[Article] AEDC launches business accelerator for nonprofits

SARANAC LAKE | The Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is launching a Nonprofit Business Accelerator, a new program designed to strengthen the business planning capacity, financial sustainability, and long-term growth of nonprofit organizations across AEDC's 14-county service region in Northern New York.

The Accelerator brings to the nonprofit sector the same business planning and technical assistance AEDC has long delivered to small businesses, empowering nonprofits with the tools, frameworks, and one-on-one advising needed to diversify revenue and build organizational infrastructure that can support sustainable growth.

“Nonprofits are essential economic engines in our region, but many are run by small teams stretched thin across every function of the organization,” said Victoria Duley, Executive Director of AEDC. “This program gives nonprofit leaders the same kind of hands-on, tailored business planning support we’ve long provided to small businesses, because a stronger, more sustainable nonprofit sector means a stronger Adirondack economy.”

AEDC has hired Erin DeSantis to lead the new program. As Business Advisor for Nonprofit Growth & Strategy, Erin works with nonprofit leaders across Northern New York to strengthen their organizations through business model development and revenue diversification, helping clients build the business planning discipline and financial sustainability needed to grow with intention. Erin will work directly with nonprofit leaders throughout the region, delivering one-on-one advising and building out the Accelerator’s programming and resource library.

Before joining AEDC, Erin spent more than 20 years in strategic communications and public affairs, including lobbying on behalf of a regional industry trade association and a statewide small business advocacy organization. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including her current roles with the Rotary Club of Lake Placid and the Au Sable River Valley Business Association.

"The Nonprofit Business Accelerator program is crucial for our next phase of organizational development,” stated Arin Burdo, Executive Director of Champlain Area Trails (CATS). “Acquiring the Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center presents many opportunities, but it also requires careful financial planning."

"I've been working with the Nonprofit Business Accelerator for the last few months and I'm so grateful for the expertise. I've known where we are headed as an organization and what we want to do, but I didn't know how to get there," said Noelle Eichenberger of Hope Kitchen, an organization in Keeseville that provides a hot community dinner to more than 100 people each week. "The Nonprofit Business Accelerator's assistance has been invaluable in creating a framework to help us accomplish our goals and launch our nonprofit the right way! It has been a tremendous help in breaking down the nonprofit process into bite-sized pieces and has helped me feel confident in moving forward to our next steps."

The Nonprofit Business Accelerator is now accepting inquiries from nonprofits based in AEDC’s 14-county service area. Interested organizations can learn more by contacting Erin DeSantis at edesantis@adirondackedc.org or (518) 891-5523.

Read the article direct on Sun Community News, here.