Grit, Game, and Giving Back
A Toolkit For Aspiring Nonprofit Leaders
Grit, Game, and Giving Back shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked entrepreneurial challenges and opportunities of founding and leading a nonprofit organization. This insightful work chronicles the highs and lows of being a Black nonprofit leader, offering practical advice, inspiration, and valuable lessons from his journey. Grit, Game, and Giving Back is an essential read for aspiring nonprofit founders, community leaders, and anyone driven to create meaningful change. Brandon's story exemplifies resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of giving back.
Passion starts the mission. Leading it takes more.
Grit, Game & Giving Back: A Toolkit for Aspiring Nonprofit Leaders offers a candid look at the business of building and leading a nonprofit—from choosing your board and building your team to raising money, managing finances, and navigating the relationships that influence access to resources.
Drawing on his experience founding and leading Dreams Academy, Brandon R. Scarborough shares hard-earned lessons, costly mistakes, and practical insights into nonprofit leadership, including his perspective as a Black founder.
Inside, you’ll explore how to:
• Choose board members with Capacity, Connection, and Commitment.
• Build a team that believes in your mission and brings it to life.
• Understand different funding sources and evaluate the true return on fundraising efforts.
• Build trust with donors, partners, and community leaders.
• Protect your organization through sound financial practices.
• Navigate the personal sacrifices and expectations that come with leadership.
Throughout the book, “Toolkit Takeaways” invite you to reflect and apply these lessons to your own organization.
Whether you’re preparing to launch a nonprofit or already leading one, this book helps you ask better questions, make more intentional decisions, and approach the work with clearer expectations.
Get your copy and start putting the lessons to work.