The world of business and nonprofit organizations is no stranger to adversity. Leaders in both sectors continually adapt to market fluctuations, funding challenges, and shifting consumer and donor behaviors. However, the current economic landscape presents an especially complex set of unknowns, fueled by trade uncertainties, rising tariffs, and the looming threat of reductions in federal funding. For many, the question isn’t just how to grow—it’s how to survive.

As we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I find myself reflecting deeply on his enduring impact—not just on our nation but on my own journey as a leader and advocate for positive social change. Dr. King’s words and actions have served as both a compass and a rallying cry, illuminating the path forward even in the face of adversity.

In a world where efficiency drives progress, nonprofits face a growing demand to deliver high-quality services and social outcomes with limited resources. This is where AI can offer benefits—a game-changing tool that can empower nonprofits to achieve more, whether it’s optimizing day-to-day operations or enhancing strategic planning. As I’ve researched how AI is being adopted across the nonprofit sector, I’ve come across key areas where these technologies are making a meaningful difference.

Stewardship lies at the heart of effective philanthropy. It encompasses the ethical and strategic management of resources entrusted to nonprofit organizations by donors, foundations, and stakeholders. At its core, stewardship ensures that every dollar raised is maximized for impact, fostering trust and accountability while driving meaningful social change.

Innovation is often heralded as the lifeblood of progress, but nowhere is its transformative potential more evident than in place-based development. By focusing on localized strategies to address community-specific needs, place-based development enables economic mobility, fosters sustainable change, and influences policy in ways that ripple beyond the immediate region.

Early childhood development is a critical phase, setting the foundation not only for educational success but also for long-term economic stability and social well-being. Children who experience strong early learning environments, particularly in literacy, tend to perform better academically and go on to achieve higher economic mobility, which in turn disrupts cycles of systemic poverty. Central to this transformation is the development of reading proficiency by third grade, a milestone that research identifies as a primary predictor of long-term educational and career outcomes.

The following document represents a case for the 50,000 Students in 5 Years Campaign of Helping Education, designed to serve underserved students across North Carolina. This 8-page collateral piece targets funders and community partners, offering a case for the campaign initiative. It includes the following sections that make a case for the campaign: Strategic Priorities, Call to Action, Flipping the Script, Access and Capacity, Applied Learnings through Innovation, Distrupting High Per-Student Cost Structures, and Alignment with North Carolina’s Science of Reading Commitment.

The new documentary Sentenced (Unanimous Media),[1] narrated by Stephen Curry, confronts one of the most pressing and often overlooked issues in education today—childhood illiteracy. It was released on Peacock on September 16, 2024, and I watched it two days later. Produced by Stephen and Ayesha Curry, the film illuminates the dire consequences of not being able to read proficiently by the end of third grade.

In my time working to promote educational equity and improve student outcomes, one truth stands out: policy is the engine that drives systemic change. Nowhere is this more evident than in education. In North Carolina, a state with both extraordinary potential and persistent challenges in its education system, policy must be our primary lever to ensure that all children—regardless of race, income, or geography—have the opportunity to thrive.

We know and believe that education is a fundamental right that serves as a pathway to social and economic opportunities. It is a gateway to growth and upward mobility. However, children from disadvantaged communities, particularly those belonging to racial and ethnic minority groups, often face significant barriers that hinder their academic progress.

In recent years, social innovation has emerged as a powerful driver of positive social change, a dynamic and transformative force that many of us working in nonprofits, business development, and social entrepreneurship recognize as central to lasting impact. At its core, social innovation is about crafting new solutions to entrenched social problems—solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable and scalable.

If you are interested in an accessible process that guides you through the important details of constructing a flexible, strategic plan, this book is for you ― "an essential playbook to scale and sustain your organization's impact with your community."

Your team is more important than you might realize. Cultivating a space where people can bring their best selves and feel they are contributing to something beyond their individual roles is both powerful and deeply appealing. A healthy team culture within your organization not only allows you to “move the needle” on measurable impact but also attracts top talent who align with your vision and values.

How do you understand and segment your nonprofit’s market?

In the nonprofit sector, understanding your market segments—people groups, neighborhoods, and organizations with whom you seek to serve, partner, and co-create—is crucial. Market segments represent different audiences shaped by unique social, economic, and cultural factors. Segmenting these audiences requires moving beyond surface assumptions and biases, fostering deep understanding and meaningful relationships to serve communities effectively. 

Entrepreneurship is a unique blend of vision, resilience, and action, driving individuals not only to create successful businesses but also to challenge norms, shape culture, and fuel societal progress. An entrepreneurial spirit embodies creativity, adaptability, and an unyielding commitment to problem-solving—qualities that are as transformative for launching new ventures as they are for inspiring meaningful social change.

You know this, but I’ll say it anyway: culture is always emerging. The world around us is constantly shifting — always innovating. New ideas, methods, and ways of being are introduced every moment, whether we embrace them or not. The real question is: how do we choose to respond? Do we welcome the discomfort of the new, or do we cling to the familiar and settle into a comfortable existence?

In recent years, organizations and communities have been making headlines—not always for the best reasons. On the political front, divisive rhetoric and policies have fostered a climate of exclusion, often justifying actions that deepen societal divides. The creation of barriers—both literal and figurative—has further marginalized already vulnerable populations, including immigrants and people of color, leading to widespread harm. Families have been separated, children have suffered irrevocable trauma, and systemic inequities persist.