Beacon of Hope had been running their Future Centers since 2012, helping high school students navigate life after graduation with support that goes beyond what school counselors can offer. The program worked, and other communities noticed and wanted to replicate it.

JWC Foundation had run their Community Business Academy for three years. But the landscape for Black business owners was shifting, and JWC wanted to shift with it — not reactively, but intentionally. The question wasn't whether to evolve, but how to do so in a way that honored what they'd built while meeting the needs of the present.

The UVA IDEA Fund had existed since 2010 to support the University's commitment to being inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible. But the social and political climate had changed. The Board needed to reset—to clarify their mission, sharpen what makes them valuable.

Bridge Over Troubled Water was brand new. The founder had vision, ideas, and passion—but not clarity. She was swirling. Trying to figure out where to start, what to prioritize, and how to build a nonprofit while still working full-time. She needed structure, focus, and a roadmap she could actually follow.