Atlanta Nonprofits Empowered by Sage Foundation Through Leadership and Mentoring Programs

Atlanta Nonprofits Empowered by Sage Foundation Through Leadership and Mentoring Programs

Sage, the global frontrunner in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses, joyously announces its 2024 Sage Foundation Grow Program participants. A hallmark initiative of the Foundation, the Grow Program strategically aligns nonprofit leaders with Sage executives in a unique mentorship and guidance structure. The objective of this five-month journey is to pinpoint and resolve specific challenges hindering the growth potential of these Atlanta nonprofits.

A Partnership for Progress

Over the course of their involvement, Sage and nonprofit leaders unify their efforts to identify the stumbling blocks to progress, brainstorm potent solutions, and craft a solid action plan securing durable change. At the completion of the program, the nonprofit leaders are equipped with novel tools and skills not only to effectively execute strategic projects that fuel their organization’s social impact but also to enhance their personal leadership prowess.

Focus of 2024 Cohort

The primary interests of this year’s eager participants lean heavily towards developing strategic business plans, solidifying organizational vision and goals, and boosting marketing and communication efforts. The 2024 cohort is made up of four esteemed nonprofit organizations native to metro Atlanta:

• The 21st Century Leaders: A youth leadership-centric nonprofit that connects Georgian businesses with high school students across the state, fostering leadership development, career readiness, and inclusivity via innovative partnerships.
• East Atlanta Kids Club: A youth development nonprofit that offers gratuitous afterschool programs, summer camps, counseling, family cafes, and food security programs for at-risk youth in southeast Atlanta.
• VOX ATL: A unique media outlet driven by teenagers, providing a professional space and learning environment for metro-Atlanta teens.
• YELLS: A youth empowerment nonprofit nurturing marketable skills among the youth through service, stirring them to invest in their selves, their education, and their communities.

The Grow Program’s Impact

These organizations join the lineup of 20 nonprofits that the Grow Program has fostered over the last three years across the US, Canada, and Australia. Reflecting on her experience with the program in 2023, Kristina Newton, Executive Director of HYPE- an Atlanta-based nonprofit empowering girls of color with tech skills, states, “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. This has made me much more confident in positioning my nonprofit as a partner and employer of choice in my community.”

Uplifting Nonprofits Globally

Renee Mathewson, VP of Corporate Affairs in North America at Sage and Grow Program’s executive sponsor, adds, “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.” In doing so, Sage continues to play a significant role by extending their business expertise to nonprofits, helping them bypass challenges and ensuring that their impact is both meaningful and long-lasting.