tracking the impact. In uncharted territory, leaders must prioritize living into their values in how decisions are made, not just what decisions are made. This allows us to maintain integrity and accountability while navigating tough calls.

And if your work or organization is not at real risk? Then stay the course. Consistency supports morale, maintains trust, and strengthens the broader ecosystem’s ability to push back against harmful narratives coming out of the Trump administration.

I’ll end with this: Regardless of which fork you choose in the road, there is language clean-up work to be done. Whether we like it or not, terms like “social justice,” “woke,” and “DEI” have entered mainstream culture in ways that lack historical grounding, facilitated dialogue, or lived experience; the very ingredients that allowed many of us to deepen our understanding of these concepts in our own consciousness-raising journeys.

So now is the time to clarify meaning. Define what you mean when you use certain terms—old or new—in plain language. Give concrete examples of what those values look like in practice, with clear dotted lines to not just values but mission, performance, compliance, and impact (because not everyone in a workplace is compelled purely by values). In this landscape, I think our job is to embody our values in the process, provide linguistic clarity to cut through ambiguity and fear, and keep moving the work forward in whatever way is possible and principled.

Jordan: Thank you for that thoughtful response, very helpful! Last question - What are some book or podcast recommendations you can offer to nonprofit org team leaders to help guide them through these kinds of challenges?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: Just this week on “Work Life with Adam Grant”, I heard a phenomenal conversation between organizational development psychologist Adam Grant and leadership experts discussing a concept called ‘hyper normalization’ –and the dangers of toxic productivity culture and a better way of getting things done. Fantastic for whole teams to listen to and discuss insights for this particular overwhelming and change-driven moment in our professional lives.

Jordan: You’ve sent me his stuff before, and it’s really good. I recently subscribed to his pod. What else?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler:

Values Exercise for Teams: We talk a lot about “living into our values”—many of us in leadership do. But recently, while facilitating a conversation with a group of frontline and program staff, someone pulled me aside afterward to say thank you for raising the question of values. She admitted she had never actually dug into her own before and asked for a resource.

I shared one of my favorites: social worker and researcher Brené Brown’s Living Into Our Values worksheet. It’s practical, insightful, and a powerful tool for unearthing and discussing our values—and how they show up in our work. Exploring this together can be a meaningful bonding and team-building experience.

I’ve used this with my own diverse teams, and other leaders have shared how powerful it was for theirs as well. The Racial Healing Handbook by Anneliese Singh, PhD, offers a thoughtful way to share our lived experiences with one another in a way that bonds us through healing—not through trauma. I find this book helps teams do exactly that. (Tip: start at the beginning; don’t skip ahead to the later chapters, even if you feel well-versed in these topics.)

Jordan: It’s really hard for me not to skip ahead, but I’ll try :) Thanks for the really thoughtful conversation Patty. Let’s do this again sometime.

1. T Mobile Hometown Grant - Get up to $50,000 to bring your community project idea to life. - March 31, 2026

2. West Virginia Rivers Community Action Mini-Grant Program - supports communities growing collective power to influence decision makers and secure safe, healthy water for all. Mar 15, 2026

3. Montclair Fund for Women’s grant awards - Supporting education and social justice and focusing on women of color. - Mar 6, 2026.

4. Meyer Memorial Trust - Addressing Trauma and Healing for Black Communities in Oregon / Justice Oregon for Black Lives - March 3, 2026

5. Philadelphia Area Racial Equity Grants - Offered by the Nelson Foundation. - Mar 1, 2026

6. Grants to Address Mental Health in Criminal Justice System - Sydney R. Baer Jr. Foundation provides grants in this area to nonprofit organizations. - Mar 1, 2026

7. Frank Hadley & Cornelia Ginn Foundation - education programs that support academic success, social-emotional growth. - Mar 1, 2026

8. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Social Justice Organizing Grant Program supports grassroots organizations with budgets less than $350K - Feb 18, 2026

9. The Roblee Foundation - funding requests in race, ethnicity, and gender equity. - Feb 17, 2026

10. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund -offers competitive grant programs to reflect community needs and the foundation’s strategic initiatives - Feb. 14, 2026

1. Harvard Health Coverage Fellowship - rolling deadline

2. Leadership Fellows at The Trust - ensure that tomorrow’s nonprofit organizations have the human capital to flourish - March 2026 through June 2026

3. The Civic Bridgers Fellowship - immerses emerging professionals in a year of service at a nonprofit or public agency. - May 29, 2026

4. Google Creative Fellowship -places emerging talent on dedicated creative teams at Google - March 9th, 2026

5. Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship - supports emerging filmmakers ages 18 to 25 - Feb 12, 2026

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   Check out our 2026 Book Chats!

   

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   Siobhana McEwen on Growing a Grassroots Group on the Outskirts of Portland

   Siobhana McEwen from the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition discusses racial justice organizing in suburban communities. She shares how her organization grew during the 2020 uprising, addressing advocacy and policy needs for people of color and immigrants in the Portland metro region, and explores grassroots activism, nonprofit leadership challenges, and community collaboration.

   Subscribe and Listen Now on Your Favorite Streaming Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube |

With Black History Month just around the corner, what better occasion to revisit some of these classic documentary gems?

In my view, it’s also an opportunity to breathe new life into the documentary films that have captured and inspired action in the struggle for justice.

With that, I offer you five documentary films to watch during Black August:

1. All Power to the People: The Black Panther Party and Beyond

This is still my favorite documentary about the Panthers. It’s rich with historical footage and interviews of BPP leaders, and offers a clear story arch of their formation, expansion, impact, and dissolution.

2. Eye of the Rainbow: The Assata Shakur Story

You may have read Assata’s book, but did you know there is a documentary of her story? This one is a true gem. Through multiple interviews with Assata herself in Cuba, as well as archival interviews, she shares her entire story from her own perspective.

3. Scottsboro: An American Tragedy

This was the first historical documentary I watched outside of school, completely on my own. All I remember was that I couldn’t believe the audacity of it all.

4. The Farm - Life Inside Angola

This one is still a classic and is known for its influence in waking Americans up to the injustice of the prison system through powerful narrative storytelling from inmates inside America’s largest maximum security prison - 18,000 acres - the size of Manhattan, which also happens to sit on a “former” slave plantation and traces its roots back to reconstruction.

5. A Panther in Africa

Pete O’Neal, a young Black Panther in Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested for transporting a gun across state lines. One year later, O’Neal fled the charge, and for over 30 years, he has lived in Tanzania. This film shows his day to day life in Tanzania, and features Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt, who also moved to Tanzania upon his release from prison. This one is a joy to watch.

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In the book The Revolution Will Not Be Funded, Tiffany Lethabo King and Ewuare Osayande state in their critique of the grassroots fundraising strategies, that “models based on cultivating relationships with the wealthy do not make sense for people-of-color organizations and movements because we do not have the same access to private wealth, and attempts to encourage us to create alliances with the same capitalists who exploit us are in clear opposition to our struggles for global reparations, which, when waged successfully, will foster the just redistribution of wealth and resources.” While I may not completely agree that grassroots fundraising is counter to the goals of reparative justice and liberation from systems of oppression, I do agree that there is an undeniable hypocrisy related to the exploitation tied to the majority of US wealth and the goals of grassroots activism and social change work.

The fact that so many of us as changemakers rely on a philanthropic system embedded in state coercion (IRS rules for nonprofits) and extractive capitalism (profits from endowments invested in public and private companies, commodities, real estate, etc) to fund our campaigns - and careers - is well-overdue for a field-wide re-examination. However, the main point I want to make here is that while it may be dubious to accept the money that many of us do (as organizations or, in my case, as a consultant), it is increasingly morally irresponsible to do so and pretend we didn’t.

By declining to speak up against the institutions that inflict harm on our civil society and our planet, or at least name that contradictory dynamic in our external communications when we accept financial gifts, we collectively stifle the political discourse on the issues of our time and those who are responsible. Thus, those dollars effectively serve as a repressive force in our overall work, potentially negating the impact of how those dollars get spent.

I write here with urgency about this because the signs are plentiful. The distraction of hustle culture is allowing elite individuals and multinational corporations to solidify their grasp of control over nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and right in front of our eyes. (Jump into rabbit holes with me about food here, tech here, wealth hoarders here, and Democracy here.)

Sadly, the truth is that you don’t have to receive money from CocaCola, ExxonMobile, Eli Lilly or even the Walmart to be concerned here, because it is likely that whatever foundation provided you with a grant has sizable investments in one or more so-called blue chip stocks, many of which have questionable if not reprehensible reputations for human rights, environmental justice, consumer protection, anti-trust and employment practices.

However, if you’re in a direct financial relationship with institutions such as these or their philanthropic arm, your fear of losing future funding due to speaking to that conflicting dynamic is legitimate and created by design. Know that.

But it is a disservice to the generation growing into this movement to operate under the illusion that the money we ask for and receive is detached from the systems of oppression we are trying to dismantle. I believe it is critical we wrestle with that publicly and be honest about the bargain we made when we decided to professionalize our efforts for social justice.

As changemakers, we have to find ways to articulate that inherent contradiction, the assumptions or facts we can point to, and why our use of those dollars must be catalytic toward systemic and societal change.

If we reject our obligation to speak clearly to this contradiction; to fold under the threat of our organization’s nonexistence, we fold entirely. We fail entirely. The corollary message we send is that our organization’s livelihood takes precedence over our own liberation.

So, what does racial justice organizing look like in these communities? In this episode, host Jordan Thierry interviews Siobhana McEwen from the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition, who speaks to that very point. She talks about how her organization grew during the 2020 uprising, addressing a sharp need for advocacy and policy change to address the needs of people of color and immigrants in this stretch of the Portland metro region. 

We deep-dive into grassroots activism, the challenges of nonprofit leadership, and the power of community trust and collaboration.

If you’re inspired by Siobhana and found this episode helpful, you can show your appreciation by making a donation to her organization at https://southwest-washington-equity-coalition.monkeypod.io/give/support-southwest-washington-equity-coalition 

This episode was produced by Jordan Thierry of Dream Chase Media, with essential production and marketing expertise from Aranza Garcia and Issac Gsoria. 

For more episode content, grant and fellowship opportunities, and our book club chat room, visit https://howtobuildanonprofit.org

The deficit narrative, prevalent in our society, focuses on highlighting the challenges and shortcomings of marginalized groups, such as people of color and those from low-income households. This narrative not only stigmatizes these communities but also overlooks the systemic factors that contribute to their circumstances. Psychologists explain that our brains have two basic ways of thinking: associative or intuitive thinking and conscious reasoning. The intuitive system, which operates quickly and automatically, often relies on emotions and creates biased narratives. Unfortunately, this system tends to lean towards the negative side of situations and experiences, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Asset framing, on the other hand, involves defining individuals by their aspirations and contributions, rather than solely focusing on their challenges. This approach acknowledges the obstacles they face while emphasizing their potential and the positive impact they can have on society. I first learned of asset-framing practices from Trabian Shorters, a social entrepreneur and philanthropist, working specifically to change the narrative of Black men and boys.

However, even before I became aware of it as a conceived practice, I dealt with the challenges of shifting from a deficit-based framing to an asset-based one when I directed the documentary THE BLACK FATHERHOOD PROJECT. The narrative surrounding Black fathers often portrays them as absent from their children’s lives. However, statistics also show that Black fathers are highly involved in their children’s daily lives. I tried my best to contextualize the challenges by couching them in systems of oppression and the impacts on the Black family, while presenting Black fathers who could speak to their own experiences, values, and aspirations as a way to counter the negative stereotypes.

Asset framing allows us to tell a more accurate and motivating story about marginalized communities, focusing on the strengths and lessons of people’s lived experiences, while helping audiences understand the impact social and political problems have on individual lives.

To implement asset framing in our organizations, we must first examine the language we use in our newsletters, our website, our grant proposals, donor appeals, and social posts. Instead of focusing solely on deficits or challenges, we should emphasize the teachings, contributions, and aspirations of the folks in our community. This can involve reframing our discussions, interview questions, and evaluation tools.

Implementing asset framing requires collaboration and collective efforts from all stakeholders. Ensuring we have inclusive, and representative communications teams is critical, as well as asking for feedback before going public.

Over time, the use of asset framing should lead your organization toward more systemic perspectives and solutions. It will build your reputation as one that treats people with dignity and respect, and honors their lived experiences and hopes for the future.

Today’s article is the second of a three-part series with my colleague and friend Patty Narváez-Wheeler, Founder and Managing Director of Práctica Consulting.

Jordan: I’ve come across many organizations in recent years that, because of trying to be responsive to the community voice, staff needs, and principles of egalitarianism more broadly, now have layers of processes that hamper their ability to move from ideas to action in a timely and impactful way. Too many ideas simply get lost or expire before they have a chance to be implemented. What advice do you have for organizational leaders looking to dismantle these internal systems rendered ineffective while retaining the values that inspired them?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: I’ve seen this happen and been guilty of it myself. The truth is, we will never please everyone, and using our authority as leaders when things stall or go sideways is a sacred and necessary part of the job. And, over 15 years of engaging community members and employees, I’ve heard time and again that people are tired of being asked for input—they want organizations to honor the time, energy, and needs they’ve already shared. And I don’t think structure and authority are incompatible with democratic or egalitarian ideals or emergent strategy, but rather it’s a question of the processes we use and how we use our positional power within them. In my opinion, our values should be embodied throughout the life of an initiative, not just at inception. So if a process isn’t working, it’s time to revise it.

Jordan: I must admit I may have been guilty of this too, in the past. So what should someone like myself consider learning more about or adopting to balance these dynamics in a way that simplifies and streamlines the work without drifting away from values and heart-centered work?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: I’ve been inspired by many impact assessment tools and engagement protocols over the years, and after co-creating and scaling initiatives across the public and nonprofit sectors, I’ve found that these steps help center those most impacted, build on existing wisdom, and support equitable, inclusive co-creation without losing momentum or dying on the vine.

1) Start with what is already known and what has already worked.

I’m a big believer in not reinventing the wheel. In my experience, there is always plenty of data lying around and a lot of wisdom within the relationships you already hold. Do your research first. Look for who has already spoken to the people you think you need to talk to, who has asked similar questions, or who has tackled a comparable challenge like employee engagement surveys, local partners’ annual reports, a recent community needs survey, etc. Build a draft scope, strategy, or plan from that foundation. Suddenly, you have a concept rooted in recent, local data that people can respond to, rather than a blank page.

2) Take the concept to existing groups who trust you—and whom you trust.

Bring the draft to existing gatherings: a governing body like a commission or advisory board, or a standing community meeting. Thought partnership is always easier to activate when people have something concrete to react to. Share the concept and ask very specific questions: What resonates? What concerns you? Who or what is missing? Use that “missing” list to identify whether you need an engagement phase at all—and if so, what its purpose and target should be.

3) Tailor additional engagement only to what’s still missing—and define “good enough.”

By this point, you will know which parts of your concept are solid and where actual gaps remain. Design a focused engagement phase centered only on the outstanding questions and missing voices. Be explicit about the engagement’s intention and scope, and set clear criteria for what “good enough” looks like so you don’t fall into perfectionism or people-pleasing.For example:

• “We need to hear from 50 more community members,”

• “We need buy-in from our five key partners,” or

• “We need a 20% survey response rate,”

Then set a deadline and communicate it clearly. Make engagement methods accessible, flexible, and varied within your timeline.

A bonus practice: build in a pilot phase if resources allow. If any key stakeholders or questions were missed when the engagement closed, prioritize including them—or it—during the pilot. Implementation, not planning, is where your most valuable insights will emerge.

4) Follow Up and Use Your Authority When Needed

Whatever engagement you do, big or small, always follow up with the people who shared their time, energy, and insights. Close the loop. Tell them what you’re doing with what they offered. And if something important arises outside your scope, use your position to route it to the right decision-makers. It’s also okay—and sometimes necessary—for leaders to call out scope creep, pause the process, or declare a respectful sunset on a phase. I’ve stepped into organizations where groups had been meeting for months, swirling in ideation until their purpose became unclear. They needed someone to ask the hard questions, name the ambiguity, and give them permission to conclude the work. Following up and leading with clarity honors people’s contributions and protects organizational momentum.

Part 3 in this series will arrive in January. Stay tuned!

1. Fulcrum Fund - supports New Mexico–based artists whose work centers around visual arts, helping them expand existing projects or explore new directions outside traditional museum and gallery systems. - Dec 31, 2025

2. Bobby Anspach Studios Foundation Grant - Open to visual artists working in any medium or approach - Dec 30, 2025

3. Research on Improving Lives of Children and Youth - William T. Grant Foundation provides funding up to a $1 Million for studies on evidence-based research. - January 6, 2026

4. Prince Claus Seed Award - offers support to talented and engaged emerging artists and cultural practitioners who are committed to strengthening their contexts and societies through socially and politically engaged work - Jan 8, 2026

5. The Impact Fund - awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. - Jan 8, 2026

6. T Mobile Hometown Grant - Get up to $50,000 to bring your community project idea to life. - Jan-March 2026

7. The Murdock Trust Grant - makes grants that support construction, renovation, land purchase and other capital projects. - Feb 1, 2026

8. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund -offers competitive grant programs to reflect community needs and the foundation’s strategic initiatives - Feb. 14, 2026

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1. Black in AI Safety and Ethics Fellowship - January 1, 2026

2. Venture Access NYC Tech Startup Founders Fellowship - January 1, 2026

3. The Wells Fargo Small Business Fellowship - Jan 8, 2026

4. Seeds of Radical Renewal Fellowship for Spiritual Ecology, the Power of Art, and Leadership - January 15, 2026

5. Glynn D. Key 1L Summer Fellowship - Jan 20, 2026

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How to Build a Nonprofit WIP : From Zero to $1M Nonprofit in 12 Years | Pastor Keith Davis

Pastor Keith Davis shares how he built Camden Dream Center from zero staff and no budget to a seven-figure organization with 25 paid staff in 12 years. He reveals the entrepreneurial strategies and business approaches that made this dramatic growth possible.

Subscribe and Listen Now on Your Favorite Streaming Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube |

Submitting a letter to your elected and government officials concerning the changes they aim to make can be a promising strategy to grab their attention, and in some circumstances, prompt a request to speak with you directly to learn more about your concerns, or even delay their plan to move forward with their proposed policy. However, not just any old letter can trigger this kind of effect.

A powerful letter to a government official must:

1. Be strategically timed.

Many policy-making bodies have specific processes for receiving public opinion, and often that requires submitting letters in advance (with a specific deadline) of a committee or full-body meeting. Following these protocols and deadlines is important because it (should) guarantees that your letter makes it into the public record, is included in meeting materials, and is read by a staff member or chairperson in advance of the meeting. Depending on your strategy, you may want to send it further in advance to invite a conversation or allow time for changes to be made to the policy proposal. However, you may want to have a surprise effect that doesn’t allow the policymaker enough time to change the narrative or retaliate, in which case you should submit just before the deadline.

2. Grab attention and apply pressure.

One effective practice to apply pressure with your letter of concern or opposition regarding a policy matter is to not only send it to the lead official behind the proposal, but to make sure you CC their colleagues on the policymaking body, as well as other critical stakeholders that will have a stake in the success of the policy’s passage or implementation, or better yet, have a stake in that policymakers success in their role. For example, if you’re submitting a letter to your local school board, it may behoove you to also CC the district superintendent. Or, in another example, if you’re writing a letter to a state legislator about a local issue, CC the party leadership, your mayor, and district representatives.

3. And, be well-written.

Your credibility is on the line when it comes to the quality of your letter. It should be proofread or checked by free software tools such as grammarly.com at a minimum. However, the structure of your letter matters a great deal as well. Here is a sure-fire recipe for a strong letter of concern, opposition, or support to a policymaker:

Paragraph 1 - State who/what organization you are writing on behalf of, why you are writing (to express concern, opposition, or support) of what specific policy proposal (if it has a name, a name, a bill/policy number, include that here) and half-sentence explanation for why (such as: It will further harm our unhoused youth).

Paragraph 2 - Describe your organization, its mission, and why this measure is important to your work and/or the communities you serve.

Paragraph 3 - Explain in further detail your reasoning for your concern, opposition, or support. Make sure to be concise, direct, and professional.

Paragraph 4 - Provide further reasoning, separate from the previous paragraph, for your concern, opposition, or support. If you have statistics or research to include to support your argument, you can include it here (make sure to provide your source(s)).

Paragraph 5 - Conclude your letter by reiterating your position on the policy measure, expressing gratitude for their consideration, and offering or requesting to have a direct conversation about your position. Make sure to provide reliable contact information in the event they want to get a hold of you to discuss more (...you would be surprised!).

So, remember, the letter may be endangered but it is not extinct. A well-crafted, timely letter may be the missing piece of the puzzle in your organization’s work to impact systemic-level change.

Living with an unrelenting sense of pessimism can drain our energy, hinder our progress, and kill our creativity. So, it is crucial to understand the implications of pessimism, how it affects our well-being, and for me, the first and second years into the pandemic specifically, my pessimistic outlook put me in a cycle of self-doubt, anxiety, and fear I couldn’t name. Despite the fact that I had incredible professional opportunities knocking at my door, it blinded me from seeing them, preventing me from pursuing the goals and dreams I have long held. In the past year, however, I’ve learned that having a constant focus on what is going wrong can also hinder my ability to enjoy the present moment and find happiness in my daily life.

There are a few things I’ve learned through this experience to help fight the pessimism that can so easily creep into the mind.

One powerful way to combat pessimism is through community and service toward community and structural change. At the most basic level, ensuring I am engaging in acts of kindness and compassion consistent with what I’d like to see across our society fills me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment because I know that collectively, our small acts can contribute to big change. By shifting our focus away from ourselves and towards the needs of a just and loving world, we can break free from the cycle of negative thinking and fight for positive change.

Joining a community of others in the freedom struggle can counter social isolation and provide a support network and a sense of belonging. Participating in the freedom struggle, inclusively viewed, can not only provide a sense of social belonging but also historical belonging, connecting your work with that of those who refined democratic societies, pushed imaginations forward in the name of human and civil rights, and preserved cultural histories and practices in the face of extermination, can be quite humbling and transformational to say the least. I’ve rediscovered this basic truth in the last couple of years: surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals who share our goals and aspirations can help us stay motivated and inspired.

We can’t let pessimism get the best of us.

The first step is to recognize that our thoughts and beliefs are not absolute truths but interpretations of reality, and our reality is heavily influenced by the media we consume.

Next, we must consider what may be an ugly truth: We humans have a negativity bias. This essentially means that we are drawn more to negative news than positive or neutral news; Negative news has been found to have a stronger biological effect on our minds and bodies and is thus easier to pay attention to. Therefore, we are naturally inclined to doom scroll; and since news is largely a profit-seeking business and bad news has proven to sell quite well (in the form of ads, subscriptions, sponsorships, etc), there’s plenty of doom-scrolling content to consume.

So one of the largest shifts in my daily habits that I’ve made is in my “media diet.” Part of this is just consuming less media. Not scrolling my phone or turning on my tv as soon as I wake up. Most importantly, I no longer start the day by reading and listening to the news. I try to make sure the first media I consume is something that inspires me and/or makes me laugh. This could be sports highlights, a spiritual passage, an interesting podcast interview, or a rerun of one of my favorite sitcoms.

I still consume the news. But now, I usually take a 15-30 minute break in the afternoon a few days of the week to catch up on any relevant news I deem necessary to consume for my personal or professional development, and that’s about it.

More importantly, I seek out good news to remember that positive change is taking place across the nation and the world on a daily basis. Rights are being restored, protections for historically oppressed peoples and our natural resources are being implemented, systemic barriers are being broken down as you read this, and it’s being done by poor people, by transgender women, by youth, by people who’ve had their rights stripped from them but not their hope nor their dignity.

That sounds like the future, not the end!

Additionally, I’ve found it helpful to remind myself to consider historical and population contexts before accepting my perceptions as hard reality. For example, it’s easy to forget that the US population has been in constant growth, and the total population has nearly doubled since 1970! This may mean yes, more negative incidents, but the rate at which those incidents occur may be in decline (as is the case in overall crime) or certainly not at their peak (as is the case with gun violence).

Of course, many issues are impacting the lives of millions that need urgent attention and action. I don’t remind myself of these aspects in an effort to undermine that fact. However, I’ve found this an important practice when I begin to convince myself the world has never seen as many problems as it does today by taking a more objective viewpoint which allows me to have a more open mind.

Using these strategies to recharge a positive outlook despite all the harm and oppression in the world, we can open ourselves up to new possibilities, improve our relationships, and strengthen our work toward change.

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Today’s article is the first of a three-part series with my colleague and friend Patty Narváez-Wheeler, Founder and Managing Director of Práctica Consulting. Throughout my years working and learning from Patty, I’ve seen how masterful she is in team development toward equity and systems change. I’m honored she has agreed to share some insights on questions I have about how to lead teams in a moment that is rightfully scary, overwhelming, and unprecedented for nonprofits.

Jordan: Patty, we are facing extremely challenging times in the nonprofit space. People are exhausted, scared, and angry. What advice can you offer to leaders of organizations to support their teams in this moment?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: First, let’s normalize that it’s okay not to feel okay and remind people that we do have the medicine to get us through. Letting your team know “you’re not alone” and “we’ve got this” can counter the fear and isolation defining this moment. These times are materially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually hard for many of us, especially those most impacted by the rhetoric, policies, and violence coming from this administration. And while it feels unprecedented, it helps to name the root feeling underneath: fear.

Jordan: Yeah, I think in many ways the anxiety I and others I work with are facing is the result of fear. Fear of what may be coming, of what we could lose. It’s happening so fast it seems. And it can be paralyzing, at least for me. So, how do you not let fear get in the way of your work?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: Fear is familiar to me in an empowering way because I know its antidotes. Our ancestor change-makers overcame fear; my own lineage survived natural disasters, revolutions, and displacement. I draw from those wells of resilience and remind myself that we have what we need to endure this moment.

Jordan: That’s deep. History always shows us how to lead with courage, we just have to look in the right places. What approaches should nonprofit leaders prioritize to embody the spirits of the folks whose shoulders we stand on?

Patty Narváez-Wheeler: Well, here are four simple practices I keep in my leadership “medicine bag”:

1) Disciplined self-care.
You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you’ll need to up your self-care game this season, I know I’ve had to. My own updated self-care this year has meant early mornings with the ancestors and the divine before my kids wake up, journaling a lot , nostalgic TV, fitness, and protected time with my children who keep me soooo present. Know your “check engine” light, too, so you avoid a stall in the middle of the metaphorical road.

2) Clarity over silence.
Ambiguity breeds worst-case stories. When the anti-DEI Executive Order dropped back in January, junior staff at a large institution heard nothing for two weeks because the leadership team was waiting on SMEs and the Comms team to craft the ‘right’ response. The silence caused far more anxiety among the workforce than a simple “we hear your concern and we’re assessing impacts; expect an update in X days” would have.

3) Practice gratitude.
A mentor once told me, “Gratitude and anxiety can’t co-exist.” And in a moment when we’re inundated with crises, looking for the good becomes a necessary counterbalance. Notice the ED who doubled down on commitments, the community partner organizing mutual aid, the vendor who made your gala stunning, the hummingbird outside your window, the coalition newly formed, the meme that made your team laugh, and the unique contributions of your people. Name the good, together. Gratitude regulates the nervous system, strengthens team bonds, and reminds us that “power over” is not the only power that exists—never has been.

4) More Curious, Less Furious

This moment in our country is undeniably divisive. Shaped by larger forces, echo chambers, and a decades-long erosion of community, but there is learning here for us as transformation leaders. As Daryl Davis asks, can we get curious instead of furious? Not with pundits, grifters, or politicians, but with the everyday people around us who see the world differently, whose fears, values, and even votes are different from our own? Our capacity for curiosity will vary, of course, depending on our positionality and environment, but modeling it helps our teams stay in relationship, adapt with integrity, and remain aligned with mission and values.

Part 2 in this series will arrive in January. Stay tuned!

1. Research on Improving Lives of Children and Youth - William T. Grant Foundation provides funding up to a $1 Million for studies on evidence-based research. - January 6, 2026

2. Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation Grant - grants in the areas of health, education, social services, and community development. Jan 1, 2026.

3. The Cloudsplitter Foundation - support a well-defined project or program that has a defined need, budget, and associated supporting documentation. - Jan 1, 2026.

4. The Philanthropy Connection - Strengthening organizations working in Massachusetts - Jan 9, 2026

5. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund -competitive grant programs to reflect community needs and the foundation’s strategic initiatives - Feb 14, 2026

6. The Roblee Foundation - funding requests in race, ethnicity, and gender equity. - Feb 17, 2026

7. Philadelphia Area Racial Equity Grants - Offered by the Nelson Foundation. - Mar 1, 2026

8. Grants to Address Mental Health in Criminal Justice System - Sydney R. Baer Jr. Foundation provides grants in this area to nonprofit organizations. - Mar 1, 2026

9. Frank Hadley & Cornelia Ginn Foundation - education programs that support academic success, social emotional growth. - Mar 1, 2026

10. Montclair Fund for Women’s grant awards - Supporting education and social justice and focusing on women of color. - Mar 6, 2026.

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1. Black in AI Safety and Ethics Fellowship - Jan 1, 2026

2. Venture Access NYC Tech Startup Founders Fellowship - Jan 1, 2026

3. Catchlight Global Fellowship for Social Impact Visual Storytellers - Dec 15, 2025

4. Seeds of Radical Renewal Fellowship for Spiritual Ecology, the Power of Art, and Leadership - Jan 15, 2026

5. Seeding Disruption Fellowship - rolling deadline

6. Folger Institute Long-term Public Humanities Fellowships - Dec 15, 2025

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How to Build a Nonprofit 🎙️: Travel Transforms | Bianca Nelson

Bianca Nelson is opening the world to Baltimore youth through travel. After a life-changing solo trip to Australia, she founded Learning to Live Movement in 2015 with zero nonprofit experience—just a dream and an 82-year-old mentor who told her to start now, not “one day.” Today, her organization provides high school students of color with leadership development, cultural education, and travel opportunities to destinations like Brazil, Jamaica, and Belize.

In this episode, Bianca shares her honest journey of starting with nothing, the power of fiscal sponsorship, why events became her fundraising lifeline, and how watching Baltimore students meet a snorkeling guide in Belize shifted their entire understanding of what’s possible in life.

Subscribe and Listen Now on Your Favorite Streaming Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube |

Here’s why I bring it up: I’ve watched too many brilliant people spend months drowning in 501(c)(3) paperwork while their actual mission sits on the back burner. Meanwhile, similar projects under fiscal sponsors are already fundraising and making an impact.

In this particular moment, immediacy and discretion may be your top priorities. Fiscal sponsorship may help with that.

The setup is straightforward: An existing nonprofit becomes your administrative backbone. They handle the tax-exempt status, financial oversight, and compliance headaches. You focus on the work that actually matters. Think of it like renting office space instead of buying a building.

Who this works for: Early-stage initiatives testing their concept before committing to full nonprofit status. Grassroots movements that need immediate fundraising power. Small or temporary projects that don’t want to manage their own board and bylaws.

The trade-off is real: You’ll pay an administrative fee (usually 5-15% of what you raise) and give up some control. The fiscal sponsor holds your funds and may set restrictions. Some funders prefer t

o work directly with independent 501(c)(3)s.

But here’s what you get immediately: credibility with donors, access to grant opportunities, existing infrastructure for accounting, insurance coverage and legal compliance, and someone else handling the IRS reporting.

I’ve managed multiple projects this way. Some eventually spun off into their own 501(c)(3)s once they had proven their model and built capacity. Others stayed put because the arrangement worked better than going solo.

The question isn’t whether fiscal sponsorship is perfect—it’s whether it gets you closer to your mission faster than filing paperwork for the next six months.

Sometimes the smartest move is admitting you don’t need to create everything from scratch, and tapping into existing infrastructure.

Want to know how to find a good fiscal sponsor for your project? Stay tuned!

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These closures are happening everywhere, organizations big and small, local and national. But here’s the thing: shutting down doesn’t have to mean failure.

Let me be clear, all of what we’re seeing from the federal cuts to human services, prevention and humanitarian aid is bad. Just hear me out:

Over my career, I’ve seen nonprofits close for many reasons — financial collapse, scandal, and in one rare instance, because they actually achieved their mission and worked themselves out of a job.

Whatever the cause, the same questions about their legacy always surface: Were they impactful? How much did their work matter?

Years ago, one of the organizations I deeply admired closed abruptly. Staff were laid off. Contracts cancelled. Grants terminated. It all happened in a matter of weeks. It was heartbreaking.

But in the years since, I’ve seen something remarkable. Former staff went on to start new organizations or lead existing ones. Young people they had mentored became movement leaders. Programs they innovated were replicated in other communities. Their values framework found its way into the playbooks of funders and advocates worldwide.

It became clear: the dreams they fought for, the imaginations they activated, could never be confined to office walls or an IRS letter of nonprofit status. Their legacy lives on — in the people they serve

d, the staff they hired, the funders they inspired, and the youth they trained and mobilized.

Of course, not every organization leaves such a lasting imprint. Reflecting on this, I had to ask: What made them different?

My answer: they operated like a community, not a corporation. They didn’t put their own survival above the people they served or those who served alongside them.

They were human-centered. Empathetic. Responsive to real needs. People invested their hopes and ideas into the organization, and the organization did its best to deliver a return on that trust.

They were far from perfect. But they were good enough at the right things to leave a mark that outlived them as an organization.

For this reason, 50 years after the war ended, a group of Black Civil War veterans, tired of having their demands for recognition shunned by Congress, formed the National Museum Association, an organization whose mission was to build a magnificent cultural archive honoring African Americans’ contributions to the country.

The Association saw some real progress in its first several years, shepherding a national grassroots movement in support of the museum. By 1920, they had convinced the House Committee of the Library (a congressional body) to support their goal, and it seemed as if their mission was about to be achieved. Orders were given to the Commission on Fine Arts to find a location on the National Mall, but a decision was made internally to delay the project until a memorial for the veterans of World War I could be constructed.

For a decade more, the National Museum Association continued its advocacy, and in 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed into law the authorization of the museum. However, the idea was so controversial in Congress that its funding was scratched out by the time the bill reached his desk. It effectively became a symbolic gesture, absent of any material means to build the museum. Later that year, the stock market crashed, and support within the federal government for the museum disappeared.

In 1985, Representative Mickey Leland of Texas took up the issue in Congress, and it began gaining momentum once again. However, tragedy struck when Representative Leland died in a plane crash on his way to Ethiopia in 1990. Representative John Lewis of Georgia continued advocating for the museum and introduced a bill in the House of Representatives each year to that end, until, finally, in 2003, the authorization of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a Smithsonian Institution, was signed into law.

On September 24th, 2016, over 100 years after the National Museum Association formed, the Museum opened its doors. It was the realization of a dream initiated by folks who had long passed away. And while their bodily elements have returned to the soil and spirits have traveled afar, their vision, now materialized, promises to impact generations.

“The road to success is paved with patience, where every delay is a lesson in persistence.” – Maya Angelou

There’s much to be said about why it took so long, but my point here today is this:

The work we do today matters, I promise you. The setbacks your organization may face in this moment, while certainly muddying the path, are testing your dedication and resourcefulness, but are not impenetrable.

Today, we bear the fruits of the founders of the National Museum Association, and even though it took 100 years to grow, it was worth it. Think about the seeds you planted today, and be proud. Think about the seeds you will plant tomorrow, and get excited.

1. Brooklyn Org Microgrants - provides one-year microgrants of up to $10,000 to neighborhood-based groups - Nov 30, 2026

2. Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation Grant - grants in the areas of health, education, social services, and community development. Jan 1, 2026.

3. The Cloudsplitter Foundation - support a well-defined project or program that has a defined need, budget, and associated supporting documentation. - Jan 1, 2026.

4. The Philanthropy Connection - Strengthening organizations working in Massachusetts - Jan 9, 2026

5. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund -competitive grant programs to reflect community needs and the foundation’s strategic initiatives - Feb. 14, 2026

6. The Roblee Foundation - funding requests in race, ethnicity, and gender equity. - Feb 17, 2026

7. Frank Hadley & Cornelia Ginn Foundation - education programs that support academic success, social emotional growth. - March 1, 2026

8. Montclair Fund for Women’s grant awards - Supporting education and social justice and focusing on women of color. - Mar 6, 2026.

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1. Harvard Health Coverage Fellowship - rolling deadline

2. Seeding Disruption Fellowship - rolling deadline

3. Smack Mellon Artist Studio Program - Dec 1, 2025

4. Bernheim Forest Artist in Residence Program - Dec 1, 2025

5. Folger Institute Long-term Public Humanities Fellowships - Dec 15, 2025

How to Build a Nonprofit

🎙️ EPISODE ALERT: Helping Women of Color Build a Law Career and Fight Injustice- Rachel Johnson Farias

Rachel Johnson-Farias graduated with honors from Occidental College and earned her J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law. After facing roadblocks in her path to becoming a licensed attorney, she founded Esq. Apprentice—a nonprofit helping nontraditional law students of color become licensed attorneys.

In our podcast episode, Rachel discusses avoiding burnout, building sustainable leadership practices, and how her organization works to upend systemic injustice in the legal profession.

Subscribe and Listen Now on Your Favorite Streaming Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

For Bianca Nelson, it’s these travel effects that she wants to improve the lives of Baltimore youth. And it’s why she founded her organization, Learning to Live Movement, in 2015, which provides youth of color with leadership development, cultural education, and opportunities to travel to destinations such as Brazil, Jamaica, Belize, and more. 

If you’re inspired by Bianca and found this episode helpful, you can show your appreciation by making a donation to her organization at https://www.learningtolivemovement.com/donate

This episode was produced by Jordan Thierry of Dream Chase Media, with essential production and marketing expertise from Aranza Garcia and Issac Gsoria. 

You can follow How to Build a Nonprofit on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. Sign up for our free newsletter at https://howtobuildanonprofit.substack.com/. 

But after finishing her law degree, she encountered major roadblocks at the final steps towards realizing her dream. And it was through these hardships that the idea for her organization was born. Esq. Apprentice is a non-profit that helps nontraditional law students of color become licensed attorneys.

In our interview, she speaks candidly about how the do-everything-for-everyone mindset can quickly lead to burnout, how to build sustainable practices as a leader, and why she believes her organization can help upend systemic injustice.   

Esq. Apprentice seeks to change access to the legal profession in California and, eventually, the nation.

If you’re inspired by Rachel and found this episode helpful, you can show your appreciation by making a donation to her organization at https://esqapprentice.org/donate- 

This episode was produced by Jordan Thierry of Dream Chase Media, with essential production and marketing expertise from Aranza Garcia and Issac Gsoria. 

You can follow How to Build a Nonprofit on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. Sign up for our free newsletter at https://howtobuildanonprofit.substack.com/.