Kirk Brown

I love what I get to do for work and who I get to do it with! My nonprofit just published its 2023 Annual Report. We conduct rigorous analysis and synthesize high-quality research so nonprofits, philanthropists, and decision-makers have the insights to make the most effective poverty-fighting decisions. I invite you to review the report to learn more about what I do.

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I'm thrilled to share my latest piece for Black Enterprise, where I explore why commercial real estate is an excellent investment avenue for Black athletes. From generating passive income to driving community empowerment, commercial properties offer numerous benefits. Learn how athletes can leverage their earnings for long-term financial security and legacy building. #WealthManagement #CommercialRealEstate #FinancialPlanning

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When thinking back to my time as a nonprofit CEO, I recall many sleepless nights wrestling with funding challenges. Conversations often focused on writing grants, annual campaigns, and donor engagement, but the results stayed the same. It wasn’t until we started thinking differently that we saw real change. 🚀Imagine a nonprofit and philanthropic world where innovation drives fund development, creating sustainable impact within our organizations, where new ideas are celebrated, and risks are seen as opportunities.  🌟 In my latest Coaching Innovation Blog, Innovating Fund Development for Greater Impact, discover how embracing innovation can transform your organization's approach to funding. ❓How can nonprofits elevate their fund development strategies to create greater impact? 🧠 Cultivate a Culture of Innovation: Encourage an environment where creativity thrives, and risks are part of the growth journey. 🔍 How can you foster a culture of innovation? Reflect on your organization's openness to new ideas and discuss your risk tolerance and risk threshold. 💡 Innovation Pop-ups: Organize regular brainstorming sessions to bring together diverse perspectives and generate innovative new fund development strategies. When we create a culture of innovation that leverages technology and embraces diverse funding sources, we can transform our organizations and the communities we serve. How have you leveraged innovation to support fund development? 🔗 Check out the full article at www.Jordansydnor.com . 

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“The census data is one of those key pieces of getting it right in terms of the way we allocate a federal budget of over a trillion dollars. The way we afford civil rights protections, the way we draw our congressional districts, there’s nothing that isn’t touched by accurate census data.” The future of our communities and the ability to provide fair and just opportunities all rely on high-quality data. That’s why changes such as the Office of Management and Budget's updates to federal race and ethnicity standards and the addition of the MENA category can help create more equitable communities. I highly encourage you to check out this thought-provoking conversation The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights had with Maya Berry to learn how data can empower communities and discuss the intersection between data and civil rights. https://lnkd.in/eyPdu9av    #DataEquity #HealthEquity

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We should be clear that our movements and movement leaders are targets for right-wing disinformation, legislation, strategy, and violence. And those attacks are well-funded.

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Interesting insights in a recent report highlighting the remarkable influence of volunteers, by Independent Sector and the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland. #CommunityImpact #InspireChange #Ascendnbs #ArleneSiller

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As we commemorate Juneteenth, it's essential to highlight the ongoing efforts to drive policy, regional collaboration, and sustainable growth for Black entrepreneurs. At the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers Black business owners to thrive. My latest article explores the significant strides being made and the collaborative efforts that are paving the way for lasting change. Together, we can create a future where equity and opportunity are at the forefront of entrepreneurship. Read more about these impactful initiatives here: https://lnkd.in/e8XAbjr3 #Juneteenth #BlackEntrepreneurs #InclusiveGrowth #Policy #Collaboration #AEOworks

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I had my first feature in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution yesterday. The title of the article is the following: Black Atlanta entrepreneurs struggle to get loans, venture funds “For Monica McCoy, the Atlanta-based founder of diverse hiring consultancy Monica Motivates Enterprise, being able to access more capital would mean a chance to grow, to hire, to try new approaches, without survival depending on current sales.” “It gives you room for error,” McCoy said. When I started my business in 2017, I was so optimistic that the data would change. I’m disappointed to report that the data has gotten worse. I did this interview two days before my mothers funeral because I knew how critical this message was. From birth to death, it’s a vicious cycle. Here is a brief glimpse at the plight of the black woman. Black women are at the highest risk in the United States for dying during childbirth. Our kids education outcome is determined by their zip code. The private prison systems project the number of prisons they will need for our kids based on the number that fail the third grade reading test. For access to higher education, black women are burdened with student loans (shout out to loan forgiveness program that is taking this burden away from many currently). The pay gaps, microaggressions, lack of transparency about diversity in the C-suite, and boards make corporate America a source of stress and disappointment that ultimately leads to black women exiting to protect their mental health. Black women are the most educated in this country only to start a business and find that only .4% of the VC funding goes to black women. Black womens businesses are failing disproportionately compared to their counterparts due to the reasons I’m being interviewed in this article. The average net worth for black people is expected to be zero by 2030. The access to adequate healthcare is still a burden for black women. I started RiseHealth Compass to help prevent some of the premature deaths of black women. We must break this cycle of inequities from birth to death. I am dedicated to this critical work. Please continue to amplify this work. #MonicaMotivates #healthequity #economicinclusion #vcfunding #entrepreneur #corporate #bettyricelegacy #breakthecycle

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...What MD is doing to support breaking cycles of poverty through housing and ownership: https://lnkd.in/ezeaMzsU

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OC Nonprofits- check it out for some tips!

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How do we get systems to shift radically enough to actually serve human beings as humans? We dream bigger. You’re really gonna love this week’s episode of Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) “From Chains to Links” with the ever magical strategy and culture team Intelligent Mischief. Some things we touch on include how we: 1. Make dreaming an active part of tech liberation and social transformation 2. Understand both ancestral and future intelligence to respond to the present moment 3. Create alternative language and narratives to help us move radically different and reshape our world. Honestly, sometimes I don’t know if Kelly Burton, PhD and I are working or playing, but this episode reminded me of the impact of a dreaming team. BIA is literally a Dream Team, yall. And dreams are key to change! Full link shared in the comment! #podcast #youtube #ChainstoLinks #innovation #entrepreneurship #tech #AI

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Black businesses, including small businesses and contractors, play a vital role in the economy. It's essential to recognize their impact and importance in policy-making discussions. For policymakers and advocates of change, here are six actionable steps to consider. Supporting Black entrepreneurship and innovation benefits not only underinvested communities but all of society. Please read and share this article below if you identify as a changemaker! https://lnkd.in/g_FDBvMr

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Reflecting on the profound impact of the pandemic on small businesses, Shauniece Wallace's journey exemplifies resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity. However, through initiatives like the Open for Business Fund from @Wells Fargo, she found a lifeline, enabling her not only to weather the storm but to thrive. There's a glimmer of hope seen in the significant growth of Black/African American women's small businesses, as highlighted in the 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report. #SmallBusiness #DiversityandInclusion #Entrepreneurship #blackwomen

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Many donors still are trying to understand how donor-advised funds work. Likewise, a lot of nonprofit leaders still are unsure the right way to work with donors who give through DAFs, much less the DAF providers themselves. In the latest Giving Ventures podcast, we tackle both sides of the equation. The podcast plays back a great webinar we hosted for non-profit leaders last week exploring how to use and work with DAF providers. Take a listen, whether you be a donor, non-profit CEO, or a fundraiser. You'll find something to help you!

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Hi friends! It’s my birthday! Looking for a way to commemorate this momentous occasion?! I hope you support my nonprofit -- Florida Community Innovation! At FCI, we empower young innovators to build things that make Florida better, like the Florida Community Resource Map (connecting people to food banks, job resources, and more), an anti-human trafficking training certification, an environmental sustainability messaging campaign, and more. I think what makes us different is that (1) we build our projects with communities and we iterate + research to make sure we're building solutions that actually work and (2) we put young leaders at the center of our work. Trust me — we couldn’t be working harder to serve people across Florida. Today alone, I met with awesome friends and colleagues from the Mount Dora Community Trust, the Holden Heights community, and Save Miami — all for inspiring, “Save the World” tech projects built by and with our students. We've worked with a few universities now, and the money I'm specifically trying to raise this birthday is for our University of Florida internship program. This program is special. I'm trying to raise enough money now to completely fund all the students this fall, who are enrolled in in an internship class and/or working for us. They get course credit AND get paid for meaningful work!! When we started this program, we were trying to give first generation college students and other students who may not normally have access to tech internships a chance -- to find paid work that actually moves their career goals forward, while helping Florida at the same time. These students inspire me everyday. They come up with innovative ideas, they work hard, and they truly have hearts for service. It'd mean the world if you could support us! We have more students each year who are interested than we can afford to pay, and with public service, the more, the merrier. Support us and be a part of the change you want to see!! You can give money to support a student, and you can also volunteer your time by joining our weekly class, engaging in one-on-one mentoring, and more. Learn more on https://lnkd.in/gM_-EBTy. Thank you for making a difference!

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Tonight’s presidential #debate will undoubtedly inform conversations about Black voters, the policies that matter most, and promised actions to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for every member of our community. As you prepare for the debate, and the balance of the election cycle,#WorkWoke and leverage data designed to turn down white noise, correct for white lies, and otherwise center Black people and our communities needs. Learn more about the #BlackFacts data project at NBJC.org/BlackFacts #CiteThisData #Data #Research #CiteYourSource #CiteYourSources #DataScience #AI #Technology #Tech #Advocacy #Action #LetsALLGetFree ✊🏾 #Debate #presidentialdebate #presidentialelection @nbjconthemove @hrc @familyequality @nclrights @glsen @taskforceaf

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Do all capital campaigns need a fundraising consultant? Read on to learn about different types of fundraising counsel and how they can benefit your organization! #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitcapitalcampaign #capitalcampaign #capitalcampaignconsultant

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