04/07/2026
Our Spring Thriving Non-Profits cohorts are continuing their revenue diversification journey. This stage centres on fee-for-service and challenges organizations to rethink the value of their programs and services, and how to balance accessibility with financial sustainability. This is a critical shift away from scarcity thinking, where new revenue approaches begin to take shape in practical, testable ways.
As our Spring 2026 cohorts move through Module 3, the focus shifts from understanding what is possible to taking action on how to build it. This module introduces entrepreneurial strategies, starting with fee-for-service, and challenges organizations to rethink long-standing assumptions about charging for their work.
Participants are exploring both the opportunity and the tension in this shift. Many organizations are deeply committed to accessibility, and there are real considerations about who should and should not be charged. At the same time, there is growing recognition that not everyone served has the same ability to pay, and that there may be other audiences, partners, or systems that can contribute financially.
Through discussion and practical exercises, organizations are identifying where fees could be introduced, who the right customer might be, and how pricing strategies like sliding scale, pay-what-you-can, or tiered pricing can balance accessibility with sustainability.
A key insight emerging for many, is that the biggest barrier is often internal. Moving from free to charging even a small amount can be a significant mindset shift, but it opens the door to greater financial resilience, stronger participation, and increased perceived value of the work.
This module reinforces an important idea. Financial sustainability is not about abandoning mission, it is about strengthening it. When organizations generate surplus, they can better invest in their teams, their programs, and the communities they serve. As our cohort participants complete Module 3, they are building a clearer sense of where fee-for-service opportunities can fit within their mission and values. Next up, module 4: social enterprise!