The Patterson Foundation has selected four regional nonprofit organizations for Margin & Mission Ignition, a 30-month opportunity focused on developing and applying earned-income strategies. Since 2015, Margin & Mission Ignition has engaged nearly 40 nonprofits serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties to strengthen their operations and impact by developing and implementing earned-income plans. These organizations have generated nearly $70 million total in gross revenue from their earned-income ventures to date.
During the 30-month process, The Patterson Foundation connects these organizations with experts in nonprofit revenue generation from No Margin, No Mission, a social enterprise and national consulting practice. Through their technical guidance and expertise, each organization learns proven business practices to develop and implement a customized earned-income plan. Previous participants have used their Margin & Mission Ignition exploration to launch or expand educational classes, venue rentals, thrift stores, consulting services, gift shops and other programs to create revenue beyond what they earn from traditional fundraising.
The newest cohort of Margin & Mission Ignition includes the following regional nonprofits:
“While a nonprofit might not immediately think of itself as a business, it has much to gain by exploring and embracing entrepreneurial principles to bring in more money,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Many traditional funding sources are becoming less predictable, which makes earned revenue a particularly strong alternative to traditional fundraising. Through Margin & Mission Ignition, nonprofits gain the expertise and tools to diversify income streams, resulting in strengthening their operations and programs.”
The opportunity for nonprofits to diversify funding sources and become more financially self-sufficient has come into greater focus amid ongoing economic challenges and reduced state and federal support. As organizations navigate these pressures, developing sustainable revenue streams can help strengthen their financial stability and ability to fulfill their missions. Beyond traditional fundraising, earned-income ventures offer nonprofits an opportunity to generate new sources of revenue, reduce reliance on external funding and build long-term organizational sustainability.
Prior to committing to the full 30-month consulting process, No Margin, No Mission worked extensively with each of the four nonprofits to help them assess their readiness for earned-income planning. While each organization will develop their own unique business plan through Margin & Mission Ignition, they will connect regularly with the other nonprofits in the cohort to learn and share their experiences with one another.
Margin & Mission Ignition is part of The Patterson Foundation’s Nonprofit Thrivability initiative, which creates opportunities for regional nonprofits to invest in themselves and strengthen the impact their work has on the lives of the people and communities they serve. The initiative connects nonprofit leaders with practical strategies and promising practices in areas such as fundraising, revenue generation and organizational sustainability. These opportunities are made possible through funding from The Patterson Foundation.
For more information about Margin & Mission Ignition, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org.
About The Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation is a fully endowed charitable entity strengthening people, organizations, and communities in ways that foster wide participation around shared quality-of-life aspirations. For more information, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org.