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A group of Atlanta nonprofits were recently chosen to participate in the 2024 Sage Foundation Grow Program, which aims to connect nonprofit leaders with executives from Sage – an accounting, financial, HR, and payroll software provider for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Over the course of five months, leaders take part in brainstorming sessions designed to help organizations overcome roadblocks, create solutions to often complex issues, and develop action plans. All of which should help the nonprofits grow and enact lasting change.
The Sage Grow Program’s primary goal is to help not-for-profits solve challenges that might prohibit future growth. Each leader chosen to participate in the thought leadership and mentoring sessions will be provided with the skills and tools needed to tackle initiatives driving social impact in their communities. Further, the program seeks to level up leadership skills and impart valuable lessons on project management.
For 2024, the program aims to provide mentorship on topics including how to develop strategic business plans, define company goals and vision, and market and communicate more effectively.
Four local Atlanta nonprofits are part of the 2024 cohort:
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Sage has chosen 24 nonprofits to join the Grow Program since its inception in 2021. In 2023, it selected HYPE, a nonprofit based out of Atlanta that teaches girls of colour valuable tech skills.
Burdened with an outdated organizational structure that failed to help them achieve their growth strategy, Executive Director Kristina Newtown took advantage of the mentorship program to help identify methods to evolve HYPE’s existing structure and learn how to create an iterative approach to future growth.
Speaking about her experience with the Grow Program, HYPE’s Kristina Newtown said: “It’s an understatement to say that as a nonprofit leader, you have to wear many hats – but the new organizational structure I created with mentors from Sage equipped me in two ways.
“Firstly, I’m much more confident about positioning my nonprofit as a partner and employer of choice in my community because we have a clear path to support each person who works for us.
“And secondly, because of that confidence, I was able to take my maternity leave without worrying about my colleagues’ roles and responsibilities, or our operations – we had the infrastructure in place to manage that transition just fine.”
Adding to the sentiment, Renee Mathewson, VP of Corporate Affairs at Sage – and the Grow Program’s executive sponsor – added: “Often, we see nonprofits get the short end of the stick for budget and headcount resources. And as a global corporation, Sage has a real opportunity to uplift and help scale their work and programs.
“We strive to knock down those barriers and help these organizations thrive. Building on the passion of these nonprofit leaders, we can support their business aspirations to create a plan that is sustainable after the program finishes.”
