Becoming an Essential Service

Inspiredu's Richard Hicks on how community nonprofit's should pivot during crises

He views the focus on families and communities as pivotal in our everchanging world. If you were looking for a personal mission statement from Richard Hicks, that would do. Throughout his career, Hicks has been a team leader, managed high-dollar projects, and developed myriad growth and fundraising strategies.

As CEO and president of the transformational nonprofit Inspiredu (formerly PowerMyLearning Atlanta), Hicks continues to focus his passion devices. We had to position ourselves as an essential service to ensure we were in the fight as COVID-19 continued to manifest itself. The highlight of bridging the digital divide was even more important, and being a part of the solution became extremely important.

Richard Hicks

Discuss the transition from PML to Inspiredu? What was the driver

into improving opportunities for Greater Atlanta area youth and helping their families improve their socioeconomic status. In his 11-plus years with Inspiredu, he has been instrumental in building relationships and creating alliances with Fortune 500 companies and the tech community.

We sat down with him to get his thoughts on how Inspiredu pivoted during today's pandemic-defined landscape.

Talk about the current state of community focused nonprofits in Atlanta. How has Inspiredu managed navigating through the chaos of COVID-19?

On March 16, schools throughout the state closed and teachers immediately prepared for virtual learning. Immediately, Inspiredu began deploying hundreds of continue the digital divide focus with the essential service component for what Georgia needs.

In the future, when things start to look bleak, what should community nonprofits do to remain relevant?

Nonprofits should focus on the essential needs of the community and talk with partners impacted by this crisis to find out their immediate needs. It is important to position yourself correctly during a crisis so that when you are post crisis, it will not be a difficult process to move forward as a relevant nonprofit.

What are three characteristics that every nonprofit executive director should possess?

It is important to position yourself correctly during a crisis so that when you are post crisis, it will not be a difficult process to move forward as a relevant nonprofit.

Along with his Inspiredu duties, Hicks serves on the Executive Advisory Board for ATP (Atlanta Technology Professionals) and Advisory Board for Lincoln Tech. He also volunteers with and supports other service organizations like the Agape Family and Youth Center.

Leadership. Engagement. Adaptability.

for that change in direction?

The transition from PowerMyLearning (PML) to Inspiredu was a very smooth and well needed transition to address the needs within our community. PML was changing its focus from bridging the digital divide, and we wanted to

Elaborate on your statement that organizations can lose focus during a crisis. How so?

Organizations tend to get desperate when a crisis is at hand. That sometimes can resort to desperation city. When organizations arrive there, they tend to throw everything at the wall and began to lose focus on how to enhance the mission they are already conducting. Your true swan is not finding it when things are good, but when you are in times of crisis. Remaining focused and honed in can help you realize what an organization can do to evolve its programming.

I had an experience in my previous job where we were in a crisis

and I was running around the office with my anxiety through the roof. But my leadership told me to remain focus and organize my operation with the simplest of things first, and build upon it.

How did Inspiredu become an essential service?

Inspiredu (formerly PowerMyLearning Atlanta) has provided technology and digital learning in our community since 2007, deploying over 12,996 home computers. On March 16, schools throughout the state were ordered to close until the end of March. That forced school leadership to immediately prepare for two weeks of both online and offline schoolwork. We immediately deployed 200 devices.

We continue to engage in conversations with our partners to see how we can assist and work very hard to position ourselves as a reliant partner that is here to aid the community and not chase funding. Inspiredu kept the focus on the community. That is how we were highlighted as an essential service.

What have you done to ensure your funding pipeline is filled? Can you share some advice on building partnerships and relationships, and building a strong engaged board?

We have continued to steward the relationships with funders and keep them in the know about the different initiatives we have on the horizon. It was very important to engage our donors and truly highlight the impact that we are making within the community.

The ability to build strong partnerships and relationships is vital when running a nonprofit. Relationship building is very important and creates sustainability, as you are expanding your reach through these partnerships, which grows your resource pipeline.

Board engagement is another key to expanding a nonprofit’s network and reach. Recruitment of board members is a very tricky piece. Nonprofits should always seek members who are aware of their mission and are looking to make an impact in the community, not just something they can put on their resumes. Nonprofits should create a friend-raising process for board members and bring board candidates closer to the work so that they can see the value they can bring to the table.