REACH Launches Consulting Model to Support Black-Led Nonprofits

Expanding the REACH Foundation’s Centering Black Voices (CBV) investments, REACH will introduce a Core Consultants Initiative designed to provide Black-led and Black-serving nonprofits access to a team of nonprofit consultants. The Core Consultants program and technical assistance providers will be introduced at a “Coffee with Consultants” on Thursday, May 11, 10 a.m-11:30 at Equal Minded Cafe, 4327 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO.

“The Centering Black Voices pilot showed us that Black nonprofit leaders needed technical assistance but didn’t always have the network of consultants to draw upon,” said REACH Vice President Carla Gibson. “We pledged to remove that burden by identifying a pool of highly skilled and culturally attuned consultants to assist these nonprofit leaders as they work to achieve their missions.”

Consultants were identified based on frequent needs identified by Black nonprofit leaders, such as strategic planning, program and fund development, marketing, and accounting and financial services. Gibson said the consultants selected bring professional expertise and lived experience as Black professionals. To remove cost barriers, REACH established consulting agreements with the technical assistance providers and dedicated resources to cover the professional services in 2023.

REACH introduced the Centering Black Voices pilot in 2021 to improve access to philanthropic resources for Black nonprofit leaders. Gibson, Vice President of Programs, said the aim of CBV is to break down financial barriers and lack of social connections Black nonprofit leaders face in seeking philanthropic resources. With CBV, REACH has provided technical assistance and learning and networking sessions to help leaders further their missions and form new partnerships with their peers.

Interested Black nonprofit leaders are encouraged to register for the May 11 Coffee with Consultants event.