If Reach fails...?

The Echoing Green Semi-Finalist application is no small exercise. Among the challenging questions asked, one was particularly challenging: "What might you wind up doing if this organization doesn’t work out as planned?"

Part of me wanted to respond by simply saying, "We won't fail." Or, even better, "Reach will survive and thrive." I truly believe that social entrepreneurship requires a start-up leader to be slightly cocky and entirely crazy. I rarely consider failure; it seems counterproductive.

I ended up answering the question like this:

Reach’s early success in programming and fundraising make it unlikely that the organization will meet an early demise. We are extremely proud of the level of organizational stability that has been achieved so early. I do, however, recognize the challenges inherent in nonprofit management. If Reach were to go out of business, I would remain actively involved in providing better opportunities for adolescents in the District of Columbia in a position of school leadership or nonprofit management.

Writing the answer became a reflective process. Social enterprises develop in stages. While the names and models vary, the themes are similar. First, there's a start-up phase - idea, initial funding, planning, piloting, and establishing a reputation. Soon after, these new enterprises enter the growth phase. We have now entered this second stage - our immediate future is no longer in question. I'm so proud to be able to say that. While we know we will face challenges, we stand firmly on a strong foundation.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

PS - On this day of remembrance, I chose not to write about Dr. King's legacy. It is my hope that his beliefs - especially those of non violence, equal rights, and economic justice - stay with us 365 days a year. While we pause to think of him today, it's my hope that we will all wake tomorrow with a continued commitment to the ideals he voiced.