Translating Big Dreams Into Master Spreadsheets
How our Impact Lab helped a dance studio entrepreneur see how achievable her dreams actually are, with just a little bit of planning. Sylvie's aspirations impressed us, because we knew they could be achieved with a little planning and support. Our finance expert was able to translate Sylvie’s big ideas into spreadsheets and coffee meetings and proposed plans.
How the Impact Lab Helped This Biz Owner Build a Pipeline With 7k Potential Clients
When Lakeisha Falwell joined the Impact Lab, that’s exactly where she found herself. Owner of Next Level Nurse Consulting, a business that offers legal nurse consulting, she had a good start with a few recurring clients – but her revenue stream wasn’t as consistent as she’d like. Over the course of eight weeks Lakeisha was able to build a sales pipeline that started working right away.
This Biz Owner Has a $40 Million Dream. We Helped Him by Starting Small.
The founder of E&E Industries came to us with the goal of reaching $40 million in revenue over the next five years. Through Impact Lab, Fernando Harris was able to work with a CFO to set up strategic financial targets and actionable steps to position his company for sustainable growth.
How the Impact Lab Helped This New Biz Owner Build Better Systems
When Taylor graduated from the Impact Lab, she walked away with a new system that positioned her business to scale. With her new-and-improved systems in place, she's is now able to: track her finances and invoices, gain increased interest from prospects, secure new clients, and complete a draft of a financial model and expand her revenue by planning to bring in additional coaches in the future.
Corporate Social Responsibility Book Review: Say the Quiet Part Out Loud
Each quarter, our Corporate Social Responsibility team here at Mission Edge convenes for a quarterly book club (we call it the Finer Things Club – like the characters from The Office).
One of our books this year was Say the Quiet Part Out Loud by Bina Patel, a local San Diego practitioner and author who does impactful work in the nonprofit sector across the nation.
How Our Fiscal Sponsorship Unlocked Access to $300K in Grant Funding for This Charitable Mission
Our fiscal sponsorship partnership is unlocking new potentials for Hustle 2.0, enabling access to critical programs for incarcerated individuals at no cost. Thanks to our partnership, they've been able to access over $300k in funding so they focus on their core mission without the added burden of nonprofit compliance. This has aided in 5,500 scholarships being distributed over 47 states.
So I’ve Been Accepted Into the Impact Lab Program. What Should I Expect?
Let’s queue you in on exactly what to expect in the coming weeks, here are some frequently asked questions about our Impact Lab Program — Mission Edge's free 10-week program for small business owners looking to grow their business and better navigate their finances. Learn about how you'll meet your CFO, what mastermind sessions look like, and other important information.
Client Profile: Using Interns To Improve This Nonprofit’s Operations
What do you think about when you picture a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative? For most, it’s volunteering at a local food bank or engaging employees in a donation drive. But some of our favorite CSR initiatives we’ve facilitated have been far more behind the scenes. One of our recent CSR projects involved helping San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) partner with a local San Diego nonprofit.
How We’re Helping This Charitable Mission Prepare for 501(c)(3) Independence
Learn how Mission Edge is helping Catalyst Kitchens achieve their charitable goals through fiscal sponsorship so that they can scale and eventually become an independently-run nonprofit. Our goal is to help organizations better serve their communities by taking on things like accounting, compliance management, and human resources.
Are You a San Diego Business Owner? Our Next Two Cohorts Are for YOU.
Are you a San Diego business owner feeling skeptical about free programs that promise business growth? We teach small business owners how to understand objective financial data, including their costs, expenses, pricing structure, and profit margins. These are the eye-opening insights and tools that local small business owners need to stabilize and grow.
This Is Your Sign To Stop Doing Everything Yourself
Entrepreneurship often attracts people who are used to doing everything on their own. If you find yourself struggling to ask for help, you’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. Our Impact Lab small business financial experts can help you optimize your financial operations, identify savings, improve cash flow management, and plan for sustainable growth.
Quality Partnerships Over Quantity
With decades of collective experience curating volunteering and community engagement opportunities, Mission Edge's Corporate Social Responsibility team curated a four-part event schedule throughout the year so the University of San Diego could expand their community impact and better help the Monarch School.
Meet Our New Small Business Finance Experts
Join us in welcoming Anastasiia Timon and Tom Barnhill to our team of finance coaches here at the Impact Lab! If you work with Anastasiia or Tom, you can expect comprehensive insights into streamlining your business's financial processes. Their expertise in finance, from reporting to strategic investment, is geared towards empowering your small business for sustainable success.
If You’re Facing These Entrepreneurship Fears, You’re Not Alone
Think back to the day you decided, finally, to turn your “idea” into a small business. There are many steps that go into taking that step and most notably, perhaps, were the mental obstacles you had to overcome. Here at the Impact Lab, our experts can help you address those fears, give you a tailored plan, and equip you with tangible and intangible tools to move from “cautious” to “empowered.”
The Season of Giving Is Over, but Should It Really Be?
From Giving Tuesday to Thanksgiving, there is a feeling around us to give back to our loved ones and community. Not only that – many companies' budgets are closing out at the end of the year and, they’re given the freedom to donate additional unused funds. While pairing a donation with the holiday season may be a logical action, it may not be the best practice to continue year after year.
How Mission Edge Helped This Veteran Turn His Passion Project Into a Donor-Funded Museum
The Nautical History Gallery Museum offers an up-close journey through the evolution of naval ships. However, they lacked a nonprofit status and infrastructure to accept donations. That’s where Mission Edge’s Fiscal Sponsorship came in. We decided to take on NHGM as a fiscally sponsored project under our own Community Give Back program because their cause aligns with the heart of our mission.
How the Impact Lab Gave This Chiropractor a More Organized Financial Model
Dr. Darcy White is passionate about cultivating a community of compassionate, empowered individuals who want to improve the quality of their lives, heal, and create a brighter future. When working with her Impact Lab finance expert, she wanted to have a better understanding of her business and establish goals. She walked away with a completely transformed vision and strategy for her business.
This Business Owner Escaped Overwhelm in the Impact Lab
Natasha is the owner of Tabby Manor – a cat sitting business that offers in-home care and basic grooming services for feline family members. When she approached us, she knew she needed to press “paws” on her business to do some much-needed strategic work and assess its financial health. She walked away from The Impact Lab with an actionable plan to alleviate stress and avoid overwhelm.
Restructuring Your Nonprofit
Fiscal sponsorship may be a powerful transition for your organization. While it represents an additional expense, the benefits — such as access to the sponsor's tax-exempt status, administrative support (a fully staffed accounting, HR, and operations department), and potential for increased funding — can outweigh these costs for nonprofits interested in restructuring.
Employee Volunteering Initiatives: What to Consider
With corporate volunteering increasing since 2020, companies understand the positive correlation between employee volunteerism and employee engagement and wellbeing. We’ll discuss the benefits of consistent volunteer engagements for companies, and offer ideas for how your company can provide a more sustained impact through employee volunteering.