Every August, we celebrate our birthday as an organization based on when the IRS declared us a nonprofit. It’s not necessarily the “miracle of life” we think about, but for us, for Business Impact NW, it was important, nonetheless. And while it is certainly not a miracle, we have accomplished much in our 28 years, and we strive to do even more in the coming years.
With that in mind, I am honored to share with you our new North Star Goal: Over the next five years, we will help 5,000 businesses become financially sustainable.
From our Board to our leadership to all our staff and volunteers, we are more committed than ever to making an impact on the lives of the small business owners we serve. Think of this goal as our birthday present to the communities we serve. It represents less present in the traditional sense and more a promise to make good on, a promise to help more dreams come true, and a promise to embolden the future of our communities.
Our work gives us a front-row seat to watch our clients’ dreams become reality. With our new strategic plan and North Star Goal, we are working with increased intention, focus, and urgency to help small businesses build wealth, create jobs, and become community touchstones.
There are many ways you can help us celebrate our birthday. Shop small and go to your favorite local business, visit a farmers market, or even start your own business. And if you value the work we do every day to strengthen our communities and make dreams possible, we humbly invite you to support our mission with a $28 birthday gift. This will help us jumpstart the next 28 years of our existence together.
About the author
Joe Sky-Tucker
(jO sky-tuck-ER)
Joe Sky-Tucker has over thirty years of experience working in the nonprofit world in a variety of positions and organizations, including direct experience working with “at-risk” youth and families in crisis, fund development, and strategic planning. He has also worked with “at-risk” youth in mental health settings, including foster care youth, children in locked psychiatric settings, and group homes. Further, he has worked to ensure hardworking families have access to safe, fair, and affordable financial services.
Currently, Joe is the President and CEO of Business Impact NW, an asset-building/community lender that specializes in supporting small and micro-businesses, helping them achieve financial stability through technical assistance and lending services. Joe has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Washington.
This team’s dedication to grassroots empowerment is admirable. Cheers to another 28 years!