Mission Fuel Cohort 3 members participate in Virtual Pitch Night & Completion Celebration
Leaders from six area community organizations who participated in Mission Fuel, Cardinal Stritch University’s business accelerator designed for nonprofit professionals, presented their social entrepreneurship ideas and reflections in a virtual pitch night and completion celebration on Monday, June 22.
The 2020 cohort included 14 representatives from the following organizations:
- African American Roundtable of Wisconsin Voices
- BizStarts
- Menomonee Valley Partners
- Public Allies Milwaukee
- SaintA
- UMOS, Inc.
The third cohort of Mission Fuel began March 2 and moved online March 16 as a result of COVID-19. The initiative helps leaders develop and implement strategies to diversify revenue streams, become more entrepreneurial, and ultimately realize more stable and financially self-sustainable mission-driven organizations.
Mission Fuel breaks down silos by bringing together leaders from organizations that represent various service sectors, cultures, races, ages and geographic locations. In addition to experiential learning courses focusing on social entrepreneurism, effective communication and business development, each organizational team received technical support, mentoring from business leaders, and individual leadership assessment and coaching from a master coach.
“Being innovative, agile and resilient took on whole new levels of meaning for this cohort. The participants all persevered and leveraged the program in ways that were meaningful to them and their organizations,” said Dr. Mark Gesner, co-founder and executive director of Mission Fuel. “It was an honor to work with these talented leaders who together are strengthening the fabric of greater Milwaukee. Cohort Three was filled with extraordinary leaders who are ready to serve, innovate, and lead during these extraordinary times.” Mikal Wesley is the program coordinator who has collaborated with Gesner to lead Mission Fuel since its inception.
Stritch is appreciative of the support of the following program sponsors: CannedWater4Kids, Forward Community Investments, gBETA, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, iHeart Media, Kan-U-Hoop, Landmark Credit Union, US Bank and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).