RevUp GVL: Building a Sustainable Nonprofit Business Model

How can nonprofits break free from the cycle of fundraising and grant dependency? With traditional donations failing to keep pace with inflation, a new approach can help nonprofits grow to better fulfill their missions. This episode explores the future of nonprofit earned revenue, a powerful strategy that applies startup principles to organizations with a social mission. We dive deep into how nonprofits can develop their own mission-aligned profits, build financial resilience, and amplify their impact without relying solely on philanthropy. Discover how a cohort of Greenville nonprofits is learning to shift from a beneficiary-focus to a customer-first mindset, creating sustainable business models that serve their community.

In this episode, we spotlight the innovative RevUpGVL: Revenue for Good program, a five-month incubator designed by Greater Good Greenville to guide nonprofits toward nonprofit sustainability. Joined by Paola Bonilla from the national consultancy 20 Degrees and Catherine Puckett from Greater Good Greenville, we unpack the process of building effective business models for nonprofits. We explore the critical mindset shift required for leaders to see their organizations as a business for good—a true social enterprise. You'll hear firsthand from Taylor Culliver, founder of Brother Box, as he shares his journey through the program. He discusses the challenges of traditional fundraising and how the RevUpGVL cohort provided the space and tools to develop a new, scalable income stream to support his mission of inspiring Black boys. This conversation is a masterclass in how to generate reliable revenue for a nonprofit, moving beyond the limits of conventional funding. The discussion also highlights the other visionary organizations in the cohort, including CommunityWorks, Conestee Nature Preserve, Loaves and Fishes, and TreesUpstate, who are all pioneering new ways to fund their vital work through nonprofit earned revenue.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

Paola Bonilla is the Senior Social Finance Manager at 20 Degrees, a national consultancy that helps nonprofits build earned revenue strategies. She explains the four-pronged process her team uses to help organizations shift their mindset from focusing on beneficiaries to identifying paying customers.

Taylor Culliver is the Founder and CEO of Brother Box, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring Black boys to be their most authentic selves through care packages and a text message education program. He shares his experience as a participant in the RevUpGVL cohort and offers a preview of his new business idea.

Catherine Puckett is the Program Director with Greater Good Greenville. She oversees the RevUpGVL: Revenue for Good program and discusses why this initiative is so critical for the local nonprofit sector, citing a recent philanthropic landscape study on declining revenues.

TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS:
(00:00) A New Model for Nonprofit Funding
(02:07) Addressing the Decline in Traditional Donations
(03:09) What is Nonprofit Earned Revenue?
(05:00) The Mindset Shift: From Beneficiary to Customer
(07:13) Case Study: The Mission of Brother Box
(09:34) Brother Box's Journey to a New Business Model
(11:21) Meet the RevUpGVL Nonprofit Cohort
(12:16) The Revenue Showcase: Pitching New Ideas for Good
(15:23) Pitch Preview: Supporting Parents of Black Boys
(17:23) The Power of Learning and Growing in Community

What do you think is the biggest hurdle for nonprofits trying to adopt a business mindset? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Don't forget to like this video if you found it insightful and subscribe to our channel for more discussions on building a stronger community.

#nonprofitearnedrevenue #socialenterprise #nonprofitsustainability #revupgvl #businessmodels #nonprofit #greenville #brotherbox #greatergoodgreenville #fundraising


_
Produced by Podcast Studio X: https://podcaststudiox.com
Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.
Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution: https://greatergoodgreenville.network...
Join the newsletter: https://simplecivicsgreenvillecounty....