Empowering the Next Generation: Denise Stephenson’s Journey from Law to Nonprofit Leadership
In this inspiring episode of "The Nonprofit Bookkeeper," I sit down with the passionate and driven Denise Stephenson, a lawyer turned advocate who is dedicated to uplifting young black and brown children through her charity, Reach Out to Kids (RO2K). As co-founder of Emancipated Run Crew as well, she's making strides in creating inclusive spaces within the running community. Denise story of resilience, determination and proving doubters wrong by becoming a successful lawyer and later pivoting to full-time charity work, is a must listen! Through RO2K, Denise is breaking barriers & paving the way for future generations. She highlights the invisible work that goes on behind the scenes to support the mission of RO2K. This episode is more than an insight into non-profit management; it is about advocacy, breaking stereotypes, and changing narratives—one child at a time! KEY TAKEAWAYS Funding is a major challenge for non-profits, and multi-year funding is needed for sustainable growth. The application process for funding can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for smaller organizations. Partnerships with corporate organizations can provide valuable funding and support. BEST MOMENTS “… we had a shoot, a student showcase, where we were celebrating the work that the students did for the. Mayor of London's challenge, seeing those children, those young people get up and talk in front of an audience of people, whereas when they started, some of them were SCN students. They wouldn't even talk. When we first got them, they would not talk. They wouldn't put their hands up. They wouldn't volunteer to mentor. They wouldn't do any of it. At the end of it, they were standing on a stage. Presenting their ideas in a very professional, passionate way, I almost cried...” EPISODE RESOURCES Find out more about RO2K https://www.linkedin.com/company/rok-reach-out-2-kids/ Connect with Denise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisestephenson2/ ABOUT YOUR HOST Aishat operates her own bookkeeping and accounting services practice – BAnC Services which focuses primarily on serving non-profits. Before founding her practice, she dedicated over two decades to the non-profit sector. With her podcast, Aishat shares practical insights and expertise to streamline financial management for non-profits; and shines a light on the often unseen & unheard efforts that uphold the delivery of a non-profit’s mission. Beyond her professional endeavours with non-profits, Aishat is deeply committed to supporting single mothers with navigating financial management challenges and is the author of "Money Solutions for Single Mums". She also champions financial literacy among young black adults and thrives in discussions about money management. Work with Aishat: www.bancservices.co.uk CONNECT Instagram TikTok