How Nonprofits Actually Work With Cicley Gay

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On this episode of Butternomics, our host, Brandon Butler, talks with philanthropic leader Cicley Gay about how nonprofits actually work and why so many people get it wrong. Cicley, board chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and founder of The Amplifiers, breaks down why a nonprofit is a $1.5 trillion industry that runs like a business, why no money doesn’t mean no money, and why a nonprofit is supposed to solve the problem and go away.

She explains the difference between a nonprofit and a foundation, what funders are really looking for when they read your grant, and why only 2.9% of donations go to Black-led organizations. She also gets honest about leading with love, why she calls bankruptcy a financial tool, and what it takes to build a foundation that lasts. If you have an idea for a nonprofit or you want to understand where the money really goes, this conversation is the blueprint.